Most popular productivity books out there are about “doing more.” Optimize your time to get *more work* in. And then some more. However, a growing number of books—and quite a volume of research published over the last decades—are emphasizing the mental health aspects behind this more and more; the changes in work itself, particularly knowledge work and the biological impossibility of hyper-focusing for 8 hours straight; finding work with purpose and/or not letting work be your entire life.
Ali Abdaal’s book is precisely about doing more of what makes us feel good; or even finding ways to make the tedious things that we can’t escape a little less tedious.
Medical doctor-turned-YouTuber and entrepreneur (crazy days we live in!) who shares the science behind motivation along with practical tips (or, experiments as he calls them) to put this right into practice. And sure, how to optimize our time, but to enjoy more free time and mental space instead of stacking more work on it.
Feel Good Productivity emphasizes shifting our mindset to stay energized and motivated. Surprise, surprise—at the end of the day it’s all about play and curiosity!
Here are a few reminders I’d like to keep close and remind myself often until they’re ingrained forever:
🧠 Breaks aren’t rewards—they’re essential to recharge, let your brain do it’s thing, and keep our focus sharp.
🎨 Creative activities boost autonomy, competence, and energy, making even tedious tasks feel more bearable.
👥 Asking for help isn’t a weakness—we all feel good when we can help others, but often feel like asking for it makes us a burden. Think again: it can be a gift for others by giving them the chance to help you. (I mean, with decorum…)
🔑 Agency and ownership over your work are key to intrinsic motivation. Even if we can’t control everything, we can always own the process.
Highly recommend.
What would you like to do more of?
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