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I Didn't Do The Thing Today

On Letting Go of Productivity Guilt

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I Didn't Do The Thing Today

By: Madeleine Dore
Narrated by: Madeleine Dore
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About this listen

An antidote to our obsession with busyness, author Madeleine Dore explores the joys of releasing ourselves from the burden of productivity guilt.

Any given day brings a never-ending list of things to do. There's the work thing, the catch-up thing, the laundry thing, the creative thing, the exercise thing, the family thing, the thing we don't want to do, the thing we've been putting off (despite it being the most important thing). Even on days when we get a lot done, the thing left undone can leave us feeling guilty, anxious or disappointed.

After five years of searching for the secret to productivity, Madeleine Dore discovered there isn't one - instead, we're being set up to fail. I Didn't Do the Thing Today is an inspiring call to take productivity off its pedestal, to embrace the joyful messiness and unpredictability of life.

For anyone who has ever felt the pressure to do more, be more, achieve more, this antidote to our doing-obsession is the permission slip we all need to find our own way.

©2021 Madeleine Dore (P)2022 W F Howes Career Success Indigenous Creators Mental Health Awareness Motivation & Self-Improvement Personal Development Stress Management Career

Critic Reviews

"A radical masterpiece.... While many books insist on changing your life, this one invites you to deepen and expand it." (Mari Andrew, author of My Inner Sky)

"Deep, thoughtful, gently instructive, nourishing." (Clare Bowditch, author of Your Own Kind of Girl)

"Read it and sigh with relief." (Hugh Mackay, author of The Kindness Revolution)
All stars
Most relevant
A beautiful performance by an outstanding writer. It is not often you come across something so authentic, well researched and backed by actual experience. The quotes are original and many are from the author's fabulous Podcast which makes you feel like you are apart of a community. Thank you Madeline for starting my year off on such a positive note. I hear your gentle advice in my mind now as I go about my day. What a gift! I highly recommend for any self-help/business/personal development junkie who need to give themselves a break. Worth 10000000000000x audible credits!!!!!

PURE GOLD

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Such a simple yet powerful premise. All of Madeleine’s observations resonated and some were so profound I felt emotional at the sudden realisation that I really have everything I ever wanted and don’t need to be pushing and feeling dissatisfaction daily. Ambitions and dreams can exist but they don’t control every waking second. Loved this book.

Loved this

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I thoroughly enjoyed listening to this book, her calm manner and the easy flow of each subject. I definitely found it helpful in learning to let go of productivity guilt and will listen through it again! I would recommend!

Thoroughly enjoyed

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What didn’t I take from this book…. So much to take in and easy to understand. A book I will definitely read again if I ever lose track of my day. To the point and spoken so well, this was an adventure I am glad I went on.

Exceptionally Brilliant

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Thank you MD for writing such a clever, incredibly well researched and written book, you’re amazing!

I work on a high pressure academic job and listen to this on repeat, I absolutely love it. Thank

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I've often struggled with productivity guilt but Madeleine's excellent book has helped me to be kinder to myself and to know that I'm not failing when I don't feel as productive as others 'seem' to be. I am more able to see what I have achieved and appreciate that things take longer than I think they do. As the book says, "We are not vacuums designed to suction every discretionary minute of our day - we are human beings with varying rhythms, living in fragmented days."

I was almost put off by a review suggesting the book was full of platitudes. I'm glad I purchased it anyway because the book brought so much on this topic into one place for me and was powerful in reshaping my relationship with productivity.

Why have we got so caught up in productivity? I truly do think there is more to life and that this narrow focus may be part of the reason that we're seeing high levels of burnout and dissatisfaction in society.

Thank you for "I Didn't Do the Thing Today" Madeleine. Your book was brilliant and exactly what I needed.

Led to greater productivity and work enjoyment

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Really loving this book and its gentle, thoughtful advice. I love that the author draws from the experiences of so many creatives.

so good I'm going to listen twice

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I found this book helpful and reassuring. I wrestle with productivity guilt almost daily and this book is a guide to a changed outlook. The narration is pleasant and I’ll probably listen to this book again and again. Definitely worth a listen.

Get it!

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I wanted to stop listening almost immediately. Trite advice and mainly a compilation of quotes from others. A series of platitudes that doesn't help anyone.

Utter rubbish - complete waste of time

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