Slow Down - How To Achieve More By Working Less

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Hey friends welcome back to another episode of Book Club. This time I'm going through the best productivity book I've read in recent years, Slow Productivity, and sharing the 3 key principles that Cal Newport talks about. I hope you get some value from it. Enjoy! xx
🧑‍💻 Sign up to my free Quarterly Alignment Workshop next Sunday 30th June: lab.aliabdaal.com/c/free-even...
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🔗 OTHER LINKS MENTIONED IN THIS VIDEO
- Slow Productivity by Cal Newport: geni.us/7OT9bB
By the way, you can watch this video in a few other languages by changing the audio settings xx
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WHO AM I?
If we haven’t met before - Hey 👋 I’m Ali, a doctor-turned-entrepreneur and I’ve somehow become the world’s most followed productivity expert. Through my videos here on this channel, my podcast Deep Dive and writing, I share evidence-based strategies and tools to help you be more productive and build a life you love.
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⌚️Timestamps:
0:00 - Why do we need Slow Productivity?
1:10 - The Foundations of Slow Productivity
4:11 - Principle 1 (Do fewer things)
12:40 - Principle 2 (Work at a natural pace)
17:02 - Principle 3 (Obsess over quality)

[@aliabdaal]

Thanks for watching guys, I hope you got some value from it! If you'd like to join my completely free Quarterly Alignment Workshop this Sunday click here: go.aliabdaal.com/slowproductivity/workshop

[@MASTEROFAI2001]

Ali bai plz dubbing in hindi I'm frm India

[@carolinejoy00]

Looking forward to it... So enjoyed the last one thank you xx

[@amritsingh6987]

I listened to your reading of your book. It's really good. I was supprised. I wrote some theories I had about how kids learn in notes to myself and how it makes them sharper more inovative and their enjoyment for work and things makes them a high flyer. it shocked me to read your book where you had similar concepts in your book. I'm blind and I want to learn swift coding. I'm finding the learning resources I've found quite hard to understand. If anyone can help That would be great

[@tonimojo5859]

I really like this, thank you. Been a subscriber and supporter since the very beginning, and this is gold.

[@Humour_as_Dead_as_Skin]

This actually makes me more compassionate to my menstrual cycle. As a woman, I have naturally more energy on some days and less energy on others. And for a long time, I used to beat myself up on the low energy days whereas in reality my body was just asking for a healthy break. Now I am learning to slow down.

[@j.d.5709]

There is a quote from another book "Stillness" by Ryan Holiday that was from a Famous Archer. It goes "Slow is smooth, and smooth is fast" I teach private music lessons for a living and this is an idea that is 100% a big component of students improving. Most of them want to go really fast and as a result make a ton of mistakes which hinders their progress. So I have them slow way down when learning something new and 9/10 times they learn much quicker and master it faster. Which then eventually allows them to play quicker and smoother at the same time. It's now a mindset and quote I use for myself and my kids as I teach them life skills. It sounds counter intuitive but it's a powerful principle for all areas of life.

[@eminiqa]

Love this. Thank you for sharing 😊

[@SubcontinentIndex]

Thanks for the book reco!

[@parthapal333]

Thanks for sharing. I can relate to this as my life has become so fast and I feel like I am not actually progressing. Compared to early days in my career when I had less work and I used to spend hours each day reading and learning - I was slow but there was a visible progression.

[@KristijanKL]

I got though talk from professor. as I was keeping up with other students by not leaving library while they did projects and internships and summer vacations. he told me its not about grades. this is not highschool. if you cant live normal life and have scholarship grades try different college. and I had more success with evening school while working and looking for better and better paid job than killing myself for a degree and expecting somebody gives me life I want for a piece of paper. there is hard and focused work and there is ruining your life by overworking its a thin line and you need to be very honest with yourself to know when you need to do those extra hours

[@Neha_Tiwarii]

Remember this line from Modern family😂 It was a really funny scene.

[@theelerdingteam6263]

Love this guy’s content. Meaningful and thoughtful. (As opposed to others where it feels like they’re just verbal vomiting for 20 min and then angling for clicks and views. This dude is genuinely committed to his craft. I’m impressed. m.e.

[@sandrasshelf]

I read this book in April and although I found this book a bit underwhelming... after further reflection, I realized that I shifted the way I approach my productivity as a writer, KZbinr, and freelancer. I am now big on following the *seasons* to get good work done and limiting my goal list every quarter. I also realized that I love bouncing from working intensely to recharging for long periods WITHOUT burning myself out. I loved the literary examples he gave (Jane Austen but also Jack Kerouack who didn't only write his book *in just 3 weeks* as he actually based it off his 2-year journal and it took him 6 years and 6 drafts to get "On the Road" published!) So far, it's helped me tremendously and I feel less stressed. When I'm overly stressed and not sleeping properly (because I'm catching up on work that never ends), everything falls apart in my life, even the work I love the most (creating, writing, and reading.) Great video as always Ali! 😊

[@salinamu]

Ali’s content is truly valuable. Too many KZbinrs make videos that have a lot of fluff and repeat the same things. Not Ali 👍👍

[@aysedeveci.x]

Thats great to know.. i only follow Alis videos 😊

[@EdgarDiazSpeaks]

Man… the idea of working at a natural pace is actually kind of genius. You often hear that grinding is bad and you should slow down but then it’s like, how slow? Not doing enough can be even MORE detrimental than doing too much. But the answer is simple - work at the pace that feels natural to YOU. Obviously there’s no all-encompassing answer because we’re all different, but by working at a natural pace we all do our best work in a manner that feels good to us.

[@its_snehapriya]

Very well said.

[@EdgarDiazSpeaks]

@@its_snehapriya thank you!

[@ReikiMasterCarlie]

This week I start initiating slow productivity.🌟 I am a believer in it. And I also see that other successful people are not struggling and working too hard. They allow themselves to do things slowly and allow some more time to chill. 🌟

[@BrainiousPodcast]

Dear Ali! We are a newlywed couple who has just started a KZbin channel too, and your advice has always been very useful for us and to improve our channel. Thank you for your work!

[@user-lp7rp7cb4g]

Do you want his KZbin course? I have it

[@BrainiousPodcast]

@@user-lp7rp7cb4g Which one?

[@frogile100]

​@@user-lp7rp7cb4gCan I have it if possible?

[@frogile100]

​@@user-lp7rp7cb4gcan I get access to it?

[@TheWritingBeingg]

@@user-lp7rp7cb4gThief!

[@L.I.T.H.I.U.M]

Ali marketed the book, making us want to read it while also giving us a valuable summary which satisfies people who are interested in the topic but don't want to read a whole book. This channel has been truly valuable for ever since I subscribed (a few months ago). Thanks.

[@isalutfi]

Thank you Ali for talking about slow productivity. We need this so much.

[@BlessedPetrel]

It's such a timely video. I'm a workaholic and a perfectionist. I unnecessarily stress myself with work I don't have to do now just because I want to always be on top of my game and complete my work before the deadlines. I'm told by my dearest and best to chill a bit, but I know I need to change my mindset first before my "bad" habits follow. Appreciate your content, Ali 😊

[@coca_chau54]

Alot of videos have lightly mentioned how to earn more but work less but this video is the best explaination for me

[@vaniapinto5940]

I find it ironical to see such a book coming from someone who obviously works a lot. What i got from it was the importante of time. Having time to do things. How does the author manages all those demands in his own contemporary live (rather than how jane austen did it), seems to be a far more useful take for today’s challenges. The author mentions that he has a family. Does he work weekends? Does he employ nannies or housekeepers? How does he manage? That is something that i would be interested in reading

[@farfar5700]

I love this very much, read a book without reading a book, like you said it goes really well with your book, this helps to reduce stress and anxiety.

[@YashPrajapatiii]

As a 16 years old Indian Boy , You changed my way of thinking !

[@prajithrathinam1835]

You have been the reason, I learned a lot in my life!!

[@selinsu5790]

Thanks for making this so digestible. This just explained my experience working in tech!

[@SharonMarta]

Thank you! This was exactly what I needed to hear. Especially as a work-from-home mom who tries to do it all. I am guilty of taking on too much, especially client work.

[@radhasircar8558]

Great points. Thanks so much, Ali. Truly appreciate the work that you are doing, to help us improve and live our best lives.

[@Topkicks.football]

Ali always comes up with real problems that we truly need ❤

[@JakeyShakeyBakeyBoy]

Loved this book after reading through it twice the past month. Thank you Ali as always for a clear, concise and engaging review to reinforce those points as usual. Hope to see Cal on the Deep Dive again sometime in the future

[@healthkorner]

so helpful I used this and I have been having great improvements

[@manoharppm]

Great video as always. The idea of doing fewer things, learning to say No, prioritising/deprioritising the tasks, are actually mentioned in the book called Essentialism by Greg McKeown which I am currently reading. The concepts are clearly explained with examples as you mentioned.

[@UdhayasreeKrithika]

Thank you so much Ali for bringing this video....❤This video really helps me to solve my day to day problem❤❤

[@KadenPriebe]

Just watched the Personal Q&A with Taimur again from 4 years ago and I found it entertaining and enjoyable. A new Q&A with Taimur would be sick

[@thulaniful]

What a great video, Ali, thank you! So well explained and I got so many nuggets from it that I’m excited to put into practice. Best wishes for your next book.

[@user-uu4vg9bq3r]

How timely! I just started reading this book last month, mine has the autumn cover which really highlights the need to "go with the flow."

[@shafa_riyas_4877]

nice work ali thank you so much man keep inspiring us as always

[@veronicavids]

Another banger of a video! I am loving this new era you're in(:

[@FT4YOU]

Really good work Ali! Love this.

[@christinewalsh4904]

Thank you Ali! You’re approach to life and productivity is so inspiring and helpful!

[@aliabdaal]

You're so welcome!

[@icon_ic]

Just (but also finally) ordered your book yesterday -- cannot wait to dig in! Cheers x

[@aliabdaal]

Awesome! Thank you!

[@AlbertShares]

Thanks Ali, didnt know I needed to give that book a read!

[@Diicasti]

I'd love to read this book, mostly because I'm in between everything! And at the moment it seems almost imposible. But taking time and your structures of week seems a good idea. Will read it for sure!

[@notchlegend1180]

Love the Video I really connected with it... You should give some pointers on how you create such excellent videos... Love the vibe you set you really inspire everyone

[@hayleyhilton5018]

Ooooh thank you, this will save me reading Cal's book in the immediate future x

[@aliabdaal]

Haha I’d definitely recommend reading it too :)

[@BORSHA545]

ali u are my inspiration ❤❤

[@diewasser]

The great book for knowledge worker. Thanks for sharing

[@matiassergiochen3264]

This video arrived just on time

[@LovelyArcticBirds-dq1sj]

I just finished watching your last video, I was expecting to watch another and this came 🙇🙇

[@SethWilson]

I love these principles; Cal is an all-around cool dude :D

[@user-vc1eq6uo3i]

Keep up BOOK CLUB SERIES ❤ PLEASE

[@vivi-sm7nd]

AT EXACTLY 16:39 HINDI AND ENGLISH MERGED ITSELF . AND AT LAST KEEP PROVIDING VIDEO IN HINDI PLEASE ALL MY FRIEND KNOW YOU I TELL HIM TO WATCH YOUR VIDEO.💕

[@tylerejackson]

Following your lead Ali - great video!!

[@aygulbatyrova1213]

Good things take time🙏

[@0R3NJ1]

can't be an ali abdaal video without the book anouncement

[@aliabdaal]

😂😂

[@0R3NJ1]

@@aliabdaal 😳 love your videos man

[@HG51_]

great vid!

[@bibienricakupe]

This is the exact words from Cal’s interview 😄

[@knw-seeker6836]

Thanks for the book summary these are the favourite videos of the content you make Will you do one about Scott Youngs new book?

[@EzioTrader]

Brilliant well said.

[@user-zl5fd7nn6c]

Please do one for 7 habits of highly effective people

[@pyro226]

The problem with the "overhead" is that a lot of it is asynchronous and you end up waiting for others to reply. Likely need at least a few projects going to keep the task queue going.

[@sitakke123]

l'm studying English from your channel🎉

[@stairjoke]

Back when I was still employed and not self-employed, I tried the “backlog-strategy” with my boss. They didn’t respect it, like it, or understand. Then we had layoffs, then the product died…

[@katybeck]

Much of what you're describing has echoes of agile -- two-ish week sprints with recurring meeting rituals so the overhead of managing the work is greatly reduced - would love to hear your take on that system as it relates to your interest areas.

[@avazbeksayidahmedif1403]

Incredible🎉🎉🎉🎉

[@lion4079]

9:20 meanwhile in real life…. Boss: “I don’t care, just get it done!”

[@MinhTri-s7g]

I love your videos. I hope your video have subtitle, because i learning english.

[@dilaraozmeric4420]

Hey Ali. I was listening to this video in French just to practice. You should know that the audio is messed up between 16:30 and 17:00

[@MapleSnoople]

Max productivity is commenting while watching the video

[@TechnooRam]

That looks like a good video

[@mishkalarsoncreations]

I always learned something new when I watch your channel, however, after spending 30+ years in the corporate sector some of those in the C suite, I can tell you that most of these ideas just won’t work in the environments I’ve been in. Yes your boss is looking for reasons to get rid of you, especially if you’re a high flyer who makes a lot of money and they can find somebody who will do what you do for less. these things have worked for me as I do my own thing now, but if I were to go back into the corporate sector, I would just have to grind the grind. Which is why I choose to not do that anymore.

[@valdar27]

I'm exactly in this boat now, although with far fewer years under my belt. Corporate jobs won't let you push back on more work, as they keep reducing the workforce and redistributing the tasks. You either adapt or leave, and repeat the same thing in the next corporate job, hoping for better, less short-sighted decisions from leadership.

[@JasonFisk]

10:00 been there. Bosses were never that reasonable, al lI ever got was, "Just get it done."

[@HannahMorenDraws]

Sometimes I don't know which direction Ali is coming from. On the one hand I've watched many of his videos about starting a youtube channel and he stresses "starting" "consistency" (usually at least once a week) and just "getting it out there." But then this is like "if it's not good enough, wait a bit." So should I be consistent and push the video every, let's say Tuesday, or wait the extra 3 days to make it "that much better." How do you know when it's worth to put in that extra time because it will perform "so much better," or when you're being too perfectionistic. I feel like the "slow productivity" idea feels very contrary to the other videos. Which is fine! I just feel like, am I taking crazy pills? Because I don't feel like this has been the POV.

[@_sahildahat_]

Hey ali, can you please make a playlist of all the book club videos? It would be really helpful! Thanks

[@aliabdaal]

Ooh good idea

[@RobinMWaite]

Your effective hourly rate (EHR) on the YT and course business is about $3k/hr Ali - so going away for four days on a speaking gig for $30k actually reduces your EHR down to about $930/hr for those four days you’re away. Not to mention the added fatigue of travelling and potential to get ill from germs on planes!! You’re worth less (not worthless) speaking than you are being CEO of your company. It’s worth considering. Maybe you need to book 2-3 keynotes when you’re away travelling to boost your EHR.

[@jameshizon4861]

Just in time.

[@learning_to_try]

00:01 Attempting to do too many things hinders productivity and leads to burnout. 01:40 Pseudo productivity leads to burnout and dissatisfaction. 04:57 Doing less can enable better results, defying our bias towards activity. 06:47 Commitment to Simplicity in modern knowledge work is beneficial and achievable 10:06 Prioritize fewer projects to achieve more with less stress. 11:38 Brilliant is an interactive platform focusing on learning by doing. 15:10 Embracing seasonality and working at a more natural pace for better productivity 16:45 Obsess over quality of what you produce 19:56 Balancing short-term opportunities with long-term focus 21:25 Join the productivity lab and book club for valuable insights

[@Kushal13965]

watching video from 🇳🇵🙏❤️

[@akshayuppala9295]

I am commenting fast on a video about slow productivity.

[@toomuchshakti]

Make a video on that white band in your right hand.

[@Katiedora122]

I've had this book on hold at the library, and I'm excited to get to it! (But Jane Austen was well before the Victorians and wrote in the Regency era and now I'm going to have to fight being annoyed about that)

[@aliabdaal]

😂😂

[@TheMagicLemur]

Surprised Ali hasn't read "Getting Things Done" by David Allen... unless I missed a video. 😅

[@stevesmith4319]

productive tips ,

[@alissat963]

I’m here early 🎉

[@Abhishekag]

Webinar Date and Time (India):- Sunday 7:30PM

[@gokul6179]

Shower time reading is over 😂

[@ValMorgwain]

Hello new book that I want

[@valdar27]

It would be nice to be able to do less, or not have to jump between different projects, having deadlines that span months. Sadly in my work it's either 1-2 days or a week at most, and I have about a dozen or so for every week, with a boatload of meetings in-between, so I couldn't even finish everything if I worked 24/7... I guess I need a better job

[@harambeslifemattered2970]

Love the clip of Kindle in the shower! 😂 PS: Many of us have thought just haven’t admitted it.

[@shephyk.u2573]

what about burn out in doctors?

[@editsforyou1.0]

His handwriting is proof that he is a doctor

[@swayam7321]

Hey Ali...Have you checked out "protocol" book by Prop. Andrew Huberman

[@ShakilShahadat]

That book isn’t out yet.

[@jillnelsonmalmt6085]

Or… why not consider this your travel/presentation season for the next 1-2 months and then hunker down and spend the next 6-9 months on the book?

[@angelapate328]

❤

[@gc6497]

LESS IS MORE

[@THE_rated_F3]

Are these advices and this book can be applied to a doctor?

[@danchristian9156]

"Writing good books" New book on the way?

[@Cleancomedy987]

Ali bro, how do you do things you don't like?

[@francis363]

YOU ARE READING IT FOR FIRST TIME XD

[@yeshpalsingh1272]

Bro how to learn video editing and video editing is a safe career

[@fallen.2305]

woah

[@akshatjain5501]

why dont you make a video on book ""thinking fast and slow"" by "daniel khneman"

[@amydunn4062]

I wish I could attend the live quarterly meeting but it runs during my church service in Eastern Standard Time. 😞

[@amydunn4062]

Also, the author's book was wrong about what the Jane Austen era was. She was more regency-era.

[@Zahret.elbanafsaj_with.rasha.]

❤ بحب ما تنسونا بالاشتراك بالقناة و متابعة الفيديو للآخر و لايك وتعليق حلو متلكم من كرمكم و لطفكم❤

[@alyssaborbon6289]

Im curious about you wearing 2 watches

[@dougdoesracing]

Anyone know what camera/lens combo this is? It looks so crisp

[@juancarloshoyosp]

¿Cómo puedo esxuchar este video en español? Lo veo en un celular y es incomodo por los subtitulos pequeños

[@Michael-iv6jp]

Is it Google Calendar you using?