How joy and play can enhance productivity, exploring the story of Richard Feynman. Importance of taking responsibility and finding enjoyment in work. Benefits of time boxing and dealing with distractions. How time boxing improves productivity and helps in living an intentional life.
Experiencing positive emotions in our work enhances productivity, creativity, reduces stress, and generates energy for other areas of our life.
Approaching work with a spirit of play can boost creativity, productivity, and enjoyment, even in high-stakes situations.
Deep dives
The Philosophy of Feel Good Productivity
Feel good productivity emphasizes the importance of experiencing positive emotions in our work, as it not only increases productivity but also enhances creativity, reduces stress, and generates energy for other areas of our life. The author stumbled upon research in positive psychology that supported this idea and led him to write the book 'Feel Good Productivity'. The book explores the antidote to hustle culture and focuses on enjoying the journey rather than solely pursuing productivity.
The Underrated Importance of Play
Play is an underrated productivity technique that boosts creativity and productivity. The story of Nobel Prize winner Richard Feynman illustrates how approaching work with a spirit of play can reignite enjoyment and lead to breakthroughs. Play requires a combination of high engagement and low stress. While external environments may not always facilitate play, individuals can cultivate a playful mindset and approach their work with lightness, even in high-stakes situations.
Autonomy, Responsibility, and Finding Joy
Even without full autonomy over what we do at work, we can still exercise control over how we approach our tasks and our mindset. Taking responsibility for the process and finding ways to make it more enjoyable can lead to increased engagement, productivity, and energy. Viewing work with a sense of lightness, even in challenging or life-and-death situations, can improve performance. Additionally, curiosity, alignment, and finding small ways to make tasks more enjoyable can enhance productivity, even when doing something we may not initially want to do.
It's a new working year, and you've got lofty ideas about doing more of... everything! But how can you actually achieve more of the stuff that matters to you? Isabel speaks to Ali Abdaal, a former doctor and one of the world's most-followed productivity experts, to hear about the role joy can play in working better. Later, Marc Zao-Sanders discusses timeboxing – a pragmatic way to focus on important tasks.
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Presented by Isabel Berwick, produced by Mischa Frankl-Duval, mixed by Simon Panayi. The executive producer is Manuela Saragosa. Cheryl Brumley is the FT’s head of audio.