Millions of people Google for productivity and life hacks every day. With everything out there, it’s hard to know which books or websites to pick. Which one will work for you?
As a personal coach with almost 2 decades of experience, I sift through hours and hours of content every year. I’m happy to report that there are three books (yes, only 3!!) that I have recommended consistently so far in 2023. I should emphasize that I think they are best read in the order listed here. The first will help the second and third one to be implemented into your life.
Atomic Habits
The first is called Atomic Habits: Tiny Changes, Remarkable Results by James Clear. His last name says it all regarding his communication style. This guy basically distills down all of the latest research on effective habit change in an easy-to-read format. The book contains compelling stories to make the content stick. He teaches in detail the “Four Laws of Behavior Change” which are Obvious, Easy, Attractive and Satisfying.
Learn how to institute some of these methods to live a life more in line with who you want to become:
- Habit Stacking-using momentum of things you already do.
- Starting Ritual where, rather than focusing on the thing you want to get done, you only focus on thing thing that gets it started.
- Sync to associate something you enjoy doing with something you dread, like watching your favorite TV show only while you’re on the stationary bike.
- Score by tracking how often you do things to measure your progress (something to put into the second book recommendation below!).
You can also find his blog articles to get some of his excellent content or even sign up for his newsletter for wisdom in your inbox.
The Bullet Journal Method
The second book, to make sure absolutely nothing falls through the cracks, is The Bullet Journal Method: Track the Past, Order the Present, Design the Future by Ryder Carroll. Diagnosed with ADHD at a young age, Carroll had to find a way to organize his mind for success. He created an analog method for doing so. It evolved over the years as he became increasingly more organized and focused on his successful career and “eliminating the non-essential” from his life.
The habits of the first book and the implementation of the second find me (with all digital devices turned off in other rooms) at the kitchen table every morning. I like to have it with a cup of coffee and an open bullet journal. You’ll find me planning my day, glancing at my month ahead, and not only contemplating what is worth keeping in my journal. But what is worth eliminating from my life. About 10 minutes in the morning, and 10 minutes in the evening to be more productive. That’s it.
No More Juggling
I no longer feel like I’m juggling things in my head. I no longer (in tandem with my Google Calendar) worry about what’s going on the next day. Make no mistake, this is NOT just a journal and a few tricks. It’s a system, and its use of a pen and paper is designed to not get interrupted by technology.
Real World Example
“I’ve always been kind of like a swan. I look clean, calm and collected on the surface, but below the surface I’m frantically paddling, going from one thing to another in my head and my desk was always full of post-it notes. When Paul recommended I try ‘BuJo,’ I was skeptical at first. I had tried journaling in the past, put it never really stuck. Now that I’m in my third month of Bullet Journaling, things are smooth on the surface and below the surface. I’m anticipating things that are ahead of me for the first time in a long time, and I’m no longer scrambling while I pray for the weekend to come so I can zone out for a couple days until the frantic chaos starts all over again on Monday. Nothing falls through the cracks anymore, and it’s such a great feeling!”
– Angela K., Senior Business Consultant
Indistractable by Nir Eyal
If time is the most valuable asset you own, then your attention is the currency.
The biggest thing that can distract us these days is the very tools that were meant to make us more productive. Interruptions from cell phone notifications top the list.
The ironic part of this book is that it was written by the same guy who wrote the famous Hooked: How to Build Habit-Forming Products. So he knows a thing or two about capturing your attention and how to hack your brain.
This book is loaded with tools, tips and even browser plugins and apps for your to reclaim technology. You can use them as a means to be more productive, and not something that constantly distracts you from what is important.
Take Control of Your Productivity
Getting control of your cell phone and computer to have them do what you want them to do is crucial to getting what you want out of life. The scientific research is unanimous in concluding that humans are not good at multitasking. A single distraction can derail your productivity, let alone the 45.9 average push notifications for North Americans.
I can’t recommend this book enough.
Read It All and Increase Efficiency
I recommend reading the entire book on all three of these recommendations–not just an online summary. The stories and case studies carefully crafted by the authors really help to make the concepts stick in your memory. They can become a lasting part of your life – you know, the whole reason you are reading these books, to begin with.
I’m sure you’ll find these extremely helpful. Both have become an important part of my library for personal/professional development. For me, they are important weapons in my efficiency arsenal for help with my clients.
What’s worked for you to develop new productive habits? Do you think another book should be added to this list to help get things done?
p.s. – Need a little help being more productive and developing better habits? Book a free session with me and we’ll see if we’re a fit for working together.
Paul Strobl, MBA, CPC
Owner of Confide Coaching, LLC
Paul is a Master Life Coach for individuals, executives and business owners. Originally from Houston, Texas, he has been location independent for most of his adult life. He currently resides in the Rhodope Mountains of Bulgaria near the Greek border with his brilliant wife, 13-year-old stepson (officially adopted in 2021!) and a Posavac Hound rescue.
