Except now it wasn't working. Since starting as a doctor a few months previously I'd felt like I was drowning. Even when I worked late into the night, I couldn't see the number of patients or finish the paperwork that I needed to. My mood was suffering, too; I'd enjoyed my medical training to be a doctor, but I was finding the actual job utterly depressing, constantly worrying that I might make a mistake that would kill someone. I stopped sleeping, friendships faded, my family stopped hearing from me. And I just kept working harder. And now this. Christmas Day, alone on a hospital ward, failing to get through my shift. Everything came to a head when I dropped a tray of medical supplies, sending syringes flying across the linoleum floor. As I forlornly looked down at my damp scrubs, I realized I had to figure things out – or my dream of becoming a surgeon would slip through my fingers. That night, I hung up my stethoscope, grabbed a mince pie, and opened my laptop. I'd once been so productive, I thought. What had I forgotten? During my first year at medical school, I'd become obsessed with the secrets of productivity. I'd stayed up night after night making notes on hundreds of articles, blog posts and videos promising the key to optimal performance. All the gurus emphasized the importance of hard slog. A Muhammad Ali quote came up a lot: 'I hated every minute of training, but I said, "Don't quit. Suffer now and live the rest of your life as a champion."' As Christmas turned to Boxing Day, I stayed up poring over my old notes and wondered whether that was where I was going wrong. Did I just need to regain my old work ethic? But when I returned to work the next day resolving to just do more, it made no difference. Even though I stayed on the ward until midnight – and even though I was reciting Muhammad Ali's line to myself during my toilet breaks – I wasn't getting through my paperwork any quicker. My patients were still getting a tired, ineffective version of Ali. And I was still displaying a conspicuous lack of Christmas cheer. At the end of my hardest day yet, I felt completely underwater. And then from nowhere, I remembered some words of wisdom from my old tutor, Dr Barclay. 'If the treatment isn't working, question the diagnosis.' 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!