skip to main content

Free Delivery Free Delivery

  • Contact Us - Delivery - Returns
Search icon Search
  • Account
    • Log In
    • Register
EU-HM | Herman Miller Belux
  • Basket Basket Cart icon
Search icon Search
  • Seating Seating
    Seating
    • Office Chairs
      • Aeron
      • Asari
      • Cosm
      • Embody
      • Lino
      • Mirra2
      • Sayl
      • Setu
      • Verus
      • Zeph
      • All Office Chairs
    • Seating
      • Stools
      • Chairs for Quick Delivery
      • All Seating
    Aeron Buying Guide Aeron Buying Guide
    Choose Your Chair Choose Your Chair
  • Desks Desks
    Desks
    • Desks
      • Sit Stand Desks
      • Fixed Height Desks
      • All Desks
    Mode Desk Mode Desk
    Nevi Desk Nevi Desk
  • Lighting Lighting
    Lighting
    • Lighting
      • Ceiling Pendants
      • Desk Lamps
      • Floor Lamps
      • All Lighting
    Nelson Bubble Lighting Nelson Bubble Lighting
  • Accessories Accessories
    Accessories
    • Accessories
      • Laptop Stands
      • Monitor Arms
      • Office Storage
      • All Accessories
    Herman Miller, A Way of Living Book Herman Miller, A Way of Living Book
  • Gaming Gaming
    Gaming
    • Gaming
      • Gaming Chairs
      • Gaming Desks
      • Gaming Accesories
      • Gaming Bundles
      • All Gaming
    • Articles
      • Herman Miller x G2 Esports
      • Timthetatman: A partner for good gaming
      • Five Tips for Healthier Gaming
      • A Designer's Retro-Future Vision of Embody
      • A Game for All
      • Auditing Your Lifestyle
    Embody Embody
    Vantum Vantum
  • Discover Discover
    Discover
    • About Us
      • 100 Years of Herman Miller
      • Ocean Bound Plastic
      • Inside the Herman Miller Test Lab
      • Why Herman Miller?
    • Inspiration + Advice
      • A Curated Home Office
      • We've Got Your Back
    • Buying Guides
      • Aeron Buying Guide
    • Interviews + Designers
      • Making an Icon: The Aeron Chair
      • Zeph by Studio 7.5
      • Don Chadwick
      • Rostam: Great Ideas Happen Here
      • Ali Abdaal: The Power of Productivity
      • Chasing the Writing Muse with Kevin Kwan
      • Maira Kalman: Beauty in Utility
Contact Us Delivery Returns
  • Account Account
    • Log In
    • Register
  • Basket Basket Cart icon

The Power of Productivity

You might be forgiven for thinking that Ali Abdaal doesn’t need to be any more productive. In his late twenties, he has already graduated in medicine from Cambridge University, hosts a popular YouTube channel, broadcasts a weekly podcast with his brother, writes a weekly email and blogs on his website. His subjects are wide-ranging - from medicine, playing the piano and guitar, to tech, studying, entrepreneurship and, yes productivity. We caught up with Ali in his London home, where he talks us through his daily routine, how he stays healthy and productive, and what his advice is for a productive 2022.

View Products
“We all want to be more productive, right? I first got interested in how productivity can help live happier, healthier, and more efficient lives when I was studying at Cambridge University to become a doctor. I had way too much stuff I wanted to do ⁠-⁠ student societies, socialising, sports, and that minor niggle of passing all the exams ⁠-⁠ so discovering the world of productivity really helped me juggle multiple things all at once.

Everyone deserves to have a fantastic 2022, so use these tips to get you started.”

— Ali

Prioritise Positive Distraction

“When I was at university, I used to find myself drowning in long study sessions for hours at a time. I realise that while that might help me get a slightly better mark, it wasn’t a healthy habit. So, I started to study with my door open. It meant that my friends would pop in for a chat. These were distractions but they were welcome ones, and it meant I stayed connected with my friends, not just the exam material. Prioritising relationships over work is never a bad thing (although you DO still have to get that work done eventually!)”

Do One Thing

“We’ve all been fed the myth that we should be constantly multi-tasking to be effective. I’m here to tell you that in fact, the opposite is usually true. When my to-do list is overwhelming me, I ask myself this simple question: What’s the one thing I can do today that’ll take the largest load off my shoulders? By sorting out a single activity to complete each day, I feel lighter and happier because I have actually completed some tasks that were weighing me down.”

Optimise for Fun
I take inspiration from a book by Derek Sivers called 'Hell Yeah or No'. Basically, any time I'm presented with a choice, if I don't immediately think 'hell yeah' then I try to say no. This means I end up doing far more of the things I really want to do which are usually fun or interesting. I also find ways to make whatever I'm doing more fun. For example, turning something into a game can make it easier to complete. Having a pleasant working environment can really help you out – adding green plants will boost your mood and creativity, and the right kind of music can make all the difference. I love an epic movie soundtrack to get me going!
I'm writing a book about this actually ⁠-⁠ it's all about how we can use insights from psychology and neuroscience to make whatever we're doing more enjoyable, because when you're having fun, productivity takes care of itself.

Buy (and Read) a Book

I’m in the process of writing the first draft of my book, and it’s been a real challenge in beating imposter syndrome, procrastination, perfectionism and all the other stuff that we struggle with. Austin Kleon’s “Keep Going” is a lovely, quick read that I revisit every few weeks whenever I need some inspiration to continue the creative journey. So, whether you’re a big reader or you’ve not picked up a book since school, reading just this book will help you make 2022 your most productive year yet.

Invest in Your Space
An ergonomic chair and desk set up really helps to mitigate some of the effects of sitting for extended periods of time. I used to get quite a bit of lower back pain towards the end of a workday, but I bit the bullet and invested in a Herman Miller chair a few years ago, and within a few days of sitting in it, my lower back pain had vanished. I love the Aeron Chair ⁠-⁠ once adjusted to the right settings, it genuinely feels like I’m not even sitting down, almost like floating on a cloud.

And regularly switching positions is super important too. I got a height⁠-⁠adjustable desk 3 years ago and I’m never looking back. If I feel fatigued from sitting, usually after an hour, I’ll grab a coffee and continue working standing up. Regularly changing working positions is great for our posture and general health.
Shop Now
View Products

Free Delivery as Standard

Lucky for you delivery is free on everything site wide.
More on Delivery

No-Hassle 14-Day Returns

Unhappy? Just send it back. Returns always accepted within 14 days.
More on Returns

12-Year Limited Warranty

Our products are built to last a lifetime and most are covered for 12 years.
More on Warranty

Learn more about how we protect your personal data by viewing our privacy notice

  • Instagram logo
  • Facebook logo
Customer Service
  • Contact Us
  • FAQs
  • Delivery
  • Returns
  • Assembly & Adjustment Guides
  • Care & Maintenance
  • Warranty & Service
  • About Us
Product
  • Seating
  • Desks
  • Lighting
  • Accessories
  • Gaming
  • Discover
  • Instagram logo
  • Facebook logo

© 2022 Herman Miller, Inc. All Rights Reserved.

  • Privacy Notice
  • Cookie Notice
  • Accessibility Statement
  • Terms of Sale
  • Sitemap
  • Payment Logos 1
  • Payment Logos 2
  • Payment Logos 3
  • Payment Logos 5
  • Payment Logos 6
Part of the MillerKnoll collective