Best productivity books: More work in less time

“Productivity is being able to do things that you were never able to do before.” – Franz Kafka

In the last post, we talked about the various productivity hacks used by top brilliant minds out there. However, it may not appear at the top of your mind but reading productivity books can help you learn about various tips, tricks and tools about productivity that can be used in everyday life.

Not only the tips, it can be a great way to help you build a reading habit which will assist you in widening your perspective and giving you a better understanding of what will increase your productivity, eventually.

If you are struggling to keep up with your to-do list and feel like there just aren't enough hours in the day, then, it may be time to turn to the experts for help. In this blog, we'll take a look at the best productivity books that can help you increase your productivity and achieve more in less time.

Read productivity books to increase your productivity

Whether you're looking to streamline your work processes, manage your time more effectively, or simply increase your focus and motivation, there's a book out there for you. From classic works by illustrious thinkers to more contemporary and useful guidance, these books provide a wealth of knowledge and guidance for optimising your effectiveness and productivity. Ten of the top productivity books that you should read are listed below:

“Getting Things Done” by David Allen

The productivity book "Getting Things Done" by David Allen provides instructions for organising tasks, projects, and data. The book promotes the idea that staying focused and productive will help you accomplish more in less time. The book's guiding concepts are as follows:

1. Record everything: Encourages you to write down every though that comes to mind in order to clear up mental space.

2. Process the information you have gathered: Shows you how to sort through the data they have gathered to decide what has to be done and what can be discarded.

3. Organize what's left: Assists you in putting the duties and information into a system that can be quickly accessible and used.

4. Review regularly: Encourages you to constantly evaluate the system to make sure nothing has been overlooked and that everything is still relevant.

This book also touches upon other relevant spheres of life such as stress management, time management, and decision making.

“The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People” by Stephen Covey

If you’re thinking how to be more productive, this is one of the best productivity books to help you with personal growth and development.

1. Encourages you to accept accountability for your actions.

2. Asks you create specific goals and plan for the future.

3. Helps you to set priorities and focus your attention on what’s more crucial.

4. Encourages you to regularly renew and improve themselves in four areas: physical, spiritual, mental and emotional.

5. Asks you to cultivate a ‘mutual benefit’ mindset in your interactions with others.

“The Power of Habit" by Charles Duhigg

"The Power of Habit" by Charles Duhigg examines the science of human habits and how they might be used for personal and professional growth. The book claims that habits are important and can affect our success and happiness. The book highlights:

1. The Habit Loop: The book explains the three-step process that discusses how cue, routine, and reward make up any habit.
2. Identifying Habits: The book helps you identify and track your habits, both good and bad.
3. Changing Habits: The book teaches how to replace bad habits with good ones.
4. Organizational habits: The book provides insights on how to build and change organisational habits.

The book also discusses keystone habits, which have a cascading effect on other habits and life areas.

"Deep Work" by Cal Newport

"Deep Work" by Cal Newport helps you focus and be more productive. Deep work, according to the productivity book, is a state of intense focus that allows you to get more done in less time and with better results. The book highlights:

1. Deep work: The book explores why deep work is essential in today's economy and how it can help you reach your goals.
2. Distractions and interruptions: The book shows readers how to eliminate them to focus on meaningful work.
3. Creating a deep work routine: The book offers tips on how to incorporate deep work into your workday.
4. Shallow work: The book also discusses shallow work and how to balance it with deep work.

"The Pomodoro Technique" by Francesco Cirillo

"The Pomodoro Technique" by Francesco Cirillo is a time management method designed to help increase productivity and focus.  The method divides the workday into 25-minute intervals with short pauses in between. Book highlights:

1. The Pomodoro Technique: The book describes how to use a timer to track pomodoros and breaks.
2. Focused work sessions: The book shows you how to apply the Pomodoro Technique to get more done in less time.
3. Breaking work into small chunks: The Pomodoro Technique reduces stress and motivates by breaking work into manageable portions.
4. Focus and motivation: This book for productivity describes how the Pomodoro Technique can boost focus and motivation by giving you a sense of accomplishment and breaking up the workday.
5. Flexibility: The Pomodoro Technique may be modified to match each person's needs, making it a useful tool for productivity.

"Zen to Done" by Leo Babauta

According to this productivity book, productivity increases when you are more mindful and efficient in your habits and the structure of your work. The book covers these main points:

1. Simplification: The Zen to Done provides you with a streamlined approach that simplifies task and project management.
2. Focus on habits: The book stresses the necessity of creating productive and focused habits.
3. Mindfulness and peace: The book helps you become more conscious and at peace with their work so they can focus on their tasks with a calm mind.
4. Logical and thought-out approach: It provides a strategy that promotes a systematic and efficient approach to work.

“How to be a Productivity Ninja” by Graham Allcott

“How to be a Productivity Ninja” is a thorough guide to productivity and stress reduction. The productivity hacks mentioned in it entail:

1. Maximizing attention: The book helps you focus and maximise your attention.
2. Beating procrastination: It helps you stay motivated and overcome procrastination to achieve more and worry less.
3. Working smarter, not harder: The book's strategies can help you work smarter, freeing you time and energy for the things you love.
4. Time management: The book also discusses time management and organisation to make the most out of each day.
5. Clear mind and calm: Learning to stay cool and operate with a clear mind can help you handle stress and get more done faster.

"Extreme Productivity" by Robert Pozen

“Extreme Productivity" is a guide for increasing productivity and reducing wasted time.

In his productivity journal, Pozen shares insights and strategies for:

1. Staying focused, eliminating distractions and getting more done in less time.

2. The key principle in this hack for productivity is a shift in mindset from hours worked to results produced.

3. It covers strategies such as prioritizing tasks, delegating responsibilities, and minimizing interruptions.

4. Discusses importance of maintaining a healthy work-life balance and avoiding burnout.

5. Valuable insights and advice for entrepreneurs, students, and professionals.

Final thoughts

Productivity books are a great way to help you build a new habit and widen your perspective. Of course reading such productivity books is a great idea, but what matters at the end of the day is the implementation part. Read these books, get good ideas and start executing everything you learn. It’ll result in a great amount of progress at the end of the day.