Top Time Management Books to Boost Your Productivity and Career
Have you ever found yourself wondering how time flies when working on your projects? We’ve all been there. It begins with a feeling that you have all the time in the world, and then suddenly, you just have minutes before the deadline. Time is one of the most precious yet scarcest resources we have. Once spent, time can never be regained. Michael Altshuler, a peak performance and sales expert, put it nicely: “The bad news is time flies. The good news is you’re the pilot.” However, how can you govern the clock so that you get the most done out of your day?
Here, we share some of the best time management books that offer valuable advice on the essential skills for improving your productivity and boosting your career.
Essentialism by Greg McKeown
Most of us are always trying to get more done in less time. However, Greg McKeown suggests accomplishing only the right things. His book is about prioritizing tasks and determining what’s essential and then eliminating everything else that is not. Essentialism is more than just a time management technique. The book shares valuable information on how to declutter your life and minimize time loss while working more efficiently.
Eat That Frog! by Brian Tracy
Stephen Covey once said, “Most of us spend too much time on what is urgent, and not enough time on what is important.” Eat That Frog! is a metaphor used to describe doing the hardest task first thing in the morning. The idea comes from the reasoning that if you eat the frog in the morning, you’ll have the satisfaction of knowing that your day can’t get any worse.
The 4-Hour Workweek by Timothy Ferris
Timothy Ferris addresses the various aspects of wealth creation. Just because you’re earning more than someone else doesn’t mean you’re richer. Ferris argues that richness depends on the underlying factors that contribute to wealth. He illustrates this with examples of different lifestyles, emphasizing the quality of life over the quantity of work.
Atomic Habits by James Clear
The New York Times Bestseller Atomic Habits highlights effective steps to build good habits and break bad ones. James Clear advises that it’s the small changes that matter. He shares strategies that will teach you how to break bad habits and find a system that makes you more efficient at time management, inspiring you to implement simple behaviors in daily life and work.
How to Stop Procrastinating by S. J. Scott
Procrastination is one of the obstacles blocking you from making progress in life and at work. It’s what’s holding you back from living the life you always dreamt of. How to Stop Procrastinating by S. J. Scott is a must-read book on time management. The author uses a specific framework to help you become action-oriented, sharing his own experience and advice on avoiding procrastination.
168 Hours by Laura Vanderkam
All of us get 168 hours per week—no more, no less. Even so, some people seem to get the most out of that time than others. What’s the secret? 168 Hours by Laura Vanderkam drives the point home using real-life stories of successful and happy people, highlighting the importance of prioritizing important tasks.
18 Minutes by Peter Bregman
Most books on time management advocate doing fewer things that add value rather than struggling to do multiple things at once. In his book, 18 Minutes, Bregman shares that you don’t really need much motivation, just enough to get you started. More importantly, don’t spend a lot of time switching between tasks.
15 Secrets Successful People Know About Time Management by Kevin Kruse
If you like reading stories about how successful people got where they are today, this book is for you. Kevin Kruse asks successful individuals their number one secret to productivity and summarizes the insights in his book, offering valuable lessons for time management.
The Power of Habit by Charles Duhigg
Charles Duhigg, an award-winning business reporter, shares fascinating stories and the science behind our habits. He argues that while you can’t eliminate bad habits, you can change them, transforming your life through a deep understanding of the choices you make.
Deep Work by Cal Newport
Whether you work from home or in-office, distractions are all around you. Cal Newport shares how you can focus without giving in to distractions. Deep Work is a time management book that reminds us of the importance of setting aside time for meaningful work, exploring principles to change your approach to work and achieve more.
We hope you enjoyed this collection of the best books on time management. By changing bad habits and eliminating procrastination, you can learn to reclaim your time and govern the clock instead of letting the clock govern you.
