Today, managing time effectively creates a significant advantage. If you want to master the skill, the best books on time management can be as transformative as a new mentor. So we’ve put together a list.
Ten Best Books On Time Management for Business Professionals
This organized list features top business time management books, all available on Amazon. Each selection is a tool to help you create more hours in your day.
1. Deep Work: Rules for Focused Success in a Distracted World by Cal Newport (2016)
This book introduces a philosophy that challenges the status quo of a hyper-connected workplace. It’s built on the premise that the ability to focus without distraction on cognitively demanding tasks is valuable.
Newport argues that deep work is a rare and powerful skill in today’s business world. He defines “deep work” as the intense concentration that facilitates the production of high-quality outcomes in less time. He also teaches readers how to cultivate this skill, transform their work habits, and eliminate distractions.
Newport illustrates his point with sorrowful anecdotes, scientific studies, and cultural criticism. He explains why deep work is necessary and how it can be achieved even in workplaces dominated by the bustle of instant communication.
The book is a good read for anyone looking to excel in a competitive environment, increase productivity, or derive more satisfaction from their endeavors.
2. The Productivity Project: Accomplishing More by Managing Your Time, Attention, and Energy by Chris Bailey (2016)
In “The Productivity Project,” Chris Bailey takes readers on an enlightening journey to the heart of productivity. For over a year, Bailey turned himself into a human laboratory animal for detailed experiments to explore the boundaries of human productivity. The result is a relatable, engaging, and practical guide that explains time management and efficiency.
Bailey challenges and inspires readers to rethink their habits, focus, and energy management. He provides actionable advice modified for modern professionals. Each chapter discusses essential topics like the value of tracking time, managing interruptions, and harnessing the power of routines to maximize productivity without exhausting it.
Bailey’s approach to experimentation sets this book apart. It makes the book a guide and an adventure in finding what truly enhances daily productivity.
3. Make Time: How to Focus on What Matters Every Day by Jake Knapp and John Zeratsky (2018)
This book is designed to help you rethink how you manage your time and attention. It was written by two experts who fine-tuned the art of productivity during their time at Google Ventures. The book introduces a simple yet revolutionary philosophy:
Instead of trying to get everything done, focus on what’s truly essential and create more time for those activities.
Knapp and Zeratsky leverage their experiences working in a high-demand tech environment to share strategies and tactics for escaping the constant tug-of-war between work and personal life demands. Their approach centers on choosing a single ‘highlight’ to prioritize each day and then employing specific tactics to ensure you can focus on completing it without distractions.
From tactics to combat constant connectivity to tips on energy management, “Make Time” can help you reshape your daily routine. So you can slow down and concentrate on what matters most, making every day a more satisfying and productive experience.
4. When: The Scientific Secrets of Perfect Timing by Daniel H. Pink (2018)
The book dives into the fascinating world of time to reveal the hidden patterns of our daily lives that influence success and happiness.
Daniel Pink uses a wealth of scientific research to argue that timing is not an art but a science. He explores the optimal times to make decisions, start new projects, and quit unproductive endeavors. The book helps readers strategically align their actions for maximum effectiveness. He gives them the tools to enhance their timing and make the most of their day.
“When” challenges the notion that our lives are random events, encouraging us to think systematically about when we act. It’s an ideal read for anyone looking to master timing to live a more fulfilled and timely life.
5. Off the Clock: Feel Less Busy While Getting More Done by Laura Vanderkam (2018)
“Off the Clock” profoundly explores the deceptive balance between productivity and relaxation. Vanderkam, a renowned expert on time management and work-life balance, challenges the conventional wisdom that you must always be busy to be productive. Instead, she offers insightful strategies to help you maximize your time, not by doing more, but by doing things meaningfully.
Vanderkam illustrates how to escape the trap of feeling repeatedly overwhelmed. She teaches readers how to leverage their hours effectively so they can create more space for personal time and relaxation. The book is a complete guide to living better by reclaiming the hours of your day, feeling less rushed, and discovering greater joy in daily activities.
It also delves into principles such as mindfulness, intentional leisure, and setting priorities and boundaries. It empowers readers to live fuller and more satisfying lives inside and outside work.
6. Atomic Habits: An Easy & Proven Way to Build Good Habits & Break Bad Ones by James Clear (2018)
This book offers a transformative look into the power of small changes. Clear presents an engaging and practical guide that illustrates how the accumulation of tiny improvements leads to remarkable results over time. He draws from proven psychology and neuroscience to provide readers with strategies to shape their habits successfully. The book explains how focusing on gradual change can influence every aspect of personal and professional life.
“Atomic Habits” provides the tools to make significant changes by starting small. It’s perfect for anyone in a cycle of unproductive behaviors and seeking a pathway to sustainable change.
7. Indestructible: How to Control Your Attention and Choose Your Life by Nir Eyal (2019)
“Indestructible” offers a crucial guide to understanding and overcoming distractions. The book delves into the psychology behind attention and distraction, providing readers with practical, actionable strategies to harness their focus and improve productivity.
Nir Eyal, who also authored the bestseller Hooked, draws on his extensive research to teach techniques for organizing time. These techniques also help you maintain your focus and ultimately reclaim control of your life.
No matter the struggle, “Indistractable” equips you with the tools to resist distractions and live with greater purpose and peace.
8. The Bullet Journal Method: Track the Past, Order the Present, Design the Future by Ryder Carroll (2018)
Ryder Carroll’s book remains one of the best books on time management today. It’s more than just a productivity book; it’s a mindful practice disguised as a note-taking system. The systematic approach shared will help you organize your thoughts, tasks, and priorities in a uniquely customizable format.
Carroll’s technique encourages readers to document the past, organize the present, and plan the future, enabling a clearer mental space and a more intentional life. He uses engaging explanations and actionable advice to teach readers how to set up their bullet journals. He also delves into the philosophy behind why keeping such a journal can lead to a more meaningful and productive life.
The book offers a transformative tool to simplify your mind and sharpen focus, one bullet point at a time.
9. Time Smart: How to Reclaim Your Time and Live a Happier Life by Ashley Whillans (2020)
Whillans offers a captivating blueprint for those looking to seize control over their time to enhance their overall quality of life. The book delves into the modern dilemma of time poverty, an issue that plagues many professionals who find their days crammed with activities yet lack significant satisfaction.
An expert in time and happiness at Harvard Business School, she combines her extensive research with practical strategies to demonstrate how to identify and eliminate time-sapping activities.
Readers learn how to prioritize tasks that support genuine happiness and fulfillment. It’s a great book if you feel constantly overwhelmed by daily life’s demands or seek to reclaim your time and enable a richer, more joyful existence.
10. Limitless: Upgrade Your Brain, Learn Anything Faster, and Unlock Your Exceptional Life by Jim Kwik (2020)
“Limitless” offers a groundbreaking exploration into enhancing cognitive function and mental performance. It distills the expertise of renowned brain coach Jim Kwik into actionable steps that readers can use to develop their learning abilities, improve memory, and tackle their minds’ untapped potential.
Kwik provides readers with not just the ‘what’ to do but the ‘how’ by delving into the limitless model, which breaks down the barriers imposed by one’s self-limiting beliefs.
The book is for anyone looking to elevate their brain power, accelerate learning, and lead a more productive and successful life. Grab it on Amazon to future-proof your brain and thrive in this increasingly complex world.
Best Books on Time Management: Final Thoughts
Reading some of the best books on time management can significantly alter your approach to daily tasks and projects. It’s like selecting the right tool for a job. Integrating strong time management principles can help you manage your time better and enjoy the process. The right book can equip you with strategies to survive and thrive in business.
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