Productivity isn’t just about discipline

One of the central premises in Ali Abdaal’s flagship book is that productivity isn’t just about discipline. Drawing on his three-year experience as a deeply unfilled, burnt-out junior doctor, Ali discusses the productivity mindset shift he underwent. Previously, he thought that discipline alone would suffice. He believed that grinding it out would inevitably lead to success. However, he soon discovered that the study strategies he had previously relied upon no longer applied. With more patients than he could ever possibly see during a single shift, he stumbled upon a new approach.

I initially dismissed the book, thinking that it wouldn’t actually help me become more productive. I used to believe that being productive meant getting on with the work (the famous Just do it Nike slogan) and not worrying about systems. While there’s still a lot of truth in that (there’s diminishing returns), Ali opened my eyes to new ways of sustaining long-term productivity — and enjoying it, too.

The book delves into the intricacies and benefits of feel-good productivity in great detail (as you’d expect). But let me share one of my favourite insights that helps showcase just the tip of the iceberg.

Photo by Shubham Dhage on Unsplash

Here are my favourite benefits mentioned in the book:

• Opens your mind: drawing on the ‘broaden and build’ theory from Frederickson et al., Ali explains how being in a positive mood opens us up to new experiences and widens the range of actions we might consider. Positive emotions broaden our minds and build up a surplus of internal resources — such as resilience and problem-solving — that we can draw on later.
• Career success through positivity. Employees who experience more positive emotions at work often become stronger problem-solvers, better planners and more creative. These traits can help reduce stress and lead to better performance reviews, ultimately creating a positive feedback loop.
• Enjoying work aligned with a purpose. Ali shared stories of Nobel prize winners (like Richard Feynman) who described their work as play. Their motivation comes from within, not from chasing prestige (like the Nobels they won). It’s the dream for many — doing something so meaningful that it feels like play, not work.

Photo by Jon Flobrant on Unsplash

Reading the book was enjoyable, but the biggest impact came from the takeaways that I could apply to my workflow. These are the suggestions that stood out the most:

Asking for help

Ali talks discusses the ‘Franklin effect’ — how asking for help can make others like us more. Still, many of us find it difficult. We worry about being a nuisance. Ali encourages us to overcome this mental blocker.

A practical tip: ask in person. This could be up to thirty-four times more effective than virtual requests (e.g. via email or Slack). Ali doesn’t elaborate on why, but I suspect this relates to our evolution as social beings who respond better to in-person interactions.

Another valuable insight: avoid negative or transactional language. Instead of saying ‘I feel bad to ask you this’ or offering an exchange (if you do x for me, I’ll do y for you in return), highlight the value the other person brings. For example: ‘I admired the way you architected the solution on [x]. Would you have time to share some of your thought process?’ People appreciate feeling valued and will likely be glad that you came to them.

Low-stakes entry

Another favourite example is the five-minute rule. Starting is often the hardest part (e.g. going to the gym), but once you begin, it becomes a lot easier to continue. The rule is simple: start for five minutes. If you want to stop after that, you can guilt-free. But often, just starting is enough to build momentum to keep going.

Next step

Ali interviewed Dr Tim Pychyl, a leading procrastination researcher, who shared a simple strategy for overcoming procrastination: just think about the next step. You still need to execute that next step, but this approach is especially helpful for tackling large and overwhelming projects. Breaking a large project into a clear next step makes it a lot easier to get started.

Rest

Lately, I’ve been feeling exhausted — during my commute, in the evenings after office days, and randomly throughout the week. This is despite focusing on good sleep hygiene, diet and exercise. I feel guilty when I take breaks, even when I don’t feel I have enough mental bandwidth.

Ali reframes rest as essential. Taking frequent breaks isn’t laziness — it’s a way to protect our energy for later. Sometimes, that means ending a Pomodoro session after five minutes. You’ll likely return with more energy and greater focus.

One of my favourite examples from the book: LeBron James is one of the fastest NBA players in history (sprinting at 17mph), yet he spends 75% of his time on the court walking. When he walks on the court, he’s one of the slowest players (averaging 3.5mph). Conservation of energy helps explain how he’s stayed at the top of his game for nearly 20 years, when most players peak for around 4.5 years. He plays an average of 70 games a season, compared to the average for other players at 50 games a season in their prime. Efficiency isn’t just about doing more — it’s also knowing when to slow down.

An ideal life

Many CEOs reference this idea (e.g. Jeff Bezos’s regret minimisation framework). In Professor Kramer’s ‘Life of Consequence’ course at Stanford, students write their obituary as if they’d lived the perfect life. The exercise helps highlight the gap between your current path and where you want to end up.

It’s easy to get short-sighted. But when you deliberately focus on what really matters, you can begin making (or make more) choices that align with your long-term values. Writing things down can clarify your true priorities in life — which may not align with your current habits.

Current, alternative & radical

Towards the end of the book, Ali discusses an exercise from the Design Your Life course and book:

• Current path: write out what your next five years would look like if you stayed on your current trajectory
• Alternative path: imagine you chose an entirely different direction. What would the next five years look like?
• Radical path: if money, social obligations and others’ opinions didn’t matter, what would you do?

The radical path helps clarify your deepest desires — things you might be afraid to pursue. For some, despite knowing this, they may still want to continue along their current path, and that’s ok too. The point isn’t to force a change, but to help you reflect deeply on your options.

Overall, I thoroughly enjoyed reading Ali Abdaal’s book. It’s a light, engaging read, rich in psychological research and actionable insights to help you sustain long-term productivity.