10 Books on Time Management for People Working from Home
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Struggling to manage your time while working from home? You’re not alone.
Without the office structure, it’s all too easy to lose track of the hours. Thankfully, these books are here to help with practical tips and strategies.
Dive into these ten must-reads to boost your time management skills and stay on top of your game.
1. “Eat That Frog!” by Brian Tracy
- What it’s about: Tracy’s classic book focuses on tackling your most challenging tasks first thing in the morning. By addressing your most difficult and important tasks (the “frogs”) right away, you can overcome procrastination and maximise productivity throughout the day.
- Perfect for: Procrastinators who need a straightforward, actionable strategy to boost their productivity and efficiency by prioritising their most daunting tasks.
- Might not be your thing if: You prefer a more flexible daily routine and are not inclined to rigidly structuring your tasks.
Eat That Frog!: Get More Of The Important Things Done Today by Brian Tracy
A no-nonsense guide to conquering procrastination and boosting productivity. Tracy uses the metaphor of “eating a frog” to represent tackling your most daunting task first thing in the morning. By focusing on the most important and challenging tasks — the ones that can significantly impact your life — you can organise your day more effectively and achieve more. This bestselling book breaks down the essentials of time management into twenty-one practical steps, emphasising decision, discipline, and determination. With updated advice on managing technology, Tracy provides clear, actionable strategies to help you stop procrastinating and accomplish what truly matters.
2. “168 Hours” by Laura Vanderkam
- What it’s about: Vanderkam debunks the myth that we don’t have enough time by showing how to audit your weekly hours and use them more wisely. She provides practical advice on how to allocate time to the activities that matter most, helping you to achieve a more balanced and fulfilling life.
- Perfect for: Those who feel they never have enough time and want to make the most of their week by understanding and optimising their time usage.
- Might not be your thing if: You’re looking for quick, surface-level tips, as this book offers a more detailed and thorough approach to time management.
168 Hours: You Have More Time Than You Think by Laura Vanderkam
Vanderkam challenges the common belief that we are starved for time. Vanderkam, through interviews with successful and happy individuals, reveals that the key to achieving our goals lies in how we allocate our time. Instead of allowing the daily grind to overshadow important activities, these individuals ensure their priorities are met first. Vanderkam demonstrates that with careful examination and prioritization, it's possible to get enough sleep, exercise regularly, pursue hobbies, and spend quality time with family — all without sacrificing work or other crucial commitments. This book offers practical advice on how to manage your 168 hours each week to live a fulfilling and balanced life.
3. “The Pomodoro Technique” by Francesco Cirillo
- What it’s about: Cirillo introduces the Pomodoro Technique, a time management method that uses intervals of focused work and short breaks to enhance concentration and productivity. The technique involves working for 25 minutes (a “Pomodoro”) followed by a 5-minute break, with longer breaks after several cycles.
- Perfect for: Anyone who struggles with staying focused for long periods and wants a structured, effective method to improve productivity and manage time better.
- Might not be your thing if: You dislike structured time management methods and prefer a more flexible approach to managing your work and breaks.
The Pomodoro Technique: The Life-Changing Time-Management System by Francesco Cirillo
This book introduces a simple yet powerful method to boost productivity and manage time effectively. Developed by Cirillo and used by millions worldwide, this technique involves breaking your day into focused 25-minute intervals, or “pomodoros,” with short breaks in between. This approach helps you stay concentrated, manage distractions, and prevent burnout. With over two decades of refinement, Cirillo’s book provides practical tips on working efficiently, achieving a better work/life balance, and enhancing teamwork. All you need to get started is a pen, some paper, and a timer. Join the Pomodoro revolution and transform how you manage your time and tasks.
4. “When” by Daniel H. Pink
- What it’s about: Pink explores the science of timing and how to leverage it to your advantage. By understanding your personal rhythms and the natural patterns of the day, you can schedule your work to align with your most productive times. Pink delves into research from psychology, biology, and economics to offer insights on the optimal times for various activities.
- Perfect for: Those interested in the science behind timing and productivity, and who want to use this knowledge to enhance their efficiency and effectiveness.
- Might not be your thing if: You’re looking for more straightforward, traditional time management advice rather than an exploration of the scientific nuances of timing.
When: The Scientific Secrets of Perfect Timing by Daniel H. Pink
Daniel H. Pink explores the science behind timing and how it impacts our daily lives. Pink delves into cutting-edge research to reveal hidden patterns that can help us build the ideal schedule, make better decisions, and improve our overall well-being. From the best time to have your first coffee to the surprising benefits of singing in sync with others, Pink’s book is packed with practical insights and engaging stories. Whether you're considering a career change, planning your day, or looking to boost productivity, “When” offers invaluable tips to help you make the most of your time.
5. “Time Management Magic” by Lee Cockerell
- What it’s about: Lee Cockerell, a former Disney executive, shares his secrets to effective time management in this book. He provides actionable strategies and techniques that can help you organise both your work and personal life more efficiently. Drawing from his extensive experience, Cockerell offers practical advice on prioritisation, scheduling, and goal setting to help you maximise your productivity.
- Perfect for: Anyone looking for practical, executive-level time management tips that are grounded in real-world experience and designed to improve overall productivity.
- Might not be your thing if: You prefer a less structured approach to time management and are not looking for detailed, regimented strategies.
Time Management Magic: How to Get More Done Every Day and Move from Surviving to Thriving by Lee Cockerell
This book shares invaluable time management strategies from a former Disney executive VP. Cockerell, who managed the operations of Walt Disney World Resorts with a team of forty thousand employees, offers insights from his extensive experience. It provides his most requested time management techniques, designed to help you optimise your daily schedule and enhance both your personal and professional life. Cockerell’s practical advice goes beyond mere time management, focusing on comprehensive life management to ensure you thrive rather than just survive. His key message is clear: never underestimate what you can achieve with the right approach to managing your time.
6. “The Time Chunking Method” by Damon Zahariades
- What it’s about: Damon Zahariades’ book focuses on breaking your day into manageable chunks of time. This time management method helps you stay organised, enhance productivity, and reduce stress by dedicating specific periods to focused tasks without distractions.
- Perfect for: Those who need help organising their day into focused time blocks and want to improve their productivity through a structured approach.
- Might not be your thing if: You dislike dividing your day into specific time chunks and prefer a more flexible approach to managing your tasks.
The Time Chunking Method: A 10-Step Action Plan For Increasing Your Productivity by Damon Zahariades
A comprehensive guide to managing your time more effectively. This popular time management strategy helps you streamline your workflow by breaking your day into focused chunks of time, allowing you to get more done while staying motivated and avoiding burnout. Suitable for everyone from students to small business owners, the book provides practical steps to tailor the method to your personal workflow, overcome common roadblocks, and maximize productivity. Zahariades also covers the impact of sleep, diet, and stress on your efficiency, and includes actionable tips on goal-setting and using breaks effectively.
7. “First Things First” by Stephen R. Covey, A. Roger Merrill, and Rebecca R. Merrill
- What it’s about: This book emphasises prioritising important tasks over merely urgent ones. Covey's principles help you focus on what truly matters, ensuring you make meaningful progress every day. By distinguishing between what is urgent and what is genuinely important, the authors provide strategies to help you align your daily actions with your long-term goals and values.
- Perfect for: Anyone struggling to prioritise their tasks effectively and looking for a structured approach to focus on what truly matters in both personal and professional life.
- Might not be your thing if: You prefer a more flexible, less structured approach to task management and prioritisation.
First Things First by Stephen R. Covey, A. Roger Merrill, Rebecca R. Merrill
A #1 New York Times Bestseller and a gold standard for time management. This book offers a principle-centered approach to prioritizing tasks, helping you make the necessary changes and sacrifices to achieve happiness and security. The Interactive Edition enhances Covey's philosophy with videos, infographics, and analysis, making it easier to apply his time management tips. By following the advice in this book, you can get more done in less time, develop richer relationships, attain inner peace, create balance in your life, and always put first things first.
8. “Make Time” by Jake Knapp and John Zeratsky
- What it’s about: Knapp and Zeratsky offer a four-step system to help you make time for what really matters. Their approach is designed to be flexible and adaptable, allowing it to fit into any lifestyle. The book provides practical tips and strategies for identifying your priorities, focusing your energy, and creating time in your busy schedule for the things that are most important to you.
- Perfect for: Those who feel constantly busy and need help prioritising their tasks and activities, and anyone looking for a straightforward and adaptable method to manage their time better.
- Might not be your thing if: You’re looking for in-depth psychological theories, as this book focuses more on practical advice and actionable strategies.
Make Time: How to Focus on What Matters Every Day by Jake Knapp & John Zeratsky
This is a practical guide to reclaiming your time and attention in a world full of distractions. As the creators of Google Ventures’ renowned “design sprint,” the authors offer a four-step daily framework filled with over 80 actionable strategies to help you prioritize what truly matters. Instead of proposing unrealistic solutions, they provide customizable tips to fit your lifestyle, aiming to make small shifts that liberate you from constant busyness. This book is perfect for anyone looking to stop reacting passively to the demands of the modern world and start intentionally making time for what matters most.
9. “The Organized Mind” by Daniel J. Levitin
- What it’s about: Levitin explores how our brains manage information and offers strategies to stay organised in a world filled with distractions. By understanding the neuroscience behind how we process and store information, Levitin provides insights and practical techniques to enhance productivity, reduce stress, and maintain order in our personal and professional lives.
- Perfect for: Anyone looking to understand the science of organisation and productivity, and who appreciates a thorough exploration of the brain’s role in managing information.
- Might not be your thing if: You prefer quick, actionable tips over detailed scientific explanations and in-depth analysis.
The Organized Mind: The Science of Preventing Overload, Increasing Productivity and Restoring Your Focus by Daniel Levitin
Levitin delves into the challenges our brains face in the digital age. With information overload becoming a constant struggle, neuroscientist Levitin explores why we find email so addictive, the myth of multitasking, and what successful people keep in their junk drawers. The book’s core idea is simple yet revolutionary: store information in the physical world instead of overloading your mind. By doing so, you can harness the power of information and make it work for you, enhancing productivity and focus in the twenty-first century. Perfect for anyone feeling overwhelmed by modern life's demands, this book offers practical strategies to stay organized and efficient.
10. “Your Best Year Ever” by Michael Hyatt
- What it’s about: Hyatt focuses on setting and achieving your goals through a blend of time management and goal-setting techniques. His approach aims to help you make the most of your time, overcome obstacles, and reach your aspirations by providing a structured framework for personal and professional growth.
- Perfect for: Anyone looking to combine effective time management with comprehensive goal-setting strategies to achieve their best year ever.
- Might not be your thing if: You’re looking for time management tips without a focus on goal-setting and long-term planning.
Your Best Year Ever: A 5-Step Plan for Achieving Your Most Important Goals by Michael Hyatt
A must-read for anyone looking to turn their dreams into reality. In this book, Hyatt, a New York Times bestselling author, presents a powerful and research-driven system for setting and achieving goals. He guides readers through designing their best year ever in just five hours, offering practical strategies to triple the likelihood of success, make their goals quit-proof, and overcome any obstacles. This book is perfect for those tired of seeing their big goals pushed aside by daily life, providing the tools needed to make significant progress in personal, intellectual, business, relationship, or financial areas.
Enjoyed our recommendations? Don’t stop here! Check out this handpicked list of books on:
- How to improve your productivity
- How to handle burnout
- How to avoid distractions
- How to boost your creativity
- How to maintain a work-life balance
- How to keep your mental health in check
- How to develop essential skills for WFH
- How to balance family and work responsibilities
- How to deal with loneliness when working remotely
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