Take it from us, there is nothing a good procrastinator loves more than stopping work to read a book on productivity. It’s procrastination without the guilt!
But these five books about productivity are so good that taking time out to read them can’t be considered procrastination at all…
#1 The Now Habit: A Strategic Program for Overcoming Procrastination and Enjoying Guilt-Free Play by Neil Fiore
Fiore is a Ph.D, psychologist, personal coach and author of a number of self-improvement texts.
The Now Habit was first published in 1988 and has now sold over 200,000 copies and been translated into 11 languages.
Heralded as “one of the most effective programs to combat procrastination”, The Now Habit has recently been updated to feature a new section about dealing with distractions from technology and the Internet.
Dr. Fiore’s techniques are designed not only to help with procrastination – helping readers to start and complete tasks sooner – but also to deal with the anxiety that stems from procrastination and perfectionism.
#2 The Seven Habits of Highly Effective People by Stephen R. Covey
This best-selling book claims to “ignore trends and pop psychology” in favor of “proven principles of fairness, integrity, honesty, and human dignity”.
First published in 1989, Covey’s approach calls on people to:
- be proactive;
- begin with the end in mind;
- put first things first; think win-win;
- seek first to understand, then be understood;
- synergize;
- and sharpen the saw.
Covey has since added an eight habit – taking readers from effectiveness to greatness.
#3 The Desire Map by Danielle LaPorte
The Desire Map helps readers think about what they really desire from life.
The Desire Map has spawned a cottage industry of workshops, events, coaches, and facilitators, so if you love the book you can get involved and share ideas with like-minded devotees.
LaPorte claims that after reading her book: “Decisions will be easier to make: You’ll know what to say no to and what to say hell-yes to. You’ll be more optimistic, more open-hearted. It will be easier for you to return to your center in the midst of a challenge.”
#5 Eat That Frog! 21 Great Ways to Stop Procrastinating and Get More Done in Less Time by Brian Tracy
Since first being published, Eat That Frog! has sold more than 450,000 copies and been translated into 23 languages.
Based on the notion that “if the first thing you do when you wake up in the morning is eat a live frog, then nothing worse can happen for the rest of the day!”, the book outlines “the 21 most effective methods for conquering procrastination and accomplishing more”.
Recently, it has been updated to include brand-new information about how to prevent technology from dominating your time.
The crux of Tracy’s idea is that your “frog” should be the most difficult item on your to-do list, the one you’re most likely to procrastinate over.
That way, if you eat that first, it’ll give you energy and momentum for the rest of the day.
#5 Getting Things Done® by David Allen
Going beyond mere paperback, Getting Things Done claims to be “much more than a set of tips for time management and organization [it is] a total work-life management system that transforms overwhelm into an integrated system of stress-free productivity”.
The book is promoted as a “manual” for the authors methodology – five simple steps “to apply order to chaos and provide you the space and structure to be more creative, strategic, and focused”.
These include:
- Capture (collect what has your attention);
- Clarify (process what it means);
- Organize (put it where it belongs);
- Reflect (review regularly);
- and Engage (simply do).
