Immerse yourself in a transformative journey towards enhanced work productivity with Ali Abdaal’s ‘Feel-Good Productivity.’ Explore innovative strategies and actionable insights that promise to redefine your approach to work, unleashing a wave of positive change in your professional life.
Ready to unlock a new level of productivity and well-being in your work routine? Dive into the world of ‘Feel-Good Productivity’ to discover Ali Abdaal’s proven methods. Your path to a more fulfilling work experience begins now.
Table of Contents
Genres
Productivity, Self-Help, Time Management, Personal Development, Work-Life Balance, Mindfulness, Goal Setting, Efficiency, Positive Psychology, Career Enhancement
‘Feel-Good Productivity’ by Ali Abdaal is a guide to redefining the conventional notions of work and productivity. Abdaal introduces readers to a holistic approach that blends productivity techniques with a focus on well-being. From time management to cultivating a positive mindset, the book provides a comprehensive framework for achieving sustainable and feel-good productivity.
Ali Abdaal’s ‘Feel-Good Productivity’ is a breath of fresh air in the productivity genre. It goes beyond the typical efficiency tips, incorporating a genuine concern for individual well-being. Abdaal’s writing is engaging, and his insights are practical, making it easy for readers to implement positive changes in their work routines. Whether you’re a seasoned professional or just starting your career, this book offers valuable strategies for achieving a fulfilling and balanced work life. A must-read for anyone looking to enhance productivity with a feel-good twist.
Ali discovered that feeling good while he worked increased his energy and creativity. Being more energized and creative boosted his productivity. And being productive made him feel better. It was a virtuous cycle of productivity. You can activate this virtuous cycle by frequently asking the question:
“What would this look like if it were fun?”
Repeat this question to yourself until you discover a way to transform your work tasks into enjoyable experiences. Accelerate this process by considering three feel-good conditions: curiosity, connection, and confidence. These three feel good conditions are like light switches you can turn on before getting to work.
When you turn these switches on, you trigger feel-good hormones – dopamine, oxytocin, and serotonin – to fuel a highly productive feel- good state.
The Curiosity Switch
Turn on your curiosity switch by giving yourself a side quest every day. Matthew Dicks, a world champion storyteller and bestselling novelist, is a master at creating side quests. When Matthew worked the McDonald’s drive-thru in his twenties, he created an “upselling game” to make his workdays exciting. “Some days, I decided it was barbecue sauce day” he says, “and for the rest of the day, I’d add a mini sales pitch to each order I took. If the customer ordered a Big Mac and fries, I’d ask them, ‘Would you like sauce with that?’ If they said no, I’d smile and say, ‘Well, I’d really recommend the barbecue sauce. Nothing beats that.’ Usually, at this point, they would be a little taken aback but then say, ‘Okay, I’ll take the sauce.’” This playful upselling side quest turned Matthew’s mundane McDonald’s job into an adventure he looked forward to because he was eager to see how many customers would opt for the sauce.
Upselling is just one example of a side quest you can add to your workday. Other examples include:
- Building and playing the perfect music playlist for your work.
- Working in different locations (like a park or café).
- Setting a 20-minute timer for every work block to see how much you can get done in 20 minutes and then take a screenshot of your progress.
- Spending 15 minutes every hour experimenting with different ChatGPT prompts to streamline your work.
Scheduling side quests throughout your workday will keep you curious about upcoming side quests, and that curiosity will filter into your work. So, when you write out your to-do list for the day, ask yourself: “What is my side quest today?”
The Connection Switch
While writing his book, Ali frequently attended a free virtual coworking space called the Writers’ Hour, hosted by the London Writers’ Salon. He explains in the book, “Every weekday four times a day, a few hundred writers assembled on a Zoom video call. On the call, the facilitator spends five minutes sharing a motivational message and asking participants to post in an online chat what their intention for the writing session is going to be. Then, for 50 minutes everyone minimizes their zoom window and works away at their computer. These sync sessions are incredibly helpful for keeping me energized even though we’re all working on different things. Working in tandem with others had a huge effect on my ability to focus and feel better.” (paraphrased) Virtual coworking spaces, like the one Ali attended, are widely available through sites like Focusmate, Flow Club, and Cave Day.
Whatever you’re about to work on, get around people online or in person who are doing similar work so you can work in tandem with them and feel connected. If this isn’t possible for you, just take 20 seconds to close your eyes before working to think of people doing similar work and striving for similar goals. Feel like you are part of a team that is working toward a collective goal to turn your connection switch.
The Confidence Switch
You will put off working and procrastinate when your work creates fear and uncertainty (i.e. when you fear you can’t meet expectations and are uncertain about what steps to take next). One way to move past fear and uncertainty is to mimic the confidence of a highly skilled person.
In college, author Ali Abdaal earned money as a magician at parties. When he experienced self-doubt, he thought of a master magician and pretended to have his confidence. Mimicking the confidence of a master magician allowed him to enjoy events and execute his well-rehearsed magic tricks flawlessly.
If you’re resisting a work task, watch a YouTube video of someone performing the task masterfully or close your eyes and imagine an expert executing the task. Then, embody their confidence for the next 10 minutes. I often do this when writing – I imagine my favorite author cranking out work on a computer and then start writing as though I am a confident writer, and don’t worry if my work sucks. After 10 minutes, I have a few good ideas and start enjoying the work.