📚 Feel-Good Productivity (Ali Abdaal) 👩🏼‍💻, The Power of No (James Altucher) 🚫 & 2-Minute Pep Talks (by me) ✨

"Productivity isn't about discipline; it's about doing more of what makes you feel happier, less stressed, more energized." — Ali Abdaal  ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌

​ ​ The 4 Minute Read Just Do It January ​Jan 6, 2024 || Read in browser​ Work flying high, you know how I feel... Hello there! Riiiise and shine — it's 2024! My name is (still) Nik, and with this first edition of The 4 Minute Read for the year, I welcome you — to the new dawn, to the new day, to your new life, and if you're not doing so already, after this week's fire headliner summary, you will be feeling good. Whatever momentum you might have built in Don't Wait December, may you carry it right into Just Do It January, where we'll cover several brand new books on how to live, work, and think better. Here's what's in today's edition: ​Feel-Good Productivity by Ali Abdaal (master the 3 pillars of working from joy rather than discipline) ​Video Edition of Feel-Good Productivity (Adam did a great & insanely fast job with this one!) ​The Power of No by James Altucher (will help you make space for what truly matters this year) ​2-Minute Pep Talks by Niklas Göke (for 67 days of daily inspiration from short, 2-minute stories) New year, here we come! Let's get it! Hot Off The Press Feel-Good Productivity ​by Ali Abdaal When I first discovered Ali Abdaal on Youtube, he was still studying to become a doctor. Nowadays, the world's most followed productivity expert barely needs an introduction. After working as a doctor in the UK for a few years and getting a PhD in Psychology, he eventually quit medicine to focus full-time on his productivity Youtube channel, which has, by now, grown to 5 million subscribers and a whopping $5 million in annual revenue. Like many of us, Ali faced burnout, stress, and anxiety along the way — which is why his personal philosophy of productivity is now based on joy more so than on discipline. Science backs this up: When we feel good, we do better work. Ali's brand-new bestseller, released only last week, Feel-Good Productivity will teach you how to assemble your own unique approach to productivity that focuses on wellbeing, sustainability, and fun. Based on 3 pillars and up to 54 mini-experiments, this book will help you do great work while maintaining your health and inner peace. If you want to have a successful but sustainable 2024, this summary is a must-read! Read the Summary » ​ ​ Quote of the Week "Productivity isn't about discipline; it's about doing more of what makes you feel happier, less stressed, more energized." ​ — Ali Abdaal ​ The Big 3 From the Book 1. Use the 3 Ps to increase your energy. 2. At the root of procrastination usually lies either fear, uncertainty, or inertia. 3. To maintain your productivity long-term, avoid 3 types of burnout. Master the Book in 4 Minutes » ​ A Book Brought to Life When he was a freshly minted doctor, someone put Ali Abdaal in charge of an entire hospital ward — by himself and on Christmas Day. Things quickly spiraled out of control. When he dropped a tray of medicinal supplies amidst the chaos of shouting patients and running nurses, Ali hit a low-point. Gritting his teeth and doing more no longer seemed to work. For the first time, he questioned whether sacrificing our health and wellbeing was the only way to succeed. Today, after 6 years of exploring those and plenty of other questions, Ali has condensed everything he has learned since in Feel-Good Productivity. The book offers a well-structured toolkit for crafting your own, joy-based, sustainable philosophy for work and life, rooted in 3 pillars and up to 54 science-backed experiments. Here's how we break them down in today's video summary: Use the 3 Ps to increase your energy. Procrastination usually goes back to fear, uncertainty, or inertia. Avoid 3 types of burnout for long-term productivity. If you want to have better work-life balance in 2024, watch this video. ​ ​ The As-Good-As-Freebie ​ What's the best way to make sure your New Year's Motivation™ doesn't fade a few weeks into January? Simple: You use that initial big push to make inspiration itself a daily habit. One way to do so is to read an inspiring quote each day, for example — and if you caught this week's Freebie on Wednesday, you'll have 414 short ones of them that'll last you all through the year!​ But if you want to deepen and cement that habit just a little more, I wrote something else that can be of help: 2-Minute Pep Talks: 67 Jolts of Inspiration for More Hope, Comfort, and Love in Any Situation. It's a short book filled with tiny stories that'll provide just the right dose of encouragement, wonder, and stimulation to make you approach every day with enthusiasm, determination, and curiosity. "I particularly enjoyed the "$100 bill" pep talk," Geraldine wrote in the latest Amazon review of my book. "That one I plan to print out and post above my desk as a reminder of my self-worth on those not so great days. Really an excellent reminder." Thank you, Geraldine! You can buy the book in all ebook formats for as little as $3.99. There are also paperback and hardcover options available via a variety of options, mainly Amazon, Pothi in India (just ₹400), and a few others. Here are a few sample chapter titles to give you an idea of what it feels like to read these short stories: You're Still Here Time Billionaire Your Brain Is Your Ally, Not Your Enemy Don't Forget to Inhale What Do You Hate Not Doing? Seneca's LinkedIn Happiness Is Third Grade Math The 30% Rule The 4 Monks Don't Forget Your Light Today Through Wrong to Right If You Can't Beat the Fear, Just Do It Scared Tomorrow Can Be a Good Day Finally, here's a short blurb: 2-Minute Pep Talks is a collection of 67 jolts of inspiration for more hope, comfort, and love in any situation. With over 2 months of daily inspiration across 5 categories, 2-Minute Pep Talks will make you feel more comfortable in your own skin, remind you to love yourself enough to ask life for what you truly want, and provide you with the world's scarcest resource: hope. Whether you're looking for a pick-me-up, new perspectives, or more fuel to accomplish your dreams — if you're ready to regain that light, passionate, optimistic feeling we all used to have as children, this book is for you. If you want to stay inspired well into March 2024 and beyond, grab some 2-minute pep talks and make this one a magical year! Get the Book » ​ Dusty But Brilliant The Power of No ​by James Altucher I know the energy runs high early in the year, and generally, we want to use that energy to do more — but on the other hand, we also know that doing more of what matters depends on doing less of what doesn't. "Less" is a fantastic source of "More." More peace, more time, more energy — focused on fewer but more meaningful things. James Altucher's little book The Power of No is a wonderful companion in helping us achieve just that. The book lists out a ton of things you can say no to in order to gain more of the above. Better yet, it tells you how to say no to endless requests and obligations. If you want to make space for what truly matters in 2024, read this summary. Read the Summary » ​ The Big 3 From the Book 1. Rate your regulars to say no to the wrong people. 2. Stop doing things you don't like, and everyone will be better off. 3. Say no to scarcity to go beyond "glas half full". Master the Lessons in 4 Minutes » ​ The Meme Shelf Pffff, seriously? I mean, if you haven't got the book yet when the movie comes out, are you even a fan? 😁 That's all for this first week of 2024! Have a great weekend! Happy reading, -Nik PS: If you want to stay inspired for at least the next 67 days, check out my collection of 2-Minute Pep Talks »​ What can we do to improve the next edition? Tell us here. Did someone forward you this email? If so, you can sign up here. ​​​​​​ Copyright © 2024 Four Minute Books Preferences | Josef-Obenhin-Str. 4, Munich, 80634 | *Affiliate link ​Privacy Policy | Advertise With Us​ ​Opt-out of preference-based advertising​ ​Unsubscribe​ ​