Summary of Feel-Good Productivity by Ali Abdaal: How to Do More of What Matters to You

By Justin Reese

DISCLAIMER

 

This book does not in any capacity mean to replace the original book but to serve as a vast summary of the original book.

Summary of Feel-Good Productivity by Ali Abdaal: How to Do More of What Matters to You

IN THIS SUMMARIZED BOOK, YOU WILL GET:

• Chapter astute outline of the main contents.
• Fast & simple understanding of the content analysis.
• Exceptionally summarized content that you may skip in the original book

Dr. Ali Abdaal, a productivity expert, suggests that the secret to success is not hard work but feeling good. He introduces the three hidden 'energisers', 'blockers', and'sustainers' of feel-good productivity, which can transform your life. He shares inspiring stories of founders, Olympians, and Nobel-winning scientists who embody these principles, and offers simple, actionable changes to achieve more and live better.

 

• Language: English
• Publisher: jUSTIN REESE
• Release date: Dec 26, 2023
• ISBN: 9798223756668

Book preview

INTRODUCTION

A newly qualified junior doctor, Ali, finds himself managing a hospital ward on Christmas Day, dealing with an array of patient emergencies and urgent needs. His productivity strategy, which had allowed him to secure publications and launch a business, has been struggling, as he struggles to manage the workload and maintain his job.

As Christmas approaches, Ali realizes that he has forgotten the importance of hard work and the wisdom of Muhammad Ali's quote, Don't quit. Suffer now and live the rest of your life as a champion. He wonders if resolving to do more would make a difference in his productivity, but when he returns to work, it doesn't make any difference. His patients still show signs of fatigue and lack of Christmas cheer.

At the end of his hardest day yet, Ali remembers the wisdom of his old tutor, Dr. Barclay, who advised questioning the diagnosis if treatment isn't working. This realization leads him to question the success of his productivity advice and the sustainability of feeling overwhelmed. He realizes that working harder isn't going to bring happiness and that there is another path to fulfillment that doesn't involve constant anxiety, sleepless nights, and caffeine dependence.

Although he doesn't have all the answers, he begins to develop an alternative approach called feel-good productivity, which focuses on understanding what makes hard work feel better and using that wellbeing to drive focus and motivation.

Feel-good productivity is a concept that has been explored in various fields, including psychology. One such study involved a problem where participants had to solve a puzzle using a candle, a book of matches, and a box of thumbtacks. The experiment showed that feeling good not only improved mood but also changed our patterns of thought and behavior. This led to the development of the broaden-and-build theory of positive emotions, which suggests that positive emotions broaden our awareness and build our cognitive and social resources.

The theory suggests that positive emotions change the way our brains operate, leading to increased motivation, focus, and inspiration. This energy, which can be labelled as emotional, spiritual, mental, or motivational, makes us focused, inspired, and motivated to pursue our goals. This energy is not solely physical or biological, but also comes from a mix of motivation, focus, and inspiration.

Feeling good boosts our energy, which is not just physical or biological, but also comes from a mix of motivation, focus, and inspiration. This energy is referred to as emotional, spiritual, mental, or motivational energy by psychologists, zest, vitality, or energetic arousal by neuroscientists. By understanding the role of positive emotions in our lives, we can better understand how they contribute to our overall wellbeing and productivity.

Feeling good is the source of energy and motivation, fueled by four hormones: endorphins, serotonin, dopamine, and oxytocin. These hormones help us accomplish more, generate energy, and boost productivity. When we feel good, we generate energy, which leads to feelings of achievement, which make us feel good again.

Feeling good reduces stress, as negative emotions release stress hormones like adrenaline and cortisol. However, if these hormones are too often experienced, they can lead to anxiety, physical health issues, and increased risk of heart disease and high blood pressure. Barbara Fredrickson's 'undoing hypothesis' suggests that positive emotions can reverse these effects.

Feeling good also enriches our lives. A 2005 study found that individuals who frequently experience positive emotions are more sociable, optimistic, and creative, accomplish more, and have better relationships, higher salaries, and professional success. Those who cultivate positive emotions at work become better problem-solvers, planners, creative thinkers, and resilient gogetters.

Success doesn't lead to feeling good; it leads to success

Feel-good productivity is a powerful tool that can transform one's work, relationships, and life. It involves focusing on making work feel good, allowing shifts to be easier and mood to improve. This shift in focus not only changes one's approach to work but also leads to a new perspective on life, including friendships, family, and passions. The author, who started a YouTube channel to share practical insights from psychology and neuroscience, found that people aced exams, doubled their income, and managed to balance work and family life better.

The book consists of three parts, each tackling a different aspect of feel-good productivity. Part 1 explains how to use the science of feel-good productivity to energise oneself, while Part 2 examines how to overcome procrastination and sustain oneself in the long term. Part 3 explores the three types of burnout