๐ Life OS w/ Ali Abdaal Day 1 - Pt. 2
Hello Friend ๐
That's absolutely nuts. ๐ฅ
45.312 Newsletter recipients.
Yesterday, the biggest NLP Brand in Europe sent out a WHOLE NEWSLETTER about MY WORKSHOP. ๐คฏ
Here's the proof:

This is a section of the newsletter:

I guess I am a productivity expert now. ๐คทโโ๏ธ
๐ Now let's get started with today's topic:
Today I will introduce you to the 3 Menus Ali Abdaal taught us in Life OS.
Picture three distinct lists, each one designed to keep you moving when work loses its spark.
๐ฅ The Activation Menu.

It is for those moments when you canโt seem to start anything. Maybe itโs the dread of a complex project. Maybe itโs because you haven't slept well.
In any case, the Activation Menu offers immediate tactics:
- put on gentle background music,
- do a short breathing exercise,
- or handle a small admin task just to gather momentum.
๐ Then thereโs the Reactivation Menu.

This list matters most when your mind begins to wander, or you catch yourself daydreaming halfway through a task.
Sometimes all you need is a one-minute stretch or a quick energy boost to snap back into focus. Maybe you do a few jumping jacks to jolt your body awake, or swap out a mellow playlist for an upbeat soundtrack.
Some people even place their phone in another room, far from tempting notifications.
๐ Finally, you have the Recharge Menu.

This oneโs for those moments when youโve been pouring energy into your work and need a reset. Take a short walk around the neighborhood. Make yourself some coffee or tea. Stretch at your desk or roll your shoulders to release tension.
The idea is simple: find what replenishes your mind and body, then do it before you burn out.
All three menus should be personal.
Theyโre built around what works for you, not for everyone else. You might love classical tunes or prefer white noise. You might enjoy a brisk run or favor a slow, mindful stroll.
What matters is that your menus guide you toward instant solutions whenever you feel procrastination creeping in, notice your focus slipping, or sense your energy fading.
If you want a quick snapshot of how these menus might look, here are a few suggestions.
๐ฅ On an Activation list, you might include:
- โstart with a small, easy task,โ
- โturn on instrumental music,โ or
- โtake three mindful breaths.โ
๐ For Reactivation,
- a short break with jumping jacks could help, or
- you might banish your phone to another room to block out distractions.
๐ As for Recharging,
- you might set aside ten minutes for a leisurely walk,
- do a light stretch session, or
- sip a fresh cup of coffee.
Why bother with such lists? ๐ต๏ธโโ๏ธ
Because they target three common productivity hurdles:
- starting,
- sustaining,
- recovering.
๐ฅ The Activation Menu breaks through that initial resistance so many of us feel before diving into work.
๐ The Reactivation Menu rescues you from the vortex of distraction that can strike at any time.
๐ The Recharge Menu ensures you donโt plow through tasks until youโre drained, unable to give your best.
๐ Creating these lists is straightforward.
Think about situations where you struggle, whether itโs late-morning lethargy or mid-afternoon restlessness.
Jot down actions that work for you. Keep them visible. Then, when your mind starts to wander or your body protests the next big deadline, you wonโt waste time brainstorming fixes on the fly.
Instead, youโll have a dedicated set of options ready to use.
๐ Next, integrate these menus into your daily or weekly routine.
Some people post them near their computer screen. Others keep them as digital notes or phone reminders. The point is to have these tools at armโs reach.
If you notice yourself hesitating to begin, open your Activation Menu.
If youโre sinking into an Instagram rabbit hole, snag your Reactivation Menu.
If your energy levels are nosediving, tap your Recharge Menu.
Over time, youโll fine-tune each list to better match your needs, discarding ideas that donโt help and adding new ones that do.
Ultimately, these menus become your personalized toolkit. ๐งฐ
They encourage you to reflect on your habits, track your triggers, and refine your strategies to stay productive. Youโll sidestep those aimless hours when nothing gets done.
Youโll dodge the slump that robs you of focus.
Youโll avoid running on fumes. Instead, youโll have a safety net of tested methods that bring you back to your tasks, keep you energized, and help you finish strong.
Have a great week,
Lukas ๐