by Ali Abdaal
Why I picked it up
I picked this book up because I’m always interested in finding better ways to work, but I don’t want “being more productive” to simply mean cramming more into every day at a higher and higher cost to my ability to enjoy what I do. The idea that work could feel lighter, more joyful and more fulfilling, while still accomplishing what I want to acheive, immediately appealed to me.
My thoughts
Feel-Good Productivity challenges the familiar idea that success has to come from pushing harder, being more disciplined and forcing ourselves through work we dread. Instead, Ali Abdaal makes the case that feeling good isn’t something we earn after being productive - it can actually be what helps us become productive in the first place.
The book explores the things that energize us, the barriers that lead to procrastination and the habits that help us continue without burning ourselves out. It combines research with practical ideas for bringing more play, curiosity, connection and meaning into the way we work.
What I appreciated most is that the book doesn’t treat productivity as a contest to see who can accomplish the most. The goal is to make progress on the things that genuinely matter to us, and to build a life and way of working that we can actually sustain.
My biggest takeaway
My biggest takeaway is that enjoyment isn’t frivolous or separate from doing good work. When I feel interested, capable and connected to what I’m doing, it is much easier to begin, stay engaged and keep going. Sometimes the answer isn’t more pressure or a stricter system; it’s finding a way to make the work feel better.
Who I’d recommend it to
A thoughtful and encouraging read for anyone who wants to crush goals and accomplish meaningful things without making themselves miserable in the process.
Interested in reading it?
Find Feel-Good Productivity through Books on Main, an awesome independent bookstore in Bath, Ontario.