Fun Makes the Work Get Done
When medical student Ali Abdaal found himself drowning in postgraduate exam preparation, an unexpected source—Mary Poppins—offered the perfect prescription. Rewatching the classic film, he was struck by the forgotten wisdom in "A Spoonful of Sugar": "In every job that must be done, there is an element of fun. You find the fun and snap! The job's a game." This revelation prompted him to write a simple question on a Post-it note: "What would this look like if it were fun?" The results were transformative. Adding the Lord of the Rings soundtrack to biochemistry studies and Pirates of the Caribbean music to hospital tasks completely changed his experience. This powerful question—asking how to inject playfulness into tedious work—became his guiding principle, proving that even the most daunting responsibilities can become delightful with the right approach.