Reading is one of the most beneficial pastimes. In addition to being a stress-reducing activity, it’s also good for your brain! Books expose you to new knowledge and, depending on the genre, can give you actionable tips and tricks to improve your personal development. With life so busy, why not explore books that will help you manage your time and work? Whether you want to beat procrastination or simply get more done, here are seven productivity-focused books to help you accomplish your goals!
The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People by Stephen Covey
In The 7 Habits, Stephen Covey presents a holistic approach to solving personal and professional challenges. This book focuses on the simple principles of fairness, honesty, integrity, and human dignity. It guides you through walking the path of lasting success and how to engage and collaborate with others effectively. Covey delves into the mindset shift needed to stop limiting beliefs and reach your best self through continuous improvement.
Atomic Habits by James Clear
Atomic Habits provides you with the framework of how to develop the right habits and break out of the bad ones. Clear discusses how our brain initially forms habits, why habits should be easy to start, and how to create an effective system that helps you follow through with your intentions. The book demonstrates how small steps towards changing your everyday routine can yield substantial change over time and drastically change your life!
Principles by Ray Dalio
Principles seek to systematize the complicated areas of our lives. Ray Dalio argues that life, management, and economics can be simplified and viewed as machines. He provides lessons in seeing the world through a “cause and effect” lens and how to improve decision-making, address challenges, and unify people through teamwork. Dalio shares the principles he established throughout his career and encourages readers to form their own set to guide them through work and life.
The 80/20 Principle by Richard Koch
Less is more in The 80/20 Principle. In his book, Richard Koch provides practical applications for the famous Pareto Principle which states that 80% of results originate from 20% of all action. He challenges readers to focus on effectiveness rather than the amount of time, effort, and resources spent. Koch asserts that a simple examination of the magic 20% could drastically transform one’s career and everyday life.
The ONE Thing: The Surprisingly Simple Truth Behind Extraordinary Results by Gary Keller
The ONE Thing debunks many myths about success and productivity. Gary Keller explains that to improve your life, you don’t have to choose between having less or more—you can have both! He states that there is one thing behind every successful person—whether that be one mentor or one fire-driven passion—and challenges you to find yours. By leveraging “the one thing”, readers can accomplish their goals while simultaneously decreasing their workload. With less time wasted and less stress felt, readers can lead more fulfilling and productive lives.
Pomodoro Technique Illustrated by Staffan Noteberg
Pomodoro Technique Illustrated helps you take back control of your time. Staffan Noteberg demonstrates how you can utilize simple tools—paper, a pencil, and a timer— to lock in your focus and produce extraordinary results. He discusses the Pomodoro technique and how short bursts of focused activity allows your brain to recharge for a more productive work day. Norberg conveys how readers can intelligently organize and schedule their workload to accomplish more in less time.
The Productive Person by Chandler Bolt and James Roper
The Productive Person starts off by presenting a common struggle: finding a work-life balance. With life being so busy, it can be difficult to devote enough time to the various areas within it. The authors touch upon how people can fall into the trap of constant productivity and accidentally fill their “free time” with thoughts that are supposed to be reserved for “work time”. To counter this, they share how you can still be a productive person without sacrificing time for the things you love. They provide productivity hacks, daily schedules, and actionable steps then tie them together with real-life examples from their time as students and entrepreneurs.