In a thought-provoking conversation, psychologist Julie Smith interviews Ali Abdaal, author of Feel-Good Productivity. They explore the philosophy behind finding joy in productivity, advocating for 'nice goals' that relieve pressure. The duo discusses the emotional rollercoaster of creativity and the importance of maintaining a joyful mindset. They challenge conventional success notions, emphasizing sustainable productivity habits and the joy of small accomplishments. Lastly, they tackle overcoming fear and enhancing engagement in both work and personal growth.
Incorporating strategies such as play, challenge, and finding side quests can make work more enjoyable and increase productivity.
Taking control and making the job more enjoyable can improve one's experience of work and increase productivity.
Recognizing emotional blocks and addressing procrastination can lead to a more enjoyable and productive work experience.
Finding joy and fulfillment in aligning with one's passions, such as teaching, can make work more meaningful and enjoyable.
Gaining clarity, understanding emotions behind procrastination, and getting started are key strategies for overcoming procrastination and entering a state of flow.
Deep dives
The Three Elements of Feel Good Productivity
The podcast episode discusses the concept of feel good productivity and highlights the three main elements: energize, unblock, and sustain. These elements are designed to help individuals find joy in their work, overcome procrastination and burnout, and make productivity sustainable. By incorporating strategies such as play, challenge, and finding side quests, individuals can make their work more enjoyable and increase their productivity. The episode emphasizes the importance of finding pleasure in one's job, even if it may not be the ideal career choice.
Finding Joy in Any Job
The podcast explores the idea that even in jobs that may not be ideal, individuals can find ways to inject joy and pleasure into their work. Strategies such as creating side quests, setting challenges, and approaching tasks in a playful manner can help individuals derive satisfaction and engagement from their work. The episode stresses the power individuals have to improve their own experience of their work, highlighting the importance of taking control and making the job more enjoyable.
Addressing Procrastination and Burnout
The podcast highlights the detrimental effects of procrastination and burnout on productivity and well-being. It introduces the concept of the unblock method, which focuses on understanding and addressing the emotional blocks that contribute to procrastination. Strategies such as recognizing the emotional aversion to tasks and creating a sense of challenge can help individuals overcome procrastination and make their work more enjoyable. Additionally, the episode discusses the importance of sustainable productivity and the need for appropriate breaks and recharging to maintain long-term productivity.
The Power of Teaching and Learning
The podcast episode delves into the personal journey of the host, who identifies as a teacher and finds joy and meaning in sharing knowledge. The importance of being aligned with one's passions and finding fulfillment through teaching is emphasized. The episode concludes by highlighting the universal applicability of the concepts discussed, emphasizing that anyone, regardless of their circumstances or job, can benefit from incorporating strategies to make their work more enjoyable and productive.
Overcoming Procrastination
The episode explores strategies for beating procrastination. It emphasizes the importance of gaining clarity, understanding the emotions behind procrastination, and getting started. Clarity is crucial in defining the task at hand and addressing any uncertainties. Emotions, particularly fear and self-doubt, often underlie procrastination. By recognizing these emotions and reframing them, it becomes easier to take action. Getting started, even for just five minutes, can create momentum and lead to a state of flow.
Finding Joy and Playfulness in Work
The episode delves into the concept of incorporating playfulness into work. It highlights the significance of choosing a play personality, such as the storyteller or director, and applying their characteristics to work tasks. By adopting a different persona, individuals can find enjoyment and creativity in their work. Playfulness also involves adding elements of variety, autonomy, and mellow environments to make tasks feel more energizing. The episode encourages adults to rekindle their sense of play and find ways to make work feel more enjoyable.
The Write-Off Principle and Enhancing Productivity
The episode introduces the Write-Off Principle, which empowers individuals to actively designate certain days as write-off days. This approach acknowledges the need for rest and self-care, allowing individuals to prioritize their well-being. By making a conscious decision to write off a day, individuals can eliminate guilt or anxiety associated with unproductive moments. The episode also discusses the importance of self-soothing strategies, such as incorporating enjoyable activities or music into tasks, to enhance productivity and make the process more enjoyable.
Types of Burnout and Strategies for Recharging
The podcast episode discusses the different types of burnout and provides strategies for preventing burnout and recharging energy. The three types of burnout mentioned are overexertion burnout, depletion burnout, and misalignment burnout. Overexertion burnout occurs when one tries to do too much in a day, leading to a feeling of no energy. Depletion burnout happens when energy levels are consistently low due to a lack of breaks and not recharging. Misalignment burnout occurs when one's work is not in line with their own values. The episode also shares science-backed strategies for recharging energy, such as going for a walk, doing stretches, playing an instrument, or reading a book. It emphasizes the importance of choosing activities that truly recharge energy instead of relying on drained activities like scrolling through social media.
Injecting Joy and Setting Nice Goals
The podcast episode highlights the importance of injecting joy into daily activities and setting goals that are near-term, input-based, controllable, and energizing (Nice Goals). Injecting joy involves making mundane tasks more enjoyable and finding ways to add fun and pleasure to activities throughout the day. By making small efforts to incorporate joy, such as listening to favorite music while doing chores or finding creative ways to engage with others, individuals can experience a significant shift in mood and energy levels. The episode also introduces the concept of Nice Goals as an alternative to strict and measurable smart goals. Nice Goals focus on setting goals that are within one's control, flexible, and energizing, allowing for a more sustainable and enjoyable approach to personal growth and productivity.
In this special episode of Deep Dive, I'm being interviewed by renownd psychologist and author of Why Has Nobody Told Me This Before? Dr Julie Smith. We'll be talking all about my brand new book Feel-Good Productivity and we discuss the writing process, the insights you can expect from picking up a copy, and all of the research into productivity and wellbeing that went into creating this book. It was strange to be on the other side of the desk, but I hope this conversation gives you a glimpse of what's to come in Feel-Good Productivity. I'm so excited to be sharing this book with you all ❤️
Sponsored by Huel - go to https://www.huel.com/deepdive and with your first order you’ll get a free t-shirt and shaker.
Sponsored by Trading 212 - download the Trading 212 app https://trading212.com/promocodes/ALI and use the promo code "ALI" after signing up and depositing to receive a random free share worth up to £100. This is not financial advice. Investments can fall and rise. Past performance is no guarantee of future results. Other fees may apply*. Capital is at risk.
Sponsored by Kajabi - go to https://www.kajabi.com/ali to get FREE access to the keynote.
📚Check out my New York Times Bestselling book Feel-Good Productivity! Amazon Website
Season 7 Episode 13 (0:00) Intro (2:12) The philosophy behind Feel-Good Productivity (14:30) Hustle culture (18:54) The process of writing the book (23:22) An outline of the book (33:49) Is Feel-Good Productivity for you? (36:46) How to make life more enjoyable (44:10) Being a teacher (48:37) Beating procrastination (57:50) The amygdala hijack (1:02:33) The importance of play (1:10:07) The different types of burnout (1:17:24) My new goal setting technique (1:25:16) The Reitoff Principle (1:29:26) How to find joy in your daily life
Visit the website for the transcript and highlights from the conversation - https://aliabdaal.com/podcast/
🎙 ABOUT THE PODCAST
Deep Dive is the podcast that delves into the minds of entrepreneurs, creators and other inspiring people to uncover the philosophies, strategies and tools that help us live happier, healthier and more productive lives.
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