Being productive means always striving to improve. It’s about actively working to get things done efficiently. There are books that can help you be more productive.
The following are the top 8 productivity books to read in 2023…
1.  The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People by Stephen R. Covey
If there’s one book you must read to improve your productivity, it’s Stephen R. Covey’s “The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People.” This book is a classic in the self-help genre and was published back in 1989, but its lessons are still applicable today. Some of the ideas in this book may seem obvious, like prioritizing and having a future vision.
However, Covey offers valuable insights on productivity. His book also introduces helpful tools, such as the time management matrix. This involves creating a simple chart with categories like “Urgent” and “Not Urgent” on the top and “Important” and “Not Important” on the side.
2.  Grit by Angela Duckworth
“Grit” is a unique productivity book by Angela Duckworth that explores the importance of passion and perseverance in achieving success. Duckworth has studied various individuals considered “successful,” such as army cadets and telesales executives, to understand the psychology behind their accomplishments.
According to Duckworth, success is not solely determined by inherent abilities but rather by a characteristic called “grit.” This term encompasses qualities like commitment, overcoming obstacles, striving for improvement, and being willing to do difficult things to achieve goals. By identifying your passions and consistently pursuing them, you can reach your desired destination.
3.  Rich Dad, Poor Dad by Robert Kiyosaki
“Rich Dad, Poor Dad” is a book that may not appear directly related to productivity, but it offers invaluable lessons if you want to take charge of your personal finances and achieve financial freedom. By making your money work for you, you can reduce the amount of time you need to spend working for money.
Robert Kiyosaki shares the stories of his own father and his best friend’s father, who held contrasting views on handling finances. One of the key ideas in the book emphasizes the importance of financial education. If you use your extra money to improve your lifestyle, you’re likely to lose it all. However, if you invest it, even in high-risk ventures, there is a chance of losing everything, but also an opportunity for significant gains.
4.  The Productivity Project by Chris Bailey
Chris Bailey started writing about productivity on his blog and later conducted productivity experiments, interviewed experts, and reviewed research to gather the lessons he learned. This led him to publish “The Productivity Project,” a book that introduces valuable ideas on productivity, despite being relatively new and not widely recognized.
The main message in “The Productivity Project” revolves around three factors that make up productivity: time, attention, and energy. Bailey suggests that productivity is not solely about time management but also about effectively managing our energy levels and focus.
To achieve productivity, all three factors need to be in harmony. Managing time involves organizing priorities and practising prioritization. Regarding energy, it requires taking care of health aspects such as diet and sleep. Bailey also introduces the concept of “Biological Prime Time” to optimize productivity.
5.  Deep Work by Cal Newport
Deep Work by Cal Newport is a relatively new addition to the productivity book genre. It specifically targets the modern generation that tends to spend excessive time on social media and email. Newport delves into the distinction between shallow work and deep work, emphasizing the significance of dedicating time and energy to deep work.
In the 21st-century workplace, deep focus and deep work seem to be lacking. Deep work involves developing the ability to understand complex concepts and produce high-quality work efficiently. The key to being highly productive is increasing uninterrupted work time on a task.
To optimize our limited willpower, Newport suggests scheduling blocks of deep work into our calendars. It’s important to prioritize essential tasks, track our progress with new habits, maintain a scoreboard, and be accountable for consistently following this process. Often, we have a habit of checking our phones even when we might be bored. Therefore, Newport introduces the idea of scheduling breaks to embrace boredom and minimize distractions.
6.  The 4-Hour Workweek by Tim Ferriss
“The 4-Hour Workweek” by Tim Ferriss is a well-known productivity book. While there are criticisms regarding some of Ferriss’s ideas that may not be entirely practical, most people agree that the book offers valuable insights that can benefit anyone, even if they don’t fully adopt his approach.
One of the widely discussed concepts in Ferriss’s book is the 80/20 principle. This principle suggests that 80% of your productivity comes from 20% of your tasks. Therefore, it’s important to focus on the 20% of tasks that generate the most significant results while eliminating the 80% of tasks that contribute less to your overall productivity.
As mentioned earlier, the ideas presented in “The 4-Hour Workweek” may not be applicable to everyone. However, if you aspire to be a business owner, the book can teach you valuable lessons. Ferriss emphasizes the importance of validating your business ideas by ensuring their profitability. Even if an idea can solve a problem, it may not address a significant enough inconvenience for people to be willing to pay for it.
7. The STRIVE JOURNAL
One of the recommended productivity resources is The Strive Journal. While it’s more of a workbook than a traditional book, it includes a brief inspiring story about the importance of perseverance.
The reason it is included in this list is due to its distinctive format and daily activities designed to enhance productivity, particularly in achieving daily tasks and quarterly goals.
To maximize its benefits, it is suggested to read the first six books on productivity and then utilize The Strive Journal as a goal-planning resource to effectively manage productivity throughout the next 365 days.
8. Extreme Productivity
If you want a productivity book that teaches you how to concentrate intensely and accomplish more in less time, then this book is perfect for you.
Authored by Robert C. Pozen, a highly productive and successful business leader, this book offers valuable insights on productivity and transformative mindset tips. By the end of the book, you’ll feel prepared to apply your newfound efficiency and productivity techniques, and you’ll likely be pleased with the outcomes you achieve.
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