It’s great working from home, right? Yet, why does it feel like you’re getting less done? Trying to be productive on your own may feel like trying to reinvent the wheel. So stop trying to figure it all out on your own. The best productivity books are filled with secrets, tips, and hacks to help you start living a more productive life when it comes to work and your personal life. Start being more productive now by reading a chapter or two of one of these books on your next work break.
1. Work From Home Superstar
I’ve picked this as my number one because it’s short and to the point. You want to start being more productive as quickly as possible and Jack Wilson’s Work From Home Superstar does just that. It’s not an in-depth guide, but there are many useful tips and much motivation packed into less than fifty pages. If you have Kindle Unlimited, it’s free to read.
2. The 4-Hour Workweek
If this one sounds familiar, it’s probably because it’s been a trending topic in productivity circles for years now. It’s also become one of the most popular productivity books and for good reason. Personally, I wasn’t sure what to expect from Timothy Ferriss’s The 4-Hour Workweek.
This is my top pick as a longer read. Despite the title, you probably aren’t going to start working just four hours a week. However, the advice and practical tips are invaluable for achieving a much better work/life balance when working from home. Even if you don’t work from home, you’ll discover ways to increase your productivity. The overall concept is to work smarter versus working harder and longer.
Check out our book summary of The 4-hour Work Week to get a better idea of what’s in store.
3. There’s No Place Like Working from Home
Elaine Quinn’s There’s No Place Like Working From Home is a little older, but it’s a great resource for organizing your office and computer, dealing with procrastination, handling the lack of co-workers, and much more. Quinn draws on over a decade of experience helping people work from home while increasing their productivity.
If you haven’t got time for the whole thing don’t worry! We’ve summarized the key points of this great book here at Onlinetivity.
4. Getting Things Done: The Art of Stress-Free Productivity
Stress-free productivity sounds great, right? That’s what David Allen helps you accomplish in Getting Things Done: The Art of Stress-free Productivity. I’ll admit that it’s not the easiest read, but well worth the time. If you don’t mind a lot of metaphors and old sayings, Allen’s book is great for organizing your life, both professionally and personally. There’s actionable advice for nearly any situation and job. There’s even a ten-step workbook available as a companion book.
Head on over to our summary of Getting Things to pick up some key pointers from this book.
5. The Power of Habit: Why We Do What We Do in Life and Business
I thoroughly enjoyed Charles Duhigg’s The Power of Habit: Why We Do What We Do in Life and Business. While most productivity books focus on organization and working smarter, Dughigg focuses on habits. After all, the right habits make you far more productive. The advice on how to change unproductive habits is perfect for putting the focus on improving yourself and productivity.
6. The Willpower Instinct: How Self-Control Works, Why It Matters, and What You Can Do to Get More of It
The Willpower Instinct: How Self-Control Works, Why It Matters, and What You Can Do to Get More of It by Kelly Gonigal takes a deeper look into gaining control over your willpower. At first glance, this may not seem like one of the best productivity books, but it takes a surprising amount of willpower and self control to work at home. When you control yourself, you accomplish more and procrastinate less. Gonigal uses scientific studies to back her advice and tips, making it a useful productivity book for anyone wanting to get more from their day.
To skip straight to the key points of The Willpower Instinct, head over to our summary of the book
7. The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People
Stephen R. Covey’s The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People is arguably still one of the most famous productivity books from the last several decades. I remember reading it a few years after it came out back in the 1990s. While it focuses on just seven habits, these habits can change the way you think and work. The 30th anniversary edition was just released in May 2020 and contains all the original wisdom for living a more productive life. The companion workbook is also available to further guide you through cultivating more productive habits.
We’ve written up a summary of the key points from this book. Click on over to check it out!
Reading to Find a More Productive You
The great thing about reading productivity books is they provide actionable advice that you can customize to your needs. Take the time to pick what’s most applicable to you and work on creating better habits, organizing your workspace and life, and developing a better work/life balance.
Have you read any of these books? Are there any others you’d recommend?