If you’re anything like me, you’re always looking for ways to boost efficiency, stay organized, and make the most of your days. One of the best ways to level up my productivity game in life and as a medical student? Learning as much as I can from productivity books.
So today, I’m excited to share with you my top nine all-time favorite productivity books. Plus three bonus recs that are on my TBR list). These books have made such a positive impact on my life (so far!). They cover so much more than cute time management techniques or trendy hacks. They get into actionable tips and the psychology of productivity, motivation, and habits so you can make a change that sticks!
These books have been absolute game-changers for me in developing those habits. They’ve made a massive difference in how I approach balancing work and personal time. So that I’m studying consistently over the week and can enjoy my weekends and evenings off. (All while I managed to turn It’s Life by Maggie into a 6-figure business on the side.)
Honestly, I’m not the epitome of perfection. But I’ve picked up some helpful tips and tricks along the way that have greatly boosted my productivity.
So, get ready to supercharge your productivity and achieve your goals with these books!
This post is all about best productivity books.
This post contains affiliate links. This means I’ll receive a commission if you purchase through my link, at no extra cost to you. Full disclosure here.
List of Best Productivity Books
Make Time: How to Focus on What Matters Every Day by Jake Knapp and John Zeratsky
Looking to boost your productivity and make the most out of your day? Then I highly recommend checking out Make Time. It’s a game-changer, full of practical tips and strategies that can truly transform your daily or morning routine.
“Make Time” has really transformed the way I approach productivity. It’s a goldmine of tips and techniques. This book isn’t about cramming more tasks into your day or making drastic lifestyle changes. It’s about making small, intentional shifts in your habits and environment to free yourself from the grip of perpetual busyness.
What I love about “Make Time” is that it doesn’t just give you one solution to try. Instead, it offers a whole array of options and ideas to experiment with in your daily life. One concept I’ve incorporated is setting a daily highlight. Instead of just saying “Do Anki and focus on studying efficiently,” I now phrase it as “Finish Anki and actually understand the material.” This shift in perspective has made a huge difference, especially with the complex medical concepts I’m dealing with.
Another key takeaway from the book is the idea of focusing on a single highlight for the day. While I usually aim for just one, even if I don’t stick to my plan perfectly, I feel incredibly productive and satisfied.
In addition to the highlight strategy, “Make Time” also emphasizes the importance of having a physical piece of paper nearby to jot down thoughts and ideas. It may sound simple, but trust me, it works wonders in keeping me focused and organized.
Building a Second Brain: A Proven Method to Organize Your Digital Life and Unlock Your Creative Potential by Tiago Forte
Have you ever felt that even though you can get the answer to anything just by Googling it, you’re drowning in too much information? This book is your solution!
By creating what the book calls “a second brain,” you can finally take control of your projects and goals. It teaches the concept of creating your own personal system for managing your thoughts and ideas in a way that’s easily accessible across all your devices. Then, it’s so much easier to realize the full potential of your ideas and turn your knowledge into actionable improvements in both your work and life.
This book has completely revolutionized the way I organize my notes. After my second clinical experience in my third year, I realized that I really needed to step up my note-taking game on my phone. I wanted to impress my preceptor by asking the right questions and knowing all the treatment options without missing a beat.
But sometimes, even after seeing something for the third time, I find myself blanking when it comes to making a decision. That’s when it dawned on me—I need to have all this information at my fingertips, ready to go.
After reading about the concept of the “second brain,” I decided to make better use of my notes app. Now I can quickly search for a specific symptom, pull up a summarized cheat sheet I created from my last encounter, and have a solid plan in place. Thanks to keeping my notes super organized, no matter how long ago I saw the case, I can always find what I need.
Getting Things Done: The Art of Stress-Free Productivity by David Allen
This book has been around for almost fifteen years, but its impact is as relevant as ever. Through his GTD (Get Things Done) methodology, David Allen provides a comprehensive guide to personal organization. If you want to boost your productivity and take control of your life, this book is a must-read!
I recently picked up a copy of the Getting Things Done workbook, and I’ve been slowly making my way through it on cozy Sunday afternoons. While I can’t tackle too many tasks at once, this workbook has been quite helpful. It’s a great way to stay productive and focused, especially when I have some free time to relax and do something other than endlessly scrolling through my phone.
The principles outlined in this book have revolutionized how I approach my tasks, manage my time, and, ultimately, achieve my goals!
In “Getting Things Done,” David Allen says, “Your brain is for having ideas, not holding them.” He emphasizes the importance of a capture system for tasks and thoughts. I learned about this concept a couple of years ago after watching a YouTube review of the book and then, implemented my own system after listening to the Audible version.
While capturing tasks is simple, I need to improve the next step of clarifying them, which involves going through everything in my inbox and categorizing tasks regularly. I use both digital and physical inboxes, with the app Things 3 being particularly helpful.
This system has saved me from forgetting assignments that may have totally fallen through the cracks. By inputting all upcoming tasks into my calendar, now I don’t have to worry about missing anything critical!
The 12 Week Year: Get More Done in 12 Weeks than Others Do in 12 Months by Brian P. Moran and Michael Lennington
This book challenges the traditional one-year execution cycle and, instead, proposes a revolutionary concept of condensing your whole year into 12 weeks. Doing so eliminates the tendency to procrastinate and increases your sense of urgency and focus.
This approach adds a sense of time urgency, pushing you to accomplish more of what truly matters. The practical strategies outlined in this book will transform how you approach goal-setting and achieving success.
There’s such power behind the concepts in this book. It dives into how our brains work when it comes to setting goals and achieving them. Our prefrontal cortex lights up when we imagine an exciting future, while the amygdala, the part of our brain associated with fear and uncertainty, kicks into gear when we focus on potential failures or negative outcomes. By visualizing our goals and reasons for wanting to achieve them, we strengthen our brain’s ability to take action consistently.
So, the neurons firing when we think about our compelling future are the same ones that fire when we actually take action toward our goals. Then, add in neuroplasticity, the concept that our brains can change and develop over time, and the more you focus on your vision, the stronger your brain becomes in executing the necessary actions. That’s how you unlock the secret to staying motivated, taking action, and making progress every single day!
Essentialism: The Disciplined Pursuit of Less by Greg Mckeown
This is the book you need if you’re the type of person who’s constantly juggling a ton of tasks and not getting anywhere with any of them.
In this book, Greg Mckeown introduces the concept of Essentialism, which is about honing in on what truly matters and eliminating everything else that distracts us from our goals. He suggests that by practicing Essentialism, you can take back control of your time and energy by simply focusing on making a meaningful impact in the areas that truly resonate with you.
I’ve had this book for the longest time and let me tell you, if you’re constantly juggling a million tasks each day, feeling overwhelmed with never-ending to-do lists, or struggling to prioritize what truly matters amidst the chaos of life, then Essentialism by Greg McKeown is the book for you.
I know, I might sound like a salesperson right now, but seriously, this book is a gem. I read it back when I was in San Diego. And even though it’s been a while, I still remember how much it impacted me.
Essentialism really hones in on what’s important in your life, helping you figure out what you can cut out to make room for what truly brings you joy and fulfillment. It’s like a breath of fresh air amidst the clutter of everyday demands.
The Power of Habit: Why We Do What We Do in Life and Business by Charles Duhigg
I absolutely adore “The Power of Habit.” If you’ve ever struggled with wanting to build habits like drinking more water every day or consistently planning your day in a digital format, this book is perfect for forming those small habits that can have a big impact.
The author, Charles Duhigg is a business insider who shares the fascinating science behind why we do what we do, and more importantly, how we can shake up our routines for the better. This book weaves together a wide variety of examples about how the power of habit shapes destinies, from stories about corporate giants to the civil rights movement.
Personally, I think I need to revisit this book because it’s really helped me. It’s where I first learned about tips like moving the alarm clock to another room and turning off the phone before bed.
Atomic Habits: An Easy & Proven Way to Build Good Habits & Break Bad Ones by James Clear
Unless you’re new to the topic of improving your productivity, you’ve probably heard of James Clear and the idea of creating Atomic Habits. Basically, James Clear has written one of the most popular, talked-about guides on how making simple, tiny changes in your everyday habits can build up to remarkable results in your life.
By offering practical strategies backed by science from biology, psychology, and neuroscience, James Clear provides an easy-to-follow roadmap for forming good habits and breaking bad ones.
He reveals the power of using systems instead of establishing random goals, emphasizing that it’s your habits that truly shape your success.
By the time I picked up Atomic Habits, I had already read so many productivity and self-help books, including the above-mentioned The Power of Habit, that I felt like I had heard it all before. Both books discuss similar concepts, but something about “The Power of Habit” resonated with me more.
Someday is Today: 22 Simple, Actionable Ways to Propel Your Creative Life by Matthew Dicks and Elysha Dicks (Foreword)
I love this book because Matthew Dicks provides a roadmap for turning your dreams into reality by offering practical and simple ways to boost productivity in your daily life. You’ll learn strategies on how to get better at eliminating distractions, silencing negative voices, and finding support to make progress toward your goals.
It’s an enjoyable book with interesting anecdotes and helpful, actionable steps. Best of all, it empowers you to stop procrastinating and start taking steps today (not someday) toward accomplishing your dreams, no matter how big or small. It’s all about making it happen today.
There were so many valuable tips in this book, but one that really caught my attention is about shifting your perspective from time blocking to minute counting. Instead of focusing on your day in hours, you break it down into minutes. For example, you could use the couple-minute window while waiting for someone or something to tackle a few emails or make progress on an assignment.
The idea isn’t about squeezing productivity into every single minute of your day, because that would be exhausting. Instead, it’s about recognizing all those small pockets of time scattered throughout our day where we can chip away at little tasks or even make incremental progress on bigger projects.
The Compound Effect: Jumpstart Your Income, Your Life, Your Success by Darren Hardy
This book is not just your average self-help guide. It cuts through the noise and gets straight to the core principles that drive real success. With Darren Hardy’s insights, I learned how to consistently win, eliminate the bad habits holding me back, and establish critical disciplines for major breakthroughs.
I devoured this book—I started reading it in the morning and finished it the same day! Its strategies on motivation, momentum, and acceleration, based on the secrets of superachievers, have inspired me to achieve my goals like never before, to create success, and to live an extraordinary life.
One thing that really resonated with me was the idea of tracking one habit for one week. So, I decided to try a new habit: dedicating 90 minutes every morning solely to writing content. Whether it’s for a YouTube video, newsletter, Instagram post, or developing new course materials, I believe that establishing a daily writing routine could be the most impactful habit for advancing my business.
If you’re looking for other ideas, you could consider tracking your expenses, meals and drinks, or even how often you check your phone.
What productivity books are next on my TBR list?
I’m super psyched by what I learned from the books above, but I’m always looking for new perspectives and ideas. So, here are three books I’m looking forward to reading next. I can’t wait to cozy up with a warm mug of matcha and get into them so I can start applying their concepts and actionable ideas to my life!
Make Your Bed: Little Things That Can Change Your Life…And Maybe the World by William H. McRaven
I’m fascinated by how making your bed in the morning could set the tone for changing the world. In case you missed it, Admiral William H. McRaven went viral with his Commencement speech, in which he shared the powerful principles he learned during Navy Seal training. (Yes, including the huge impact the simple act of making your bed each morning can make!)
The book promises to share Admiral McRaven’s personal stories about his experiences and those of his fellow military members.
It will also offer timeless wisdom, practical advice, and inspiration for facing adversity with determination, compassion, honor, and courage. This book looks like a must-read for unlocking your potential and achieving more, even in life’s darkest moments. I’m so looking forward to it!
Effortless: Make It Easier to Do What Matters Most by Greg Mckeown
You may recognize Greg Mckeown from the book I featured above, “Essentialism.” Since I’m a total fan, I’m so excited to see he has a new book out, cleverly titled “Effortless.”
If you identify as a high achiever (which pretty much describes just about anyone working toward becoming a doctor – LOL), there’s a high chance you believe that success requires relentless effort and constant hustle. However, this book challenges that notion by offering practical advice on making essential tasks easier to accomplish.
It looks like a great read, especially if you’ve ever felt like you’re on the verge of burnout, struggling to find the energy to make a bigger impact, or running faster but not getting closer to your goals. I know I’ve felt like that from time to time!
I’m looking forward to discovering Greg McKeown’s advice on turning mundane activities into enjoyable rituals and simplifying processes and relationships. Not by taking the lazy way out but rather by finding a smarter and more sustainable approach to success. Basically, it’s about making life easier while still achieving your goals. Count me in!
Feel-Good Productivity: How to Do More of What Matters to You by Ali Abdaal
Going along with the same theme of avoiding burnout, I’m going to follow up reading “Effortless” with this book on cracking the code on “feel-good productivity.”
Dr. Ali Abdaal, the renowned productivity guru, reveals that the key to achieving more isn’t through endless grind, but by making your work feel good. In this transformative read, he unveils the three “energizers,” “blockers,” and “sustainers” that shape our productivity journey. Ali shows us how to infuse joy into our work, beat procrastination, and prevent burnout by prioritizing fulfillment.
Hopefully, this book will give me strategies for saying goodbye to the hustle and hello to a more joyful path to success!
Final Thoughts on my 9 Best Productivity Books
I hope that by sharing my favorite productivity reads and upcoming ones with you, I’ve sparked your curiosity and motivation to begin your own productivity journey.
The insights, strategies, and inspiration I’ve found within these pages have undoubtedly shaped my approach to work and life in ways I never could have imagined. And, fingers crossed, they help you do the same, too. Happy reading!
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