Ali Abdaal is a prolific producer of videos on YouTube, many about getting things done, a/k/a productivity. He was a young doctor in the UK but decided that his prodigious efforts to be more productive resulted in a decision to quit medicine as a resident or junior doctor to focus on his YouTube channel. See https://aliabdaal.com/ or https://www.youtube.com/@aliabdaal
Abdaal seems to portray high energy, abundant positivity and an upbeat attitude, but he does admit it’s not always that way.
This book offers suggestions on being productive by trying a different point of view if you are stymied by procrastination, uncertainty, feeling overwhelmed or other things that hold you back, this may provide new methods to get things completed.
Feeling good about things, changes your thoughts and behavior and allows us to be more creative, energetic and usually successful. Positiveness is supported by feel good hormones that our body releases (oxytocin, serotonin and others). We see a cycle here. Feeling good>get things done>hormone release>feeling good…
He suggests that when we are challenged and are held back by our feelings, we might look at energizers: play, people, and power. Play refers to taking on a different persona. Do you identify with a superhero or someone with special powers? It’s mind shift that brings curiosity and exploration. Can’t super heros conquer difficult problems? People refers to asking for help or working within a team. Look at the process to get it done and not so much of a focus on the outcome. Can a failure be an opportunity to learn? Everyone can make a mistake.
Lastly, when work just feels overwhelming, ask how you can approach it with less seriousness. Some companies give power to employees by letting enjoy more freedom but responsibility. You have more control. Couple that with self-confidence or self-efficacy and there can be an enormous effect on performance. What you say to yourself often enough that you can do the job, becomes what you believe. We have seen this in others and that their persistence proves itself (vicarious mastery). The opposite is enactive mastery is learning by doing and it builds our confidence also.
Some forms of Buddhism encourages us to look inward to discover our own path. Shoshin says to approach things as a beginner and be willing to experiment.
Taking on a less experienced person to teach and mentor them boosts your own understanding and skill level.
Motivation is viewed by psychologists on a spectrum with external/extrinsic motivation influenced by a money or social status. Internal or intrinsic motivation is self-motivation from a sense of autonomy or ownership of the process.
Instead of thinking “I have to do this” turn it around and think, “I get to do this”. It’s a remarkable change in viewpoint and can be powerful.
Hanging out with certain people can boost your confidence and creates energy within the group. You can learn from others who are more knowledgeable or skillful. Working in teams can be in parallel or working together. Being in synchrony improves results and helps to release those feel good hormones mentioned previously.
When you procrastinate it may take discipline to get moving. Try to un-block yourself and determine why the reluctance exists. Are you uncertain of the requirements or lack knowledge? Develop a clear sense of why you are hesitant not how. Every action should move you closer to the goal. Many things we have to do can be completed fairly quickly. For that big mountain to climb, just force yourself to spend five minutes on this task. Anybody can spend five minutes on something. Break it down into small pieces. Maybe that we be enough to get your rolling. So far so good? Try another five minutes. Best to tackle difficult things first in the morning while your energy is higher. Track your progress on the difficult ones to see how you are moving closer to completion.
Abdaal described “Nice Goals” – near term, input based, controllable, and energizing. Those are: to be completed in the short term, we understand what’s needed, we control the method/process and we get positive feedback when completed. Being accountable to someone for completion helps too. Your best accountable buddies are: disciplined, challenging, patient, supportive and constructive in criticism.
Sometimes you have to say NO. Think about what you will accept doing. If you would not say yes to it tomorrow, then you probably might not say yes to it in a month. Look at big picture. Consider cost/benefit ratio.
Keep your energy by resting or taking a break throughout the day. Be with people who are positive and help share the energy. Don’t do too much in mindless activities (video games or other time wasters). Don’t get caught up in reading/watching bad news that media pours out. It will drag you down.
Stop some time and think… where do I want to be in five years? Write it down and think about continuing on your current path. Then, write it again if you could change things radically (no restrictions by money, time, what people think, or commitments). Does this match your core personal values?
The goal should be to make everyday decisions that align with our sense of self. When you do this you’ll be happier and more engaged in your work. It will enrich your life.
Each morning, choose three things from your todo list that will move you, ever a little, towards your ultimate goals.
Your process is important. Experiment with what brings meaning and let that inform you about your decisions. Think about what is not going well, come up with a hypothesis and see what effect it can have, then Execute. Make that change. If it doesn’t work, try again. You will learn as you go.
The goal is to do more of what makes you happy, less stressed and energized.
You can find this book on Amazon in print editions or a Kindle version.
Figure out what works, and discard the rest!
Search for Ali Abdaal on YouTube and you’ll find dozens of his videos. I have found them to be useful and informative. See this book at: go.feelgoodproductivity.com/ytbanner