The amount of work needed to overcome gravity and lift a given load always remains the same, but spreading the necessary effort out over a longer distance makes the task seem easier. This is why walking gradually up a gentle slope is easier than walking up a steep slope. The distance walked on the gentle slope is longer, but the effort needed to reach the top is less. A gentle slope is a form of inclined plane. Applying effort over a greater distance takes more time, and this slows down the speed of work.
Some machines can actually speed up a task.
They do this by reducing the distance over which the effort is applied. Increasing the speed at which a task is performed requires more force than would otherwise be necessary. Some gears require more effort, but they make the bicycle travel faster on flat terrain. Other gears require less effort and are useful for climbing hills. People use simple machines, such as levers and pulleys, to make manual chores easier.