Unlock Your Ultimate Productive Self!
Feel Good Productivity: How to Achieve More of What Matters to You
by Ali Abdaal
Self-Improvement
TL;DR
This book isn't about working harder, it's about working smarter and happier. It teaches you to stop treating your brain like a cheap smartphone battery and actually manage your energy levels instead of just chugging coffee. You'll learn to inject some actual fun into your grind, figure out what truly matters to you so you're not just chasing random goals, and build systems that make success feel less like a chore and more like a cheat code. Basically, it's about optimizing your vibe so productivity feels less like a punishment and more like a party.
Action Items
For the next 3 days, track your energy levels (1-10) every 2 hours and note what you were doing. See what makes your battery go up or down.
Pick one annoying task you have to do today and brainstorm 3 ways to make it slightly more fun or playful. Then, try one.
Identify one thing you've been doing out of obligation or habit that you actually resent. Today, either say no to it, postpone it, or find a way to delegate it.
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Key Chapter
Chapter - Your Brain's Battery Pack: Understanding Energy
Okay, so you know how your phone dies if you're doom-scrolling TikTok all day? Your brain's the same, but way more dramatic. This chapter spills the tea on how to actually manage your mental and physical energy instead of just running on fumes and Red Bull. It's not about having more time, it's about having quality energy. You learn to spot what charges your battery (like actual sleep, duh) and what drains it (hello, pointless meetings). The big takeaway? Treat your energy like a precious resource, not an endless supply. Stop trying to run a marathon on an empty tank, fam. Figure out your personal 'charging stations' and 'energy vampires' to actually get stuff done without feeling like a zombie.
Key Methods and Approaches
Your Brain's Battery Pack
(AKA: Energy Management)
Description:
Stop running on fumes. Figure out what gives you juice and what drains it, then plan your day around that.
Explanation:
Imagine your brain is a phone battery. Some apps (tasks) drain it fast, others barely touch it. And some activities (like scrolling TikTok for 3 hours) are like leaving your flashlight on all night. This method is about checking your battery percentage throughout the day and deciding if you have enough juice for that intense coding session or if you should just do some chill admin stuff. Don't try to play Genshin Impact when you're at 5% battery, you'll just get frustrated.
Examples:
Scheduling deep work for your peak morning hours when your brain is fresh, not after lunch when you're in a food coma.
Recognizing that social events, while fun, can be draining for introverts, so you don't stack them back-to-back.
Taking a 15-minute walk outside to recharge instead of another coffee when you hit a slump.
Avoiding emotionally draining tasks (like dealing with customer complaints) when you're already feeling low.
Today's Action:
For the next 3 days, track your energy levels (1-10) every 2 hours and note what you were doing. See what makes your battery go up or down.
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