Book 2 - Post 2
The book I chose to read was "Feel Good Productivity", by Ali Abdaal. Initially, what drew me to this book was the title; I love being productive, and sometimes felt that I was an expert procrastinator. Alas, this was why I was drawn to the book. What I hoped to get out of this book was tactics and ways to not only feel good about yourself, in terms of being self sufficient, but how to be productive, even when it is easy to be distracted due to your environment. Additionally, I wanted this book to spark a sense of productivity within myself, and it definitely did just that!
One of my favourite takeaways from Abdaal was the emphasis on finding joy and satisfaction in the process of work, rather then merely coming consumed by the outcome. This really changed my perspectives on things. Rather than completing tasks for the mere sake of tallying up what you completed in a day, try and find genuine interest, joy, and passion with what you do. A particular quote that stuck with me was "Productivity isn't about getting more done, it's about enjoying your life', and this was an approach to being active I had never thought of in my life.
Finally, the last takeaway from the book was how the audience is informed that true productivity encompasses both professional and personal growth. Sometimes, human beings get consumed by their careers, and forget to progress themselves, and prioritise their health and mentality. Abdaal offered a really unique approach and perspective to this, and I really resonated with it. I could not recommend this book enough, it certainly gave me a more 360 degree view on life and myself, and for that I am grateful.
Raph, this was wonderfully written. Your last takeaway is something I deeply resonate with. We really do tend to get consumed by our aspirations and careers to the point where sometimes we forget to check on ourselves. Our mental and physical health is subject to taking a toll when we go too far with these matters. I am now feeling obliged to read this book.
ReplyDeleteHello, Raph. Having read this book as well I can totally agree with you on many of these aspects (especially expert procrastinator). You are so right in the third paragraph, people look forward to the end product so much, they forget to enjoy the process/journey. This is why I would rather my superpower to be the ability to fly rather than teletransportation. Thank you for your insights on this book, Raph. Have a good day!
ReplyDeleteRaph, I chose this book too. I am happy you got as much out of it as I did. The book is great and really gives you a great perspective on things. I liked how you approached it as well. It is always very interesting to hear what others take away from something I have read as well. What I get out of it could be different than what you get out of it. It provides a great incite into what people see as important.
ReplyDeleteThank you for sharing your takeaways. I think being productive, especially in regards to career, shouldn't be bad. But it is something we tend to get caught up in, especially in capitalist society. We should be working to live not living to work.
ReplyDeleteI am definitely going to check this book out after the semester. I enjoy books that discuss the human psyche and how productivity can be beneficial in so many ways other than the final outcome. It allows me to understand patience and virtue in my work as I approach different tasks, as well as being very present in my day to day life. Thanks for the review, I cant wait to read it!
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ReplyDeleteRaph, I'm glad we both chose this book and enjoyed it! I really liked seeing your take on it—it’s cool to see how we can read the same thing but think about it differently. It shows what matters to each of us, and how we go about our days trying to get the most out of them. Im glad you learned something from the book, and hope it'll stick with you in the future. Cheers!