{"id":124105,"date":"2024-02-29T16:01:00","date_gmt":"2024-02-29T20:01:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.shortform.com\/blog\/?p=124105"},"modified":"2024-03-07T16:04:07","modified_gmt":"2024-03-07T20:04:07","slug":"feel-good-productivity-ali-abdaal","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.shortform.com\/blog\/feel-good-productivity-ali-abdaal\/","title":{"rendered":"Feel-Good Productivity by Ali Abdaal: Overview &#038; Takeaways"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<p>What&#8217;s <em>Feel-Good Productivity<\/em> by Ali Abdaal about? Does the daily grind <em>have<\/em> to be a grind?<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>In <em>Feel-Good Productivity<\/em>, Ali Abdaal explains why and how <a href=\"https:\/\/www.shortform.com\/blog\/emotional-health-and-well-being\/\">emotional well-being<\/a> will boost your productivity. By taking care of yourself, you can work in a way that&#8217;s beneficial to you.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Read below for an overview of <em>Feel-Good Productivity<\/em>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<!--more-->\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"h-feel-good-productivity-by-ali-abdaal\"><strong><em>Feel-Good Productivity<\/em> by Ali Abdaal<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>In <a href=\"https:\/\/us.macmillan.com\/books\/9781250289803\/feelgoodproductivity\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\"><em>Feel-Good Productivity<\/em><\/a>, Ali Abdaal says that most people have the wrong ideas about how to be productive: He argues that getting things done should feel natural, easy, and\u2014most importantly\u2014enjoyable. He provides a comprehensive system for rejecting the \u201cgrind\u201d mindset, boosting your emotional well-being, and learning how to work in ways that energize you instead of drain you.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/aliabdaal.com\/about\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Abdaal<\/a> is an entrepreneur, <a href=\"https:\/\/youtube.com\/aliabdaal\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">YouTuber<\/a>, and <a href=\"https:\/\/aliabdaal.com\/podcast\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">podcaster<\/a>, as well as a popular productivity expert. Abdaal studied medicine at <a href=\"https:\/\/www.cam.ac.uk\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Cambridge University<\/a> and worked as a doctor in the UK\u2014though he soon left the medical field, he credits his current understanding of productivity to his struggles as a medical student and junior doctor. His background in medical science also informs Abdaal\u2019s research- and evidence-based approach to the self-help genre.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"h-what-s-feel-good-productivity\"><strong>What&#8217;s Feel-Good Productivity?<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>Abdaal\u2019s model of productivity is based on the idea that work not only <em>can <\/em>be enjoyable, but it <em>should <\/em>be enjoyable. When work feels good, <strong>it energizes you instead of drains you, meaning you can get a lot more done.<\/strong> Therefore, feel-good productivity not only boosts your emotional well-being, it also benefits the people who rely on you.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Abdaal bases his model of feel-good productivity on the broaden-and-build theory of positive emotions. The broaden-and-build theory states that <strong>feeling good isn\u2019t just a brief reward for accomplishing something; those positive emotions directly lead to even greater accomplishments<\/strong>.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>When you feel good, you\u2019re more receptive to new information and more likely to think of creative ideas\u2014in other words, feeling good <em>broadens <\/em>your mind. Good feelings also <em>build <\/em>a reserve of mental and <a href=\"https:\/\/www.shortform.com\/blog\/emotional-energy\/\">emotional energy<\/a> that you can tap as needed.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Abdaal adds that <strong>feel-good productivity is in direct opposition to the \u201cgrind\u201d that modern culture glamorizes.<\/strong> The popular theory of productivity today is based on discipline and endurance: How much can you force yourself to do? How much stress can you withstand? However, as will become clear throughout this guide, that\u2019s the opposite of how people naturally work.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>In this section, we\u2019ll discuss how Abdaal\u2019s model creates a <a href=\"https:\/\/www.shortform.com\/blog\/virtuous-cycle-john-malone\/\">virtuous cycle<\/a> that will make you happier, more energized, and more productive throughout your life. We\u2019ll also discuss why he says this method works and share a key tip to help you work through this guide effectively.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h4 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"h-the-virtuous-cycle-of-feel-good-productivity\"><strong>The Virtuous Cycle of Feel-Good Productivity<\/strong><\/h4>\n\n\n\n<p>Abdaal says that his model of feel-good productivity can be summed up as a <em>virtuous cycle<\/em>. <strong>A virtuous cycle is a system where each step feeds naturally into the next step, leading to better outcomes over time.<\/strong>&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>The feel-good productivity cycle is as follows:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\"><li>Feeling good boosts your energy.<\/li><li>Energy boosts your productivity.<\/li><li>Productivity makes you feel even better, and the cycle begins again.<\/li><\/ul>\n\n\n\n<h4 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"h-the-science-why-feel-good-productivity-works\"><strong>The Science: Why Feel-Good Productivity Works<\/strong><\/h4>\n\n\n\n<p>Abdaal, who trained as a medical doctor, says that feel-good productivity is effective because it harnesses people\u2019s natural biology and neurology. In simple terms, your body and brain instinctively know when you\u2019re working in a healthy way; they reward you for it with good feelings (to encourage you to keep working that way) and increased energy (so you\u2019re <em>able <\/em>to keep working that way).<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Abdaal explains that you <a href=\"https:\/\/www.shortform.com\/blog\/how-to-feel-positive-emotions\/\">feel positive emotions<\/a> when your brain releases certain hormones, such as dopamine and serotonin. However, <strong>these hormones don\u2019t just produce pleasant feelings, they also have a wide variety of effects that will make you more energetic and productive. <\/strong>For instance, the feeling of excitement comes from <em>dopamine<\/em>; dopamine also boosts your concentration so you can more effectively pursue the thing you\u2019re excited about.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>So, Abdaal designed the feel-good productivity model to help you work in ways that cause you to produce more of those attention- and energy-boosting hormones, and your good feelings let you know that you\u2019re doing it correctly.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>On the other hand, says Abdaal, the grind mindset taps into negative feelings that trigger the production of stress hormones such as adrenaline and cortisol.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>In nature, these stress hormones would help us protect ourselves from danger and withstand pain. As such, <strong>they provide powerful short-term motivation, but they have harmful long-term effects.<\/strong> This is because we didn\u2019t evolve to spend our whole lives feeling stressed and pressured, meaning we aren\u2019t designed to be constantly flooded with adrenaline and cortisol.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h4 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"h-tip-take-a-scientific-approach\"><strong>Tip: Take a Scientific Approach<\/strong><\/h4>\n\n\n\n<p>Abdaal emphasizes that everyone is different, and what makes one person feel good might not help someone else. <strong>The important thing is to figure out what works for <\/strong><strong><em>you. <\/em><\/strong>Therefore, he urges you to think of yourself as a scientist as you integrate feel-good productivity into your life. This means experimenting with different ideas and seeing what the results are.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>If a suggestion in this guide boosts your <a href=\"https:\/\/www.shortform.com\/blog\/happy-employees-are-more-productive\/\">happiness and productivity<\/a>, keep doing it; if not, then let it go. Forcing yourself to do everything Abdaal suggests is just another type of grind, and it\u2019s therefore the opposite of the feel-good productivity mindset.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"h-tap-the-three-sources-of-good-feelings\"><strong>Tap the Three Sources of Good Feelings<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>Abdaal begins by explaining the three sources of positive emotions, which he calls <em>energizers<\/em>. While there are any number of things that can help you feel good\u2014and therefore make you more productive\u2014they all tie back to one or more of these fundamental sources.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>In this section, we\u2019ll discuss each of Abdaal\u2019s three sources of well-being: <a href=\"https:\/\/www.shortform.com\/blog\/have-more-fun\/\">having fun<\/a>, <a href=\"https:\/\/www.shortform.com\/blog\/how-to-empower-yourself\/\">empowering yourself<\/a>, and connecting with other people.&nbsp;&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h4 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"h-source-1-fun\"><strong>Source #1: Fun<\/strong><\/h4>\n\n\n\n<p>Abdaal says <strong>people are hardwired to have fun, and fun is a key part of emotional well-being. <\/strong>You most likely know this from experience: As a child you probably spent countless hours running around, making up games, and playing with whatever had your attention at the moment. There wasn\u2019t a career goal or life plan behind any of this; you were simply having fun because that\u2019s what came naturally to you.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Unfortunately, Abdaal adds, many people lose that sense of fun as they grow up. This happens because our culture teaches that adults are supposed to stop playing games and take life seriously. <strong>However, you can recapture that youthful feeling of joy and excitement by finding the little games in everything you do. <\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<h4 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"h-source-2-empowerment\"><strong>Source #2: Empowerment<\/strong><\/h4>\n\n\n\n<p>Abdaal&#8217;s second source of emotional well-being is <em>empowerment<\/em>, by which he means having a <a href=\"https:\/\/www.shortform.com\/blog\/an-internal-locus-of-control\/\">sense of control<\/a> over your actions, work, and life. He gives three suggestions about how to empower yourself.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h5 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"h-pretend-you-re-already-empowered\">Pretend You\u2019re Already Empowered<\/h5>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Abdaal\u2019s first suggestion is to be bold.<\/strong> Even if you don\u2019t feel like you\u2019re in control, you can still <em>act <\/em>like you are. Imagine yourself as somebody with great <a href=\"https:\/\/www.shortform.com\/blog\/brene-brown-confidence\/\">confidence and self-esteem<\/a>, and pretend to be that person. With time and practice, it will feel less and less like pretending.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>In other words: Fake it until you make it.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h5 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"h-see-how-you-ve-already-improved-then-keep-improving\">See How You\u2019ve Already Improved, Then Keep Improving<\/h5>\n\n\n\n<p>Abdaal\u2019s second tip for self-empowerment is to constantly assess and improve your abilities.<strong> <\/strong>This helps because <strong>knowing that you\u2019re good at what you do will give you a sense of power and control. <\/strong>So, if you\u2019re ever feeling self-conscious about your skills at work or elsewhere, take some time to remember how far you\u2019ve come.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>For example, if you like to draw, there will be times when you\u2019re not satisfied with something you\u2019ve created\u2014but if you compare that drawing to something you made when you were just starting out, you\u2019ll realize just how skilled an artist you\u2019ve become since then.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Also, further <a href=\"https:\/\/www.shortform.com\/blog\/improve-your-skills\/\">improving your skills<\/a> will give you a sense of hope. <\/strong>This is because, even if a situation isn\u2019t what you want it to be, you\u2019ll know that you can improve yourself and eventually change that situation. For instance, if you\u2019re passed over for a promotion at work, you\u2019ll know that you can redouble your efforts and get promoted next time.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h5 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"h-take-responsibility-for-everything\">Take Responsibility for Everything<\/h5>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Abdaal\u2019s third suggestion is to <a href=\"https:\/\/www.shortform.com\/blog\/accepting-responsibility\/\">take responsibility<\/a> for everything you do. <\/strong>Though it seems counterintuitive, accepting the consequences of your decisions and your actions is a major part of feeling like you\u2019re in control of your life. That\u2019s because, when you take accountability, you understand that what you do really matters. On the other hand, if you <em>avoid <\/em>accountability, then it will feel like your actions have no effect on you\u2014in other words, it will seem like you have no control over your own life.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>The author adds that <strong>even when you can\u2019t choose your tasks or goals<\/strong> (a common situation in the workplace, for instance) <strong>you still have control over your mindset and actions.<\/strong> That means it\u2019s up to you whether you want to complain and do a halfhearted job, or to give each task your all even if it\u2019s not what you want to be doing.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h4 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"h-source-3-connection\"><strong>Source #3: Connection<\/strong><\/h4>\n\n\n\n<p>Abdaal\u2019s third and final source of emotional well-being is <em>connecting <\/em>with other people. Look for people who naturally boost your well-being and your energy, and spend as much time with them as possible. <strong>Simply put, you\u2019ll be happier if you have good people around you.<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>One way to build connections, or strengthen existing ones, is to help people when they need it. This is effective because working together naturally brings people closer, and helping others creates bonds of gratitude and goodwill that often lead to new friendships.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Furthermore, you don\u2019t have to wait until someone asks you for help\u2014small acts of kindness can brighten someone\u2019s day and often make them want to do the same for you. On that note, remember that connections work both ways; <strong>accepting kindness from others will strengthen your connections just as surely as helping them will.&nbsp;<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Abdaal\u2019s other suggestion for strengthening connections is to communicate more, and more effectively. He adds that, while it\u2019s important to share your positive thoughts\u2014good news, compliments, and so on\u2014if you <em>only <\/em>share <a href=\"https:\/\/www.shortform.com\/blog\/how-to-have-a-positive-mindset\/\">positive thoughts<\/a> you might come across as shallow or inauthentic. Therefore, it\u2019s equally important to share some of your negative thoughts: your problems, concerns, and (if appropriate) criticisms. Remember, <strong>connection isn\u2019t just about getting people to like you, it\u2019s about getting people to understand and accept you.<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"h-overcome-the-three-sources-of-procrastination\"><strong>Overcome the Three Sources of Procrastination<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>Along with the three sources of emotional well-being, Abdaal discusses three things that harm your emotional well-being and your productivity. He calls them <em>blockers<\/em> and says that they\u2019re the cause of all procrastination. Therefore, <strong>you can <a href=\"https:\/\/www.shortform.com\/blog\/how-to-stop-procrastinating-and-start-studying\/\">stop procrastinating<\/a> simply by figuring out which of the three is getting in your way and removing it.&nbsp;<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>In this section, we\u2019ll discuss Abdaal\u2019s three <a href=\"https:\/\/www.shortform.com\/blog\/what-causes-procrastination-2\/\">causes of procrastination<\/a>: confusion, habit, and anxiety.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h4 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"h-procrastination-cause-1-confusion\"><strong>Procrastination Cause #1: Confusion<\/strong><\/h4>\n\n\n\n<p>Abdaal\u2019s first <a href=\"https:\/\/www.shortform.com\/blog\/what-causes-procrastination-3\/\">cause of procrastination<\/a>, <em>confusion<\/em>, is the most straightforward. This simply means that <strong>you procrastinate when you aren\u2019t sure what to do\u2014or, more often, you aren\u2019t sure how to do it. <\/strong>Thankfully, the solution is equally straightforward: Usually a few simple questions will clear up any confusion so that you can proceed confidently.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>First of all, if necessary, ask some clarifying questions about <em>what <\/em>you\u2019re supposed to do. What exactly is this task? What, specifically, are you trying to accomplish?<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>With that said, the more common cause of confusion is how to approach that task. Abdaal\u2019s solution is not to simply ask how a task should be done, but rather to ask <em>why <\/em>you\u2019re doing it. <strong>Knowing the larger goal behind a task will often help you figure out the best way to approach it. <\/strong>In other words, the answer to <em>why <\/em>will lead to the <em>how.&nbsp;<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>For instance, if your task is to get a sales report ready, it would be helpful to know whether you\u2019re preparing it for someone else in the company\u2014someone who already knows the company\u2019s procedures, expectations, and jargon\u2014or for someone external like a potential investor, who will need some background information. As with everything we discuss in this guide, the principle is equally applicable to personal tasks. Say your current task is to <a href=\"https:\/\/www.shortform.com\/blog\/how-to-get-your-house-in-order\/\">clean your house<\/a>; are you doing that just to make your home more pleasant for yourself, or because you\u2019re <a href=\"https:\/\/www.shortform.com\/blog\/how-to-host-a-party\/\">hosting a party<\/a> and therefore you need the entire house to be spotless?<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Finally, Abdaal says that <strong>if you don\u2019t clarify <\/strong><strong><em>when <\/em><\/strong><strong>to do something, you\u2019ll put it off until the last minute (if there\u2019s a deadline) or won\u2019t do it at all (if there\u2019s no deadline). <\/strong>For example, if you have a report due at the end of the work week and you don\u2019t give yourself a specific time to do it, you\u2019ll find yourself scrambling to finish that report on Friday. To give another example, if you\u2019re planning to call a family member but don\u2019t set aside time to do so, you\u2019ll find that you never get around to making that call.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h4 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"h-procrastination-cause-2-habit\"><strong>Procrastination Cause #2: Habit<\/strong><\/h4>\n\n\n\n<p>Abdaal says that, while confusion is the most straightforward cause of procrastination, <em>habit <\/em>is the most common. In short, once you get into the habit of doing nothing, you\u2019ll tend to keep doing nothing.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>However, habit works both ways; <strong>once you start getting things done, you\u2019ll tend to keep getting things done. <\/strong>Therefore, Abdaal\u2019s solution is to start with something small. Pick a task that will be quick and easy, and do it as soon as possible. For example, if you want to start exercising, you might get started by doing a few pushups or going for a short walk.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>It may not seem significant, but accomplishing that simple task will start breaking you out of your bad <a href=\"https:\/\/www.shortform.com\/blog\/habit-of-procrastination\/\">habit of procrastinating<\/a>.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h4 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"h-procrastination-cause-3-anxiety\"><strong>Procrastination Cause #3: Anxiety<\/strong><\/h4>\n\n\n\n<p>Abdaal says that the third cause of procrastination is <em>anxiety. <\/em><strong>People tend to put off doing things\u2014even things they want to do\u2014when they\u2019re worried about what the outcome might be. <\/strong>For example, people are often hesitant about starting a new hobby because they\u2019re worried about looking foolish in front of more experienced hobbyists.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Abdaal adds that there\u2019s no way to completely get rid of your anxiety, but there are a few things you can do to help yourself work through it.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>The first step is to identify your anxiety: What, specifically, are you afraid is going to happen? <\/strong>To continue the above example, someone who\u2019s new to a hobby might be anxious about other people making fun of their lack of knowledge or skill.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>The second step, says Abdaal, is to assess your anxiety. <\/strong>This means asking yourself whether your anxiety is a reasonable response to something that\u2019s probably not that big of a deal. Abdaal suggests considering, if the thing you\u2019re worried about <em>does <\/em>happen, how bad will it really be? If someone does make fun of that new hobbyist, will it still matter the next day, the next month, or the next year? If something won\u2019t matter in the long run, then it\u2019s not worth worrying about.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Abdaal says that <strong>once you\u2019ve finished those two steps, all that remains is to face your anxiety. <\/strong>With a clear idea of what you\u2019re concerned about, and how reasonable that concern really is, you\u2019re as prepared as you can be to get started.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"h-avoid-the-three-kinds-of-burnout\"><strong>Avoid the Three Kinds of Burnout<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>Now you\u2019ve read about harnessing your emotional well-being, as well as overcoming the obstacles that cause you <a href=\"https:\/\/www.shortform.com\/blog\/to-procrastinate\/\">to procrastinate<\/a>. This final section will teach you how to make your productivity sustainable. In simpler terms, this section discusses <a href=\"https:\/\/www.shortform.com\/blog\/how-to-prevent-burnout\/\">how to avoid burnout<\/a>.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Abdaal begins by saying that <strong>burnout sets in when work stops feeling good and starts to feel tedious, meaningless, or overwhelming instead.<\/strong> This means that your work is harming your emotional well-being instead of boosting it. Many people misunderstand this fundamental concept; they assume that <em>burnout <\/em>is just another word for <em>exhaustion<\/em>, and they can fix it by simply resting for a day or two.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>In this final section, we\u2019ll go over the three types of burnout that Abdaal describes, and how to avoid them.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h4 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"h-burnout-type-1-strain\"><strong>Burnout Type #1: Strain<\/strong><\/h4>\n\n\n\n<p>Abdaal\u2019s first type of <strong>burnout happens when you\u2019re simply trying to do too much; even the positive energy you get from feel-good productivity has limits.<\/strong> So, just like exercising too much can cause you to strain a muscle, doing too much can cause you to \u201cstrain\u201d your well-being.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>You can avoid or recover from this type of burnout by taking a healthier approach to your day-to-day work. This is simple in theory, but it can be difficult in practice, so Abdaal offers some tips.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h4 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"h-burnout-type-2-drain\"><strong>Burnout Type #2: Drain<\/strong><\/h4>\n\n\n\n<p>Abdaal\u2019s second type of burnout is a counterpart to the first: Whereas <em>strain <\/em>happens when you work too much, <em>drain <\/em>happens when you don\u2019t get enough rest after working. Naturally, this can happen because you don\u2019t take enough time for yourself\u2014however, the problem could also be that you\u2019re not resting in a way that\u2019s truly restorative.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Abdaal explains that effective types of rest help you to feel calm and (temporarily) free of any demands on your time or energy. <\/strong>Each person is different, so only you can discover exactly what works for you. For example, some people find playing video games to be restful, while others prefer creative hobbies like writing or drawing, and still others enjoy going out to the bar or playing sports with their friends.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Most importantly, says Abdaal, whatever your preferred methods of rest are, don\u2019t let them turn into more work. <\/strong>The grind mindset will try to creep in and tell you that your hobbies are a waste of time if you\u2019re not making money with them. However, Abdaal points out that when your hobby becomes your \u201cside hustle,\u201d it no longer restores your energy\u2014instead, it places even more demands on you and makes you burn out even more quickly.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h4 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"h-burnout-type-3-mismatch\"><strong>Burnout Type #3: Mismatch<\/strong><\/h4>\n\n\n\n<p>Abdaal\u2019s final type of burnout, <em>mismatch<\/em>, happens when your work doesn\u2019t line up with your interests and principles. <strong>If what you\u2019re doing feels meaningless, that\u2019s a clear sign you\u2019re headed for this kind of burnout.&nbsp;<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>The easiest way to tell whether you\u2019re suffering from mismatch is to think about why you\u2019re working on something; in short, what\u2019s motivating you? If your only motivation is some kind of reward, such as a paycheck, prestige, or someone else\u2019s goodwill, then the task isn\u2019t a good match for you.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>On the other hand, <strong>if your feelings are helping to drive you<\/strong>\u2014if you\u2019re excited to work on that task, or you\u2019d be willing to do it even without any reward\u2014<strong>then your actions are properly aligned with your goals.<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Abdaal saves mismatch burnout for last because it\u2019s the most difficult to avoid and to recover from. He says that matching what you <em>do <\/em>with what you <em>want <\/em>is a lifelong process that needs frequent self-evaluations and adjustments.&nbsp;<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>What&#8217;s Feel-Good Productivity by Ali Abdaal about? Does the daily grind have to be a grind? In Feel-Good Productivity, Ali Abdaal explains why and how emotional well-being will boost your productivity. By taking care of yourself, you can work in a way that&#8217;s beneficial to you. Read below for an overview of Feel-Good Productivity.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":14,"featured_media":124167,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[40,42,30],"tags":[1422],"class_list":["post-124105","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-books","category-motivation","category-work","tag-feel-good-productivity","","tg-column-two"],"yoast_head":"<!-- This site is optimized with the Yoast SEO Premium plugin v24.3 (Yoast SEO v24.3) - https:\/\/yoast.com\/wordpress\/plugins\/seo\/ -->\n<title>Feel-Good Productivity by Ali Abdaal: Overview &amp; Takeaways - Shortform Books<\/title>\n<meta name=\"description\" content=\"In Feel-Good Productivity, Ali Abdaal rejects the &quot;grind&quot; mindset that causes burnout and drains your well-being. Read more in our overview.\" \/>\n<meta name=\"robots\" content=\"index, follow, max-snippet:-1, max-image-preview:large, max-video-preview:-1\" \/>\n<link rel=\"canonical\" href=\"https:\/\/www.shortform.com\/blog\/feel-good-productivity-ali-abdaal\/\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:locale\" content=\"en_US\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:type\" content=\"article\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:title\" content=\"Feel-Good Productivity by Ali Abdaal: Overview &amp; Takeaways\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:description\" content=\"In Feel-Good Productivity, Ali Abdaal rejects the &quot;grind&quot; mindset that causes burnout and drains your well-being. Read more in our overview.\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:url\" content=\"https:\/\/www.shortform.com\/blog\/feel-good-productivity-ali-abdaal\/\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:site_name\" content=\"Shortform Books\" \/>\n<meta property=\"article:published_time\" content=\"2024-02-29T20:01:00+00:00\" \/>\n<meta property=\"article:modified_time\" content=\"2024-03-07T20:04:07+00:00\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:image\" content=\"https:\/\/s3.amazonaws.com\/wordpress.shortform.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/03\/bearded-middle-aged-grey-haired-man-holding-a-book.jpeg\" \/>\n\t<meta property=\"og:image:width\" content=\"1200\" \/>\n\t<meta property=\"og:image:height\" content=\"675\" \/>\n\t<meta property=\"og:image:type\" content=\"image\/jpeg\" \/>\n<meta name=\"author\" content=\"Katie Doll\" \/>\n<meta name=\"twitter:card\" content=\"summary_large_image\" \/>\n<meta name=\"twitter:label1\" content=\"Written by\" \/>\n\t<meta name=\"twitter:data1\" content=\"Katie Doll\" \/>\n\t<meta name=\"twitter:label2\" content=\"Est. reading time\" \/>\n\t<meta name=\"twitter:data2\" content=\"14 minutes\" \/>\n<script type=\"application\/ld+json\" class=\"yoast-schema-graph\">{\"@context\":\"https:\/\/schema.org\",\"@graph\":[{\"@type\":\"Article\",\"@id\":\"https:\/\/www.shortform.com\/blog\/feel-good-productivity-ali-abdaal\/#article\",\"isPartOf\":{\"@id\":\"https:\/\/www.shortform.com\/blog\/feel-good-productivity-ali-abdaal\/\"},\"author\":{\"name\":\"Katie Doll\",\"@id\":\"https:\/\/www.shortform.com\/blog\/#\/schema\/person\/c3e1b539e89423b544ede91ab2bff937\"},\"headline\":\"Feel-Good Productivity by Ali Abdaal: Overview &#038; Takeaways\",\"datePublished\":\"2024-02-29T20:01:00+00:00\",\"dateModified\":\"2024-03-07T20:04:07+00:00\",\"mainEntityOfPage\":{\"@id\":\"https:\/\/www.shortform.com\/blog\/feel-good-productivity-ali-abdaal\/\"},\"wordCount\":3278,\"commentCount\":0,\"publisher\":{\"@id\":\"https:\/\/www.shortform.com\/blog\/#organization\"},\"image\":{\"@id\":\"https:\/\/www.shortform.com\/blog\/feel-good-productivity-ali-abdaal\/#primaryimage\"},\"thumbnailUrl\":\"https:\/\/www.shortform.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/03\/bearded-middle-aged-grey-haired-man-holding-a-book.jpeg\",\"keywords\":[\"Feel-Good Productivity\"],\"articleSection\":[\"Books\",\"Motivation\",\"Work\"],\"inLanguage\":\"en-US\",\"potentialAction\":[{\"@type\":\"CommentAction\",\"name\":\"Comment\",\"target\":[\"https:\/\/www.shortform.com\/blog\/feel-good-productivity-ali-abdaal\/#respond\"]}]},{\"@type\":\"WebPage\",\"@id\":\"https:\/\/www.shortform.com\/blog\/feel-good-productivity-ali-abdaal\/\",\"url\":\"https:\/\/www.shortform.com\/blog\/feel-good-productivity-ali-abdaal\/\",\"name\":\"Feel-Good Productivity by Ali Abdaal: Overview & Takeaways - Shortform Books\",\"isPartOf\":{\"@id\":\"https:\/\/www.shortform.com\/blog\/#website\"},\"primaryImageOfPage\":{\"@id\":\"https:\/\/www.shortform.com\/blog\/feel-good-productivity-ali-abdaal\/#primaryimage\"},\"image\":{\"@id\":\"https:\/\/www.shortform.com\/blog\/feel-good-productivity-ali-abdaal\/#primaryimage\"},\"thumbnailUrl\":\"https:\/\/www.shortform.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/03\/bearded-middle-aged-grey-haired-man-holding-a-book.jpeg\",\"datePublished\":\"2024-02-29T20:01:00+00:00\",\"dateModified\":\"2024-03-07T20:04:07+00:00\",\"description\":\"In Feel-Good Productivity, Ali Abdaal rejects the \\\"grind\\\" mindset that causes burnout and drains your well-being. Read more in our overview.\",\"breadcrumb\":{\"@id\":\"https:\/\/www.shortform.com\/blog\/feel-good-productivity-ali-abdaal\/#breadcrumb\"},\"inLanguage\":\"en-US\",\"potentialAction\":[{\"@type\":\"ReadAction\",\"target\":[\"https:\/\/www.shortform.com\/blog\/feel-good-productivity-ali-abdaal\/\"]}]},{\"@type\":\"ImageObject\",\"inLanguage\":\"en-US\",\"@id\":\"https:\/\/www.shortform.com\/blog\/feel-good-productivity-ali-abdaal\/#primaryimage\",\"url\":\"https:\/\/www.shortform.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/03\/bearded-middle-aged-grey-haired-man-holding-a-book.jpeg\",\"contentUrl\":\"https:\/\/www.shortform.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/03\/bearded-middle-aged-grey-haired-man-holding-a-book.jpeg\",\"width\":1200,\"height\":675,\"caption\":\"A bearded man wearing a suit in an office and reading a book\"},{\"@type\":\"BreadcrumbList\",\"@id\":\"https:\/\/www.shortform.com\/blog\/feel-good-productivity-ali-abdaal\/#breadcrumb\",\"itemListElement\":[{\"@type\":\"ListItem\",\"position\":1,\"name\":\"Home\",\"item\":\"https:\/\/www.shortform.com\/blog\/\"},{\"@type\":\"ListItem\",\"position\":2,\"name\":\"Feel-Good Productivity by Ali Abdaal: Overview &#038; Takeaways\"}]},{\"@type\":\"WebSite\",\"@id\":\"https:\/\/www.shortform.com\/blog\/#website\",\"url\":\"https:\/\/www.shortform.com\/blog\/\",\"name\":\"Shortform Books\",\"description\":\"The World&#039;s Best Book Summaries\",\"publisher\":{\"@id\":\"https:\/\/www.shortform.com\/blog\/#organization\"},\"potentialAction\":[{\"@type\":\"SearchAction\",\"target\":{\"@type\":\"EntryPoint\",\"urlTemplate\":\"https:\/\/www.shortform.com\/blog\/?s={search_term_string}\"},\"query-input\":{\"@type\":\"PropertyValueSpecification\",\"valueRequired\":true,\"valueName\":\"search_term_string\"}}],\"inLanguage\":\"en-US\"},{\"@type\":\"Organization\",\"@id\":\"https:\/\/www.shortform.com\/blog\/#organization\",\"name\":\"Shortform Books\",\"url\":\"https:\/\/www.shortform.com\/blog\/\",\"logo\":{\"@type\":\"ImageObject\",\"inLanguage\":\"en-US\",\"@id\":\"https:\/\/www.shortform.com\/blog\/#\/schema\/logo\/image\/\",\"url\":\"https:\/\/www.shortform.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/06\/logo-equilateral-with-text-no-bg.png\",\"contentUrl\":\"https:\/\/www.shortform.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/06\/logo-equilateral-with-text-no-bg.png\",\"width\":500,\"height\":74,\"caption\":\"Shortform Books\"},\"image\":{\"@id\":\"https:\/\/www.shortform.com\/blog\/#\/schema\/logo\/image\/\"}},{\"@type\":\"Person\",\"@id\":\"https:\/\/www.shortform.com\/blog\/#\/schema\/person\/c3e1b539e89423b544ede91ab2bff937\",\"name\":\"Katie Doll\",\"image\":{\"@type\":\"ImageObject\",\"inLanguage\":\"en-US\",\"@id\":\"https:\/\/www.shortform.com\/blog\/#\/schema\/person\/image\/\",\"url\":\"https:\/\/secure.gravatar.com\/avatar\/6239731a3fc739640b80be30f2b1727a055d3535d0ee4569e8282faa323e47fc?s=96&d=mm&r=g\",\"contentUrl\":\"https:\/\/secure.gravatar.com\/avatar\/6239731a3fc739640b80be30f2b1727a055d3535d0ee4569e8282faa323e47fc?s=96&d=mm&r=g\",\"caption\":\"Katie Doll\"},\"description\":\"Somehow, Katie was able to pull off her childhood dream of creating a career around books after graduating with a degree in English and a concentration in Creative Writing. Her preferred genre of books has changed drastically over the years, from fantasy\/dystopian young-adult to moving novels and non-fiction books on the human experience. Katie especially enjoys reading and writing about all things television, good and bad.\",\"knowsAbout\":[\"Bachelor of Arts in English With a Concentration in Creative Writing\"],\"jobTitle\":\"Senior SEO Writer\",\"worksFor\":\"Shortform\",\"url\":\"https:\/\/www.shortform.com\/blog\/author\/katie\/\"}]}<\/script>\n<!-- \/ Yoast SEO Premium plugin. -->","yoast_head_json":{"title":"Feel-Good Productivity by Ali Abdaal: Overview & Takeaways - Shortform Books","description":"In Feel-Good Productivity, Ali Abdaal rejects the \"grind\" mindset that causes burnout and drains your well-being. Read more in our overview.","robots":{"index":"index","follow":"follow","max-snippet":"max-snippet:-1","max-image-preview":"max-image-preview:large","max-video-preview":"max-video-preview:-1"},"canonical":"https:\/\/www.shortform.com\/blog\/feel-good-productivity-ali-abdaal\/","og_locale":"en_US","og_type":"article","og_title":"Feel-Good Productivity by Ali Abdaal: Overview & Takeaways","og_description":"In Feel-Good Productivity, Ali Abdaal rejects the \"grind\" mindset that causes burnout and drains your well-being. Read more in our overview.","og_url":"https:\/\/www.shortform.com\/blog\/feel-good-productivity-ali-abdaal\/","og_site_name":"Shortform Books","article_published_time":"2024-02-29T20:01:00+00:00","article_modified_time":"2024-03-07T20:04:07+00:00","og_image":[{"width":1200,"height":675,"url":"https:\/\/s3.amazonaws.com\/wordpress.shortform.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/03\/bearded-middle-aged-grey-haired-man-holding-a-book.jpeg","type":"image\/jpeg"}],"author":"Katie Doll","twitter_card":"summary_large_image","twitter_misc":{"Written by":"Katie Doll","Est. reading time":"14 minutes"},"schema":{"@context":"https:\/\/schema.org","@graph":[{"@type":"Article","@id":"https:\/\/www.shortform.com\/blog\/feel-good-productivity-ali-abdaal\/#article","isPartOf":{"@id":"https:\/\/www.shortform.com\/blog\/feel-good-productivity-ali-abdaal\/"},"author":{"name":"Katie Doll","@id":"https:\/\/www.shortform.com\/blog\/#\/schema\/person\/c3e1b539e89423b544ede91ab2bff937"},"headline":"Feel-Good Productivity by Ali Abdaal: Overview &#038; Takeaways","datePublished":"2024-02-29T20:01:00+00:00","dateModified":"2024-03-07T20:04:07+00:00","mainEntityOfPage":{"@id":"https:\/\/www.shortform.com\/blog\/feel-good-productivity-ali-abdaal\/"},"wordCount":3278,"commentCount":0,"publisher":{"@id":"https:\/\/www.shortform.com\/blog\/#organization"},"image":{"@id":"https:\/\/www.shortform.com\/blog\/feel-good-productivity-ali-abdaal\/#primaryimage"},"thumbnailUrl":"https:\/\/www.shortform.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/03\/bearded-middle-aged-grey-haired-man-holding-a-book.jpeg","keywords":["Feel-Good Productivity"],"articleSection":["Books","Motivation","Work"],"inLanguage":"en-US","potentialAction":[{"@type":"CommentAction","name":"Comment","target":["https:\/\/www.shortform.com\/blog\/feel-good-productivity-ali-abdaal\/#respond"]}]},{"@type":"WebPage","@id":"https:\/\/www.shortform.com\/blog\/feel-good-productivity-ali-abdaal\/","url":"https:\/\/www.shortform.com\/blog\/feel-good-productivity-ali-abdaal\/","name":"Feel-Good Productivity by Ali Abdaal: Overview & Takeaways - Shortform Books","isPartOf":{"@id":"https:\/\/www.shortform.com\/blog\/#website"},"primaryImageOfPage":{"@id":"https:\/\/www.shortform.com\/blog\/feel-good-productivity-ali-abdaal\/#primaryimage"},"image":{"@id":"https:\/\/www.shortform.com\/blog\/feel-good-productivity-ali-abdaal\/#primaryimage"},"thumbnailUrl":"https:\/\/www.shortform.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/03\/bearded-middle-aged-grey-haired-man-holding-a-book.jpeg","datePublished":"2024-02-29T20:01:00+00:00","dateModified":"2024-03-07T20:04:07+00:00","description":"In Feel-Good Productivity, Ali Abdaal rejects the \"grind\" mindset that causes burnout and drains your well-being. Read more in our overview.","breadcrumb":{"@id":"https:\/\/www.shortform.com\/blog\/feel-good-productivity-ali-abdaal\/#breadcrumb"},"inLanguage":"en-US","potentialAction":[{"@type":"ReadAction","target":["https:\/\/www.shortform.com\/blog\/feel-good-productivity-ali-abdaal\/"]}]},{"@type":"ImageObject","inLanguage":"en-US","@id":"https:\/\/www.shortform.com\/blog\/feel-good-productivity-ali-abdaal\/#primaryimage","url":"https:\/\/www.shortform.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/03\/bearded-middle-aged-grey-haired-man-holding-a-book.jpeg","contentUrl":"https:\/\/www.shortform.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/03\/bearded-middle-aged-grey-haired-man-holding-a-book.jpeg","width":1200,"height":675,"caption":"A bearded man wearing a suit in an office and reading a book"},{"@type":"BreadcrumbList","@id":"https:\/\/www.shortform.com\/blog\/feel-good-productivity-ali-abdaal\/#breadcrumb","itemListElement":[{"@type":"ListItem","position":1,"name":"Home","item":"https:\/\/www.shortform.com\/blog\/"},{"@type":"ListItem","position":2,"name":"Feel-Good Productivity by Ali Abdaal: Overview &#038; Takeaways"}]},{"@type":"WebSite","@id":"https:\/\/www.shortform.com\/blog\/#website","url":"https:\/\/www.shortform.com\/blog\/","name":"Shortform Books","description":"The World&#039;s Best Book Summaries","publisher":{"@id":"https:\/\/www.shortform.com\/blog\/#organization"},"potentialAction":[{"@type":"SearchAction","target":{"@type":"EntryPoint","urlTemplate":"https:\/\/www.shortform.com\/blog\/?s={search_term_string}"},"query-input":{"@type":"PropertyValueSpecification","valueRequired":true,"valueName":"search_term_string"}}],"inLanguage":"en-US"},{"@type":"Organization","@id":"https:\/\/www.shortform.com\/blog\/#organization","name":"Shortform Books","url":"https:\/\/www.shortform.com\/blog\/","logo":{"@type":"ImageObject","inLanguage":"en-US","@id":"https:\/\/www.shortform.com\/blog\/#\/schema\/logo\/image\/","url":"https:\/\/www.shortform.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/06\/logo-equilateral-with-text-no-bg.png","contentUrl":"https:\/\/www.shortform.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/06\/logo-equilateral-with-text-no-bg.png","width":500,"height":74,"caption":"Shortform Books"},"image":{"@id":"https:\/\/www.shortform.com\/blog\/#\/schema\/logo\/image\/"}},{"@type":"Person","@id":"https:\/\/www.shortform.com\/blog\/#\/schema\/person\/c3e1b539e89423b544ede91ab2bff937","name":"Katie Doll","image":{"@type":"ImageObject","inLanguage":"en-US","@id":"https:\/\/www.shortform.com\/blog\/#\/schema\/person\/image\/","url":"https:\/\/secure.gravatar.com\/avatar\/6239731a3fc739640b80be30f2b1727a055d3535d0ee4569e8282faa323e47fc?s=96&d=mm&r=g","contentUrl":"https:\/\/secure.gravatar.com\/avatar\/6239731a3fc739640b80be30f2b1727a055d3535d0ee4569e8282faa323e47fc?s=96&d=mm&r=g","caption":"Katie Doll"},"description":"Somehow, Katie was able to pull off her childhood dream of creating a career around books after graduating with a degree in English and a concentration in Creative Writing. Her preferred genre of books has changed drastically over the years, from fantasy\/dystopian young-adult to moving novels and non-fiction books on the human experience. Katie especially enjoys reading and writing about all things television, good and bad.","knowsAbout":["Bachelor of Arts in English With a Concentration in Creative Writing"],"jobTitle":"Senior SEO Writer","worksFor":"Shortform","url":"https:\/\/www.shortform.com\/blog\/author\/katie\/"}]}},"jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"jetpack_featured_media_url":"https:\/\/www.shortform.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/03\/bearded-middle-aged-grey-haired-man-holding-a-book.jpeg","_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.shortform.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/124105","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.shortform.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.shortform.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.shortform.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/14"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.shortform.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=124105"}],"version-history":[{"count":4,"href":"https:\/\/www.shortform.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/124105\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":124276,"href":"https:\/\/www.shortform.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/124105\/revisions\/124276"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.shortform.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/124167"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.shortform.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=124105"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.shortform.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=124105"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.shortform.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=124105"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}