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I’ve been obsessed with productivity and goal setting since before I can remember, and I’ve read A LOT of books on these topics over the last 10 years.

If you’ve just starting your productivity journey, I would not recommend searching “productivity books” on Amazon. There are hundreds of books to choose from, and honestly, there are a lot of not-so helpful books on the subject.

In this post, I’m sharing 7 of my favorite book recommendations for building a more productive life and getting the right things done (without the unnecessary guilt). These are my all-time favorites that I could honestly re-read every year, so I hope you find some gems to help you on your own journey!

01 | Free to Focus: A Total Productivity System to Achieve More by Doing Less by Michael Hyatt | Buy Here

I loved all of Michael Hyatt’s books, but this one is a comprehensive guide to building a more productive life, day by day and week by week. It’s a quick and easy read to jumpstart your productivity journey if you’re getting started.

02 | The Ruthless Elimination of Hurry: How to Stay Emotionally Healthy and Spiritually Alive in the Chaos of the Modern World by John Mark Comer | Buy Here

I’m a huge fan of authors who can think beyond the strategies of how to get more done, and focus instead on what types of things we should actually be getting done. Comer redefines what it looks like to be purposefully productive, and this book felt like a breath of fresh air! If you’re finding it difficult to prioritize the things that matter most to you in this season, this book is a must read.

03 | Essentialism: The Disciplined Pursuit of Less by Greg McKeown | Buy Here

Have you ever stopped and realized that everything you’re “supposed” to be doing is actually pretty unrealistic and borderline impossible? Yeah, same. McKeown challenges his readers to pursue “less but better” in every area of their lives in order to live more purposefully and productively.

04 | Do Less: A Revolutionary Approach to Time and Energy Management for Ambitious Women by Kate Northrup | Buy Here

This book was a little bit outside my comfort zone, but I learned a ton about what it means to be productive as an ambitious woman. Almost all the books I read about productivity are written by men.. who have very different energy and hormonal cycles. Northrup helps her readers understand what’s happening in their bodies and how to leverage their cycles to get work done (and how to be gentle with yourself when your energy levels are low).

05 | The One Thing: by Gary Keller | Buy Here

This book presents the simplest productivity system I’ve seen. Keller challenges the idea that you can have multiple priorities and argues that you need to identify the ONE thing, that if done, would make everything else easier or unnecessary. He also has a really easy to implement system for putting this into practice in every area of your life.

06 | Atomic Habits by James Clear | Buy Here

You’ve probably heard about James Clear and the power of 1% improvements each day, but it really is a must-read! He explains the science behind making and breaking habits, which is extremely helpful if you’re trying to improve the way you live your daily life (arguably the most effective way to become more productive).

07 | Get Out of Your Head: Stopping the Spiral of Toxic Thoughts by Jennie Allen | Buy Here

I don’t know about you, but ‘toxic thoughts’ can often paralyze me and prevent me from taking action, trying new things, or pursuing my goals. Allen presents a step by step process to identifying toxic thoughts and reshaping your beliefs. If you want to change your actions, the first step is to change your thoughts. This is a such a powerful read, and must-have resource for your productivity toolbox!

08 | When: The Scientific Secrets of Perfect Timing by Dan Pink | Buy Here

Productivity requires you to manage not only your time, but your energy. This book explores the science behind when we do our best work and has informed a lot of the strategies that I teach about productivity today. This book will absolutely change the way you manage your to-do list each day!

Now tell me, what are your favorite productivity reads?

Do you have a book suggestion that I need to know about? Connect with me on Instagram @jadeboyd.co and share your book recommendations! If you need someone to geek out about productivity with you, I’m your girl. 😉