During my early days of embracing running, a pivotal piece of advice from my coach left an indelible mark on me.

At the outset of my running journey, I found myself pushing my limits relentlessly, striving to achieve my half-marathon goal. However, akin to many novices, I was committing several errors: overrunning, lacking a consistent routine, and neglecting essential strength training and flexibility exercises.

Then came the transformative moment when my coach uttered these words to me:

"If you don't take a break, you will have to take a break."

This simple yet profound statement became a turning point in my life.

Rather than running almost daily, I adopted a new approach, limiting my runs to 2 to 3 times a week and incorporating regular breaks interspersed with months of sprints. This principle extends beyond running and mirrors life in general. To optimize productivity and effectiveness, it's crucial to take breaks—physically and psychologically detach from work or your main focus—and allow yourself the necessary time to recover.

What's the most impactful piece of advice you've received, whether it's about running or life in general?

Share your thoughts and wisdom with us—comment below, and let's inspire each other with the best advice that's shaped our journeys!

#ship30for30

There are a lot of books about Productivity.

And I've read most of them.

However, lately, one gem has stood out from the rest: "Feel Good Productivity" by Ali Abdaal.

For a few reasons:

• Reason #1: It breaks away from the 'do more' mantra.

• Reason #2: The book uniquely blends scientific insights with practical advice on productivity.

• Reason #3: Diverging from typical productivity books, it doesn't just focus on doing more or increasing efficiency; it's about feeling good, generating energy, and boosting productivity in a meaningful way.

• Reason #4: True to its subtitle, "How to Do More of What Matters to You," it offers strategies for prioritizing, tactics for saying no, and more.

• Reason #5: Ali Abdaal has skillfully transferred his ideas from his videos into a more condensed and nuanced format in the book. He explains the theories behind his concepts, supplementing them with examples from his life and others.

Moreover, hearing it narrated in his own voice rather than someone else's added a personal touch that I really appreciated. If you are at all interested in Productivity, I can't recommend this book enough.

And if you've read it, do you agree? What other book would you recommend for beginners?

I wouldn't call myself an expert in Productivity.

However, the past five years have seen me immerse myself in the subject for over 10,000 hours through reading and learning. Additionally, I've dedicated approximately 5,000 hours to putting productivity theories into practice in my own life.

Here's how I first got interested in Productivity;

I found myself in a whirlwind of meetings and lots of work while at a humanitarian organization. It hit me hard—I just didn't have enough time to get everything done. So, I started looking for ways to make my days more effective.

This sparked a real interest in learning how to manage time, set priorities, and be more productive overall. Now, I'm studying for a master's degree in international humanitarian action, running my own newsletter writing business, working on a few side projects, and doing my best to be a good dad and husband. Every day is a mix of challenges and progress.

So, my goal over the new year is twofold:

1. Application: Implement and experiment with all the insights I've gained in my daily life.

2. Sharing: Share my experiences through social media posts, newsletters, and YouTube videos.

Stay tuned for more updates!

If you're passionate about productivity and personal growth, drop your favorite productivity book or strategy in the comments below! 📚💡

There are 3 topics I am actively thinking about a lot these days:

Topic #1: Goal Setting and Habits

I am interested in Goal Setting as we are at the beginning of the year, and most of us have some goals or New Year resolutions, but there are different opinions and critics about the benefits of the goals or how to stick to them. (I'll share those in the coming posts.)

And I hope that over the next year, as I continue to learn more and more, I'll be able to experiment with myself and share the results with you.

Topic #2: Personal Knowledge Management

I first got interested in Personal Knowledge Management or known as PKM 5 years ago.

Tiago Forte introduced me to it—and since then, I have learned a lot about the importance of Capturing, Organizing, Distilling, and Expressing my ideas and notes and managing my digital life.

Topic #3: Newsletters, more precisely Educational E-mail Courses

I am also interested in learning more about newsletters.

I have been into writing and newsletters for the last couple of years, and last year, I turned my writing side hustle into a business. 2024 will be the year that I'll be doubling down on this and sharing my experience and learnings.

It would be great to connect with other people who are interested in these same topics—so if any of the above resonates, feel free to reach out!