A good book can turn hours into minutes or transport you to another world, but a good book can inspire you to change your life.
Chris Baileyauthor and productivity expert, tells CNBC Make It that he’s pored over “countless” productivity books throughout his career to find the titles with the best tips for getting organized and, therefore, , thrive on and off the job.
Below, Bailey shares three books he considers “essential reading.” for anyone interested in becoming more productive and living a happier, more successful life:
“Mindset: the new psychology of success”
By Carol S. Dweck, Ph.D.
In this book, Carol S. Dweck, a psychologist at Stanford University, explains how to cultivate a “growth mindset” – a way of thinking in which you believe your talents can be developed and failure can be a springboard to success.
“It’s important to have a mindset that you can grow, change, and improve as a human being before investing in productivity,” notes Bailey.
Dweck also makes a compelling case for how our success in personal and professional endeavors can be significantly influenced by how we think about ourselves and our abilities. “It’s a great read that can change your thinking for the better,” adds Bailey.
“Getting Things Done: The Art of Stress-Free Productivity”
By David Allen
This 2001 classic, which Bailey calls “the bible of productivity,” offers practical advice for organizing your life as well as overcoming feelings of stress, anxiety and overwhelm.
There are chapters on improving your focus, solving difficult projects, cleaning up your inbox and more.
“‘Getting Things Done’ is the first and best productivity book I’ve ever read,” says Bailey. “After reading it, I felt like my mind had been cleared of tasks, commitments and everything else for the first time in a long time – I can’t recommend this book highly enough.”
“The Happiness Advantage: The Seven Principles of Positive Psychology That Fuel Success and Performance at Work”
By Shawn Achor
The path to self-improvement is often paved with negative self-talk – as Bailey points out, “wanting to become more productive, for example, implies that you are unhappy with the way you spend your time, attention and your energy in the first place.”
Achor’s book is an antidote to such fears and doubts – he writes about how happiness fuels success, drawing on his work with Fortune 500 leaders to explain how to reprogram your brain to be more positive and , ultimately, more efficient at work.
It outlines seven principles for achieving the “happiness advantage,” including focusing on small, manageable goals and building a strong social support network. Bailey adds, “Becoming happier doesn’t just boost your gait, it will also make you more productive. »
To verify:
Successful People Do These 3 Things On Sunday For A Happier, Stress-Free Week, According To A Productivity Expert
Do These 4 Things Every Day to Be Happier and More Resilient, According to Mental Health Experts
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