Slowly, and then all at once, I started to doubt all the productivity advice I had absorbed. Did success really require suffering? What was 'success' anyway? Was suffering even sustainable? Did it make sense that feeling overwhelmed would be good for getting things done? Did I have to trade my health and happiness for, well, anything? It would take me a few months. But I was stumbling my way to a revelation: that everything I'd been told about success was wrong. I couldn't hustle my way to becoming a good doctor. Working harder wasn't going to bring me happiness. And there was another path to fulfilment: one that wasn't lined with constant anxiety, sleepless nights, and a concerning dependence on caffeine. I didn't have all the answers, not by a long shot. But for the first time, I could make out the beginnings of an alternative approach. An understanding what made hard work feel better. An approach that focused on my wellbeing first, and used that wellbeing to drive my focus and motivation second. An approach I would come to refer to as feel-good productivity. THE SURPRISING SECRETS OF FEEL-GOOD PRODUCTIVITY Back in medical school, my obsession with productivity had led me to tack on an extra year to earn a psychology degree. As I started putting together the pieces of feel-good productivity, I remembered a study I'd been tested on - one that involved a candle, a book of matches and a box of thumbtacks. Credit and Disclaimer The text provided here is an excerpt from Feel Good Productivity by Ali Abdaal, used solely for the purpose of typing practice. This content is shared with the intent to help individuals improve their typing skills while exploring the engaging ideas presented in the book. We encourage everyone to support the author by purchasing the book if you find the practice content valuable. You can buy Feel Good Productivity online through official retailers or Ali Abdaal's website. This practice exercise is not intended to infringe on copyrights or replace the need to purchase the book. All rights to the text remain with the author and publisher. Thankyou!