What do you perceive is harder? Being a Player or a GM?

[Ionathus]

Maybe you will, but not everyone shares that experience. Paying attention to the other players is a part of the group activity.

It's also courteous.

Not sure why you're saying this like it's some kind of "gotcha". I'm well aware that it's the courteous thing to do, which is why I always do it.

That doesn't change the fact that most sessions as a player, I'll have to actively work to keep that engagement up at some point. That feeling never happens when I'm DMing because all the different responsibilities keep my brain firing the whole time. In this way, DMing is more exhausting but also more rewarding and I always feel invested in whatever stories the players are telling - because I have to facilitate them.

Your options as a player to actively listen, support your teammates, and throw focus are different and more personal, but they're limited in scope compared to all the ways the DM can support that player's storytelling.