Oliver Howard
Ali Abdaal’s Feel-Good Productivity is a refreshing take on the personal productivity genre that prioritizes emotional well-being over hustle culture. Instead of the usual “grind harder” rhetoric, Abdaal introduces three core challenges to meaningful productivity—Energize, Unblock, and Sustain—and guides readers through each with a combination of scientific studies, philosophy, and lived experience.
In the best way possible, it is clear that Abdaal’s background is as a content creator: his writing is accessible, warm, and actionable without being self-congratulatory or preachy. The ideas feel grounded in both evidence and real life. While there are a few moments of repetition (the sections about motivation), they didn't feel too out of place and did not interfere with the flow of the narrative.
Some of the strongest sections explore the psychological underpinnings of productivity. The Energize section delves into how play, people, and power fuel motivation. The Unblock chapter breaks down how emotional blockers like fear, uncertainty, and trouble getting started can be overcome using practical tools like the 5-minute rule, cognitive reappraisal, and “the Batman effect.” In Sustain, Abdaal tackles conservation, recharging, and alignment in a way that feels empathetic, offering concepts like The Reitoff Principle, alignment experiments, and the Odyssey Plan as tools for reflection and recharge.
If you’re someone who finds traditional productivity advice overwhelming, rigid, or joyless, Feel-Good Productivity offers a human-first, flexible alternative.
Ali Abdaal’s Feel-Good Productivity is a refreshing take on the personal productivity genre that prioritizes emotional well-being over hustle culture. Instead of the usual “grind harder” rhetoric, Abdaal introduces three core challenges to meaningful productivity—Energize, Unblock, and Sustain—and guides readers through each with a combination of scientific studies, philosophy, and lived experience.
In the best way possible, it is clear that Abdaal’s background is as a content creator: his writing is accessible, warm, and actionable without being self-congratulatory or preachy. The ideas feel grounded in both evidence and real life. While there are a few moments of repetition (the sections about motivation), they didn't feel too out of place and did not interfere with the flow of the narrative.
Some of the strongest sections explore the psychological underpinnings of productivity. The Energize section delves into how play, people, and power fuel motivation. The Unblock chapter breaks down how emotional blockers like fear, uncertainty, and trouble getting started can be overcome using practical tools like the 5-minute rule, cognitive reappraisal, and “the Batman effect.” In Sustain, Abdaal tackles conservation, recharging, and alignment in a way that feels empathetic, offering concepts like The Reitoff Principle, alignment experiments, and the Odyssey Plan as tools for reflection and recharge.
If you’re someone who finds traditional productivity advice overwhelming, rigid, or joyless, Feel-Good Productivity offers a human-first, flexible alternative.