The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People
Let's start with the classics. This book was authored by businessman and inspirational speaker Stephen Covey in 1989. To date, it has sold more than 25 million copies worldwide and continues to sell today. Its main theme is several basic principles of productivity which apply to all professions and do not change over time. The author claims that if you see something that needs to be done, you should just step up and do it. The book outlines seven habits of the most effective people in business and will help you determine which tasks need to be performed first.
The 4-Hour Workweek
Entrepreneur and author Tim Ferriss wrote this book in 2007 and it is as relevant to productivity today as Stephen Covey's book. Despite some people criticising the author for never having worked in an office, the book provides incredible insight into life as your own boss. If you don't just want to improve your work performance, but also to work out as a business owner or freelancer, this is the right book for you. Discover how to become financially independent and work less than one day a week. It will not be easy, but the tricks the author offers can be helpful.
"You don't need fantasy nonsense to enjoy life, but you have to control your time and realize that most things just aren't as serious as you think they are." Tim Ferriss
Atomic Habits: An Easy & Proven Way to Build Good Habits & Break Bad Ones
James Clear is a photographer, businessman and author whose massive fan base on social media testifies to the effectiveness of his book, which became a New York Times bestseller. The book examines outstanding business ideas and how readers can achieve their goals. It's an easy-to-read publication with plenty of steps that can be applied right away. If you're looking for an easy introduction to productivity and step-by-step guide you can follow at your own pace, this is the best book to help you prepare for the rest of 2020.
There’s No Plan B for Your A-Game: Be the Best in the World at What You Do
Bo Eason is no conventional productivity expert. He is a former professional American footballer who later became an actor and playwright and published his book on productivity in 2019. It does not offer insight into how to build a business, but serves as a guide to improving your mental well-being and concentration.
How to Stop Procrastination in 10 Days
For some people, increasing productivity means above all their own battle with an inability to concentrate and chronic procrastination. This book by Robert Marrat will help you gain better concentration and learn to motivate yourself. The list of anti-proliferation methods is especially useful and offers easily achievable goals that can be built on over time.
Getting Things Done: the art of stress-free productivity
The book was originally published in 2001 by consultant and productivity expert David Allen. As with many of his online lectures, the author provides a basic guide on how to organise tasks in a way that makes them easier to accomplish. Thanks to this, you will learn key organisational skills and how to create responsive work stimuli from all your current and planned projects.
168 Hours: You Have More Time Than You Think
Laura Vanderkam is a successful author and her 2010 book is an excellent way to learn how better to manage your time. Vanderkam explains how, even between family and work, you can always find space to achieve your goals and be more productive in your work. And, by the way, Stephen Covey himself mentions this author's book on his list.
The Power of Habit
Pulitzer-winning journalist Charles Duhigg offers a unique approach to productivity learning skills. In this book, he shares some of his most interesting life stories and the lessons he learned from them. Duhigg says the key to success is learning good habits: the golden rule of changing habits is not to eliminate bad habits, but to change them.
"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 have learned.“ Charles Duhigg
The 5AM Club: Own Your Morning. Elevate Your Life
Whether you are a morning bird or want to become one, this book is a perfect read. Manager Robin Sharma introduced the concept of "5AM Club" twenty years ago, but did not publish the book itself until 2018. This book will make you feel like getting up early in the morning to manage important activities earlier and at the same time introduce a healthy sleep schedule into your life.
Hyperfocus: How to Work Less and Achieve More
The book was written by Canadian productivity consultant Chris Bailey in 2018. The author claims that in the digital age we are more impressionable and our productivity is disappearing. The book describes how to get rid of things that don't matter and focus energy in the most productive way possible. So far it has enjoyed excellent reviews and is ideal for people who want to change their habits in the long run.
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