10 Books That Insanely Boosted My Productivity (and why you need to read them)
Get things done, and never leave a to-do list half-finished again.
Do you often struggle with getting the most out of your day?
Do you make a routine and follow it, but somehow get distracted or procrastinate?
If yes, then you’re not the only one who struggles with the lack of productivity. There are many coaches and consultants who help individuals boost their productivity.
Anything can be achieved if you have the willpower and curiosity to learn. Self-help books are the best way to motivate yourself and overcome procrastination. Here are some productivity boosters that will change your life forever.
1. The One Thing, by Gary Keller and Jay Papasan
Every day we receive numerous emails, messages, and deadlines that increase stress levels. We want to spend more time with family, become more productive, get more paychecks, and more.
But, in the quest for getting more, we get less productivity, missed deadlines, and less satisfaction.
The One Thing teaches the art of decluttering and increasing productivity, stressing less, and improving your energy levels.
Why is it effective?
The One Thing is full of strategies and wisdom you can apply to live a life full of satisfaction. To get extraordinary results, you must know how to narrow down your focus on the one thing that matters most in your life.
The book discusses how to manage time, reduce multitasking, set priorities, develop discipline and habits, achieve true happiness, rest when needed, and many such lessons.
I assure you that this book is worth your time, so give it a read.
My favorite quotes from The One Thing by Gary Keller and Jay Papasan:
“You need to be doing fewer things for more effect instead of doing more things with side effects.”
“It is those who concentrate on but one thing at a time who advance in this world.”
“Work is a rubber ball. If you drop it, it will bounce back. The other four balls — family, health, friends, integrity — are made of glass. If you drop one of these, it will be irrevocably scuffed, nicked, perhaps even shattered.”
2. How to Stop Procrastinating by S.J. Scott
All of us face an “I’ll do it later” phase frequently. Most of these times, the work is never completed.
We make a to-do list, watch motivational videos, and decide to change our lives tomorrow, but in vain. As the title says, How to Stop Procrastinating is a fun-to-read book with relatable scenarios of procrastination and how to overcome it.
Why is it effective?
We all know that procrastination is the biggest foe of productivity. We scam ourselves by saying that we’ll do it in some time.
This book has explained the root cause of procrastination and the tips to fight against it. Some of those tips you might already know but not know how to implement it.
This book is excellently compiled with ideas that will motivate you to take charge of your life and stop procrastinating.
3. Atomic Habits by James Clear
If you struggle to develop good habits and leave bad ones, I suggest you read Atomic Habits once. People blame themselves for not changing, but their system has to change.
James Clear, a prominent writer and a regular speaker at fortune 500 companies, talks about how trivial changes in daily life can help you develop good habits. Clear has this unique ability to explain the most complex things in an easy-to-apply way.
Why is it effective?
Atomic Habits is a compilation of proven facts about habit-building from psychology, biology, and neuroscience.
The book has inspiring stories of comedians, artists, Olympic winners, business leaders, and other successful people that keep you interested. Read it, and you will learn how to overcome a lack of motivation, develop good habits, and get back on track when your life gets overwhelming.
My favorite quotes from Atomic Habits by James Clear:
“You do not rise to the level of your goals. You fall to the level of your systems.”
“You should be far more concerned with your current trajectory than with your current results.”
“Habits are the compound interest of self-improvement”
4. Eat That Frog by Brian Tracy
Mark Twain once said, “If you must eat a frog, do it right at the beginning of your day.”
Brian Tracy uses this saying as a metaphor in the book and wonderfully explains time management methods. Eat That Frog can get you out of your procrastinating habits and increase your productivity.
Why is it effective?
Have you ever thought organizing your every day and setting priorities for different tasks can bring great results? The book, Eat That Frog will tell you how in 21 great ways.
The Author is the CEO of Brian Tracy International, a company specializing in the training and development of individuals. This book is the culmination of his years of wisdom and effective strategies.
My favorite quotes from Eat That Frog by Brian Tracy:
“One of the very worst uses of time is to do something very well that need not to be done at all.”
“If you have to eat two frogs, eat the ugliest one first. This is another way of saying that if you have two important tasks before you, start with the biggest, hardest, and most important task first.”
“Everyone procrastinates. The difference between high performers and low performers is largely determined by what they choose to procrastinate on.”
5. Organize Tomorrow Today by Dr. Jason Selk and Tom Bartow
Do you feel like you are not performing well in work or life, even after trying a lot?
It is time to retrain your mind and understand that always doing more will not yield results. The authors Dr. Jason Selk and Tom Bartow reveal in their book Organize Tomorrow Today how successful people reach the top and how differently they do things.
Why is it effective?
Organize Tomorrow Today is the most straightforward book that tells you the 8 fundamentals to get the most critical work done on time. It discusses how to maximize your time and win your inner fights. OTT teaches you how to evaluate yourself, choose opportunities wisely, and talk with others.
My favorite quotes from Organize Tomorrow Today by Dr. Jason Selk and Tom Bartow:
“Greatness is predicated on consistently doing things others can’t or won’t do. Simply put, success is not about being brilliant. It is about being consistent.”
“But we believe — and strongly recommend — that you reemphasize the personal element of your “3 Most Important / 1 Must” and make those connections directly, either face to face or over the phone. There’s often a direct correlation between in-person communication and your level of success.”
6. The War of Art by Steven Pressfield
There are times in life when we feel like losing our creativity, or everything becomes monotonous. The War of Art discusses the creativity barriers faced by athletes, artists, entrepreneurs, and individuals. The book is a guide to keep you inspired and your creativity alive.
Why is it effective?
Steven Pressfield coined the term ‘resistance’ which he believes is the greatest enemy of productivity. In The War of Art, he shares insightful and unique ways to fight that resistance inside you.
This is a great book to read if you're feeling stuck or facing a creative block.
My favorite quotes from The War of Art by Steven Pressfield
“The most important thing about art is to work. Nothing else matters except sitting down every day and trying.”
“The Principle of Priority states (a) you must know the difference between what is urgent and what is important, and (b) you must do what’s important first.”
7. Daily Rituals: How Artists Work, by Mason Currey
Do you know that the most successful people run their lives on autopilot and save their mental energy for more creative work?
Every artist follows a specific, out-of-the-box habit that helps them move ahead. If you get inspired by the stories of successful people, Daily Rituals is the finest book you can read with the compilation of impactful rituals of famous people.
Why is it effective?
The book talks about how creative people maneuver daily rituals to get the most out of their lives with the least stress. It is magically inspiring, and in the end, you will understand why everyone needs a daily ritual rather than a routine.
My favorite quotes from Daily Rituals: How Artists Work by Mason Currey:
“We have failed to recognize our great asset: time. A conscientious use of it could make us into something quite amazing. — Friedrich Schiller”
“It is a danger to wait around for an idea to occur to you. You have to find the idea.”
8. The Power of Habit: Why We Do What We Do in Life and Business, by Charles Duhigg
Do you want to transform your life but struggle with developing good habits and leaving the bad ones? If yes, then The Power of Habit is a must-read for you.
In this masterpiece, award-winning business time reporter Charles Duhigg explains how habits can be transformed through daily mindset shifts inspired by scientific discoveries.
Why is it effective?
The Power of Habit is a beautiful book depicting the power of recognizing patterns and habits through case studies. Charles Duhigg shows in this book how we can use the science behind habits to increase productivity and transform ourselves.
My favorite quotes from The Power of Habit by Charles Duhigg:
“The Golden Rule of Habit Change: You can’t extinguish a bad habit, you can only change it.”
“Champions don’t do extraordinary things. They do ordinary things, but they do them without thinking, too fast for the other team to react. They follow the habits they’ve learned.”
“Small wins are a steady application of a small advantage.”
9. Rest: Why You Get More Done When You Work Less by Alex Soojung-Kim Pang
To achieve more, we think we constantly need to work harder. But, we don’t understand the importance of taking a rest.
Resting from time to time energizes you to perform better later, make mindful decisions, and keep you productive for a long time. That is the premise of this brilliant book, Rest by Alex Soojung-Kim Pang.
Why is it effective?
Sometimes we overburden ourselves with expectations and workload to increase productivity. But the result is the opposite of what we expected.
A deliberate rest is the key to productivity, boosts energy, and gives unique ideas, says Pang. The author has well-researched the science of rest and shared his valuable insights in this book.
My favorite quotes from Rest: Why You Get More Done When You Work Less by Alex Soojung-Kim Pang:
“If your work is your self, when you cease to work, you cease to exist.”
“Routinization of work, the researchers concluded, does not have to diminish creativity; if it’s accompanied by freedom, routine can enhance creativity.”
“If you want rest, you have to take it. You have to resist the lure of busyness, make time for rest, take it seriously, and protect it from a world that is intent on stealing it. History”
10. The Productivity Project: Accomplishing More by Managing Your Time, Attention, and Energy by Chris Bailey
If you are looking for ways to boost your productivity that actually work, The Productivity Project is the best you can read.
This book is the result of detailed research by the author, Chris Bailey, who left his job and experimented for a year on himself. Then he came up with the practical strategies, possible challenges you will face, and how to overcome those in this masterpiece.
Why is it effective?
After his yearlong journey of experimenting and testing what works best, Bailey shares the lessons he learned in his book The Productivity Project. Some key lessons are the rule of three, the 20-second rule, the concept of productive procrastination, and many more. He shares 25 best practices that will keep you productive in the long run.
My favorite quotes from The Productivity Project by Chris Bailey:
“Busyness is no different from laziness when it doesn’t lead you to accomplish anything.”
“The dread of doing a task uses up more time and energy than doing the task itself.”
“Many people forget that their smartphone, computer, and other devices exist for their convenience — not the convenience of everyone who wants to interrupt them throughout the day.”
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