Best Books on Becoming More Productive

Most of us have sometimes wished that we had a team of personal assistants. Our schedules can get so busy that taking a shower can seem like too much of a time-suck. On the other hand, you may also be a chronic procrastinator and push things off until they become pressing and stressful. When you are feeling overwhelmed, it’s time to step back and take a critical look at your level of productivity. There’s a good chance that with a helping hand and some organization, you can feel more at ease about completing your tasks. Here are a few of the best books for boosting your productivity and helping you accomplish more in less time:

The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People by Len Merson

Published over 20 years ago, this life guide has been an indispensable tool to thousands of busy bees. Len Merson is an executive whose life work has been dedicated to improving people’s working habits. Encompassing both work and home life, this book is meant for every part of your day. The 7 Habits covers a wide range of ways to improve your productivity, from learning better time management to pushing yourself to be more proactive. This guide also helps you improve your communication skills, which means you can stop trying to do everything yourself, finally sit back, and relax.

Getting Things Done: The Art of Stress-Free Productivity by David Allen

If you want to learn a systematic way of getting your life in order, this is the book to read. One of the industry leaders in personal productivity, David Allen teaches you to look at a task and ask yourself whether to “Do it, delegate it, defer it, or drop it.” By creating an organized system of completing your day-to-day work, you can stay better prepared for any crises that arise. Allen also provides ways to manage the anxiety that comes with an avalanche of responsibility. For those of you who want concrete progress from your reading, Getting Things Done offers hands-on tools that you can use every day to be your most productive self.

100 Ways to Motivate Yourself: Change Your Life Forever by Steve Chandler

This book is as inspirational as it is useful. Feeling unproductive often goes hand-in-hand with feeling unmotivated. Steve Chandler gives you 100 ideas and tools to exorcise your inner sloth. Unusual tactics like lying to yourself and turning off the television may be just what you need to get the ball rolling. Many of the book’s testimonials claim that reading this guide has changed lives. If you want to get in the driver’s seat and drive all the way to success, this could be the book for you.

Think Better: An Innovator’s Guide to Productive Thinking by Tim Hurson

Your brain is the first place that productivity starts. Tim Hurson is the founder of ThinkX Intellectual Capital, which helps organizations worldwide become more productive. According to Hurson’s book, you can crank up your productivity to 11 through innovative thinking. This doesn’t mean Hurson expects you to sit in a chair and think yourself into a headache. He introduces thought methods, tools and exercises to help you tap into your creative brainpower.

SuperCompetent: The Six Keys to Perform at Your Productive Best by Laura Stack

Productivity expert Laura Stack has produced a detailed and comprehensive guide to becoming a productive superhero. Written with charm and common sense, this book is a helpful and enjoyable read. Stack explores some of the greatest issues with productive time management, including when to make yourself available and how to protect your personal time. She also discusses the way your underlying attitude may be affecting the quality of your work. From cover to cover, this book is full of information to help you climb the ladder of success.

http://www.amazon.com/Think-Better-Innovators-Productive-Thinking/dp/0071494936/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1322063748&sr=1-1

http://www.amazon.com/Habits-Highly-Effective-People/dp/0743269519/ref=pd_sim_b_5

http://www.amazon.com/SuperCompetent-Keys-Perform-Your-Productive/dp/0470599154/ref=sr_1_3?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1322063748&sr=1-3

http://www.amazon.com/100-Ways-Motivate-Yourself-Forever/dp/1564147754

http://www.amazon.com/Getting-Things-Done-Stress-Free-Productivity/dp/0142000280