Books on Time Management: The 10 Best Reads for Professionals

Reading Time: 16 minutes

Navigating the complex landscape of productivity and efficiency can be a daunting task. Luckily, we have a well-curated list of the 10 best books on time management that can guide you on your journey. 

These literary gems provide invaluable insights into creating a balance in your life, making the most of your day, and mastering the skill of prioritizing. A key tip to remember when considering books on time management is that effective application matters as much as the theory itself. 

As you delve into these books, actively implement the strategies presented, adapting them to fit your unique circumstances. Only then can you unlock the transformative power of successful time management. 

Let’s begin your journey towards an organized and efficient life with the first book on our list.

What are the Best Books on Time Management?

1. The Time-Saving Mom

The hustle and bustle of life can often leave you feeling overwhelmed, especially if you’re a busy mom. There never seems to be enough time to get everything done, and the solution appears to be hustling harder. However, “The Time-Saving Mom” by Crystal Paine, a mom of six, bestselling author, and entrepreneur, offers a more practical and satisfying approach to managing your time.

In this no-nonsense, real-world guide, Crystal invites you inside her days to help you organize and simplify your life. By implementing her four-step system, you can create morning and evening routines that will set you up for success and discover time-saving hacks that will help you find time for pursuing your personal passions, nurturing friendships, exercising, and achieving better sleep.

But that’s not all. “The Time-Saving Mom” also empowers you to carve out sacred time for God and your family. Crystal’s approach reminds you that you don’t have to be a productivity queen to maximize your time. Instead, you can become a time-saving mom, investing your precious time in what truly matters.

Endorsed by Alli Worthington, author of “Remaining You While Raising Them,” this practical guide is a game-changer that can transform your life and how you view time. Take back control of your days with “The Time-Saving Mom.”

2. Successful Time Management

“Successful Time Management” is an invaluable resource, filled with proven tips, practical solutions, and techniques to help you assess and refine your time management skills. With its vast array of time-saving ideas and effective strategies, this book will guide you in controlling paperwork, managing emails, delegating tasks, and collaborating with others.

The 5th edition, updated in 2019, provides even more practical exercises, handy templates, and insightful tips that will help you minimize distractions and interruptions, enabling you to concentrate on the tasks and goals that are crucial for your job and career. By prioritizing effectively and staying organized, “Successful Time Management” gives you the tools to enhance your efficiency and productivity.

This book is part of the best-selling Creating Success series. Designed for new and aspiring managers and leaders, this series has sold millions of copies worldwide. The books are written by experts and are packed with innovative ideas, smart advice, and successful strategies that really deliver results. If you’re looking to power up your performance, these accessible and empowering guides will help you progress quickly, achieve your goals, and ensure lasting success in your career.

3. Get Organized!: Time Management for School Leaders

In an era where the digital domain exerts tremendous influence over people’s lives, keeping things in order has become more challenging than ever. School leaders, in particular, bear the brunt of these difficulties due to their wide range of responsibilities. A game-changer in this domain is the compelling read, “Get Organized!: Time Management for School Leaders”. This book serves as a quintessential guide that assists school leaders to bring structure to their personal and professional life, thereby increasing productivity and reducing stress.

“Get Organized!” outlines an intricate organizational system, tailored specifically for the demanding schedule of a school leader. It simplifies the seemingly Herculean task of maintaining order amidst the daily hustle. By focusing on what truly matters – the school and its students – it transforms overwhelming workloads into manageable tasks.

What sets this book apart is its simplicity and practicality. The tools and techniques provided are easy to implement, requiring minimal or no cost, making it an immediately usable resource for every school leader. Each chapter is brimming with hands-on tips and detailed guidance on the steps needed to adopt each strategy, effectively serving as an action blueprint.

A highlight of this updated edition is the incorporation of digital strategies. In acknowledgment of the digital boom and the shifting landscape of information consumption, the book provides insights to thrive in the Information Age. It empowers school leaders with knowledge on leveraging digital platforms for efficient organization, paving the way for an ordered, stress-free professional life amidst the fast-paced digital whirlwind.

In essence, “Get Organized!: Time Management for School Leaders” offers a lifeline to school leaders caught in the whirlpool of endless tasks and digital chaos. Its practical, easy-to-adopt strategies serve as a beacon, guiding them towards an organized, productive, and balanced professional life. So if you’re a school leader who often finds yourself submerged in stacks of paper, or incessantly interrupted by digital notifications, this book could be your ticket to an organized and efficient professional journey.

4. 15 Secrets Successful People Know About Time Management

Are you seeking to radically increase your productivity while maintaining a balanced life? “15 Secrets Successful People Know About Time Management” by New York Times bestselling author, Kevin Kruse, holds the key. Kruse presents compelling findings from his extensive research, including surveys and interviews with billionaires, Olympic athletes, straight-A students, and over 200 entrepreneurs such as Mark Cuban, Kevin Harrington, James Altucher, John Lee Dumas, Pat Flynn, Grant Cardone, and Lewis Howes.

The book reveals unconventional secrets to extreme productivity, including why millionaires shun traditional to-do lists and what alternative methods they employ. Kruse also shares strategies like the “Time Travel” trick to help cure procrastination and the “DDR Questions,” a tool used by Harvard professionals to save up to 8 hours a week.

The book provides insightful guidance on identifying real priorities and a practical system known as 321Zero to reach an empty email inbox. It also introduces a straightforward E-3C system designed to double productivity, and the Richard Branson Tool, a proven method to reduce stress.

Kruse not only focuses on boosting productivity but also stresses the importance of maintaining work-life balance. He provides tips on how to leave work at 5:00 PM without guilt and how to manage meetings efficiently like tech giants Apple, Google, and Virgin. Additionally, he gives advice on conquering distractions from social media.

“15 Secrets Successful People Know About Time Management” also includes a bonus quiz that helps readers discover their Time Personality. To further inspire the readers, the book features more than 100 time management quotes.

Kruse’s book is a treasure trove of practical and transformative tips for those who wish to maximize their productivity without feeling overworked or overwhelmed. The secrets of some of the world’s most successful people are now within your reach. Make the change today and redefine your approach to time management and productivity.

5. Make Time: How to Focus on What Matters Every Day

Are you often overwhelmed by the endless stream of tasks in your life? Do you find yourself constantly crampering your schedule with meetings, or involuntarily wasting hours on social media? If so, it’s time to shift your perspective and take control of your time and attention. This is the central message of the bestselling book “Make Time: How to Focus on What Matters Every Day” by Jake Knapp and John Zeratsky, creators of Google Ventures’ game-changing “design sprint”.

The modern world constantly demands your attention, pulling you in different directions with its unlimited stream of information. This leads you to adopt a lifestyle of frenzied busyness and distraction, where you react to other people’s priorities rather than focusing on your own. But what if you could change this? What if you could step off this relentless hamster wheel and start intentionally making time for what truly matters? This is the empowering premise behind “Make Time”.

Drawing from their experience with Google Ventures and their time spent designing products like Gmail and YouTube, Jake and John have spent years experimenting with their own habits and routines. They aimed to find practical ways to help people optimize their energy, focus, and time. The result of their experimentation is a flexible four-step daily framework that can be tailored to fit anyone’s individual habits and lifestyle.

Contrary to what one might assume, “Make Time” is not about productivity in the conventional sense. It’s not about checking more boxes on your to-do list or cramming your calendar with more activities. It doesn’t suggest throwing away your smartphone or completely disconnecting from social media. Rather, it’s about making small, intentional changes to your environment to free yourself from the exhausting cycle of constant busyness and distraction.

“Make Time” is a book that will inspire you to stop passively reacting to the demands of the modern world. Instead, it will teach you how to start intentionally creating time for the things that truly matter in your life. As Charles Duhigg, author of The Power of Habit, enthusiastically recommends, “If you want to achieve more (without going nuts), read this book.”

In conclusion, if you’ve ever wished for more hours in your day, “Make Time” is a must-read. It offers an empowering and practical approach to reorienting your time and focus toward what truly matters to you. By adopting this mindset, you can transform your everyday life from one of constant busyness to one of purpose and intention.

6. Productivity for How You’re Wired

Time management and productivity, two crucial elements in people’s daily lives, have long been areas of struggle for many individuals. In her insightful book, ‘Productivity for How You’re Wired’, leadership coach Ellen Faye provides a robust solution for those feeling overwhelmed with the challenge of being more productive. The secret? Understanding your unique strengths and leveraging them in your favor. It’s not about doing more, but rather doing the right things in the right way for you.

In this engaging guide, Faye unveils a three-part personalized plan designed to help you tap into your potential and redefine your productivity. The plan comprises a comprehensive journey, starting with self-understanding and continuing through creating habits and systems that align with your unique configuration. It wraps up with the application of these strategies for sustainable change.

The first stage requires a solid foundation of self-understanding, where you uncover your unique strengths and weaknesses. This self-awareness serves as the bedrock on which you can build productivity systems and habits that are custom-fit for your nature.

The next step is developing these systems and habits. By acknowledging and incorporating your unique quirks and abilities, Faye helps you devise a personalized, more efficient way to accomplish tasks, whether they are daily chores or long-term goals. This approach not only ensures your productivity increases, but it also helps you maintain a balanced and fulfilling life.

Finally, Faye emphasizes the importance of consistent application of these strategies for lasting change. It’s not a one-time effort but a continual process of tweaking and refining, leading to a sustained increase in productivity.

‘Productivity for How You’re Wired’ is more than a productivity manual—it is a compass guiding you to understand your natural inclinations and align your work with them. The book equips you with tools such as Goals and Intentions Setting, Time Mapping, Essential Structure identification, Priorities Task List System, and Daily and Weekly Planning Checklists. These tools aid in establishing your personalized productivity system.

The underlying principle is simple yet profound: Time management alone is insufficient. You only get 24 hours each day, and there’s no way to create more time. What you can do, however, is learn how to use this time intentionally, in a way that resonates with your inherent tendencies.

So, if you’ve been tirelessly trying to improve your productivity without much success, ‘Productivity for How You’re Wired’ might be the game-changer you need. It’s about time to discover your unique productivity style and make it work for you. As Ellen Faye confidently promises: everyone has a way they work best, and this book will help you find yours.

7. Happier Hour: How to Beat Distraction, Expand Your Time, and Focus on What Matters Most

In today’s fast-paced society, people often feel like they’re in a race against time. Feeling time-poor, their days often seem overrun by responsibilities, leaving them gasping for moments of joy. “Happier Hour: How to Beat Distraction, Expand Your Time, and Focus on What Matters Most” by Professor Cassie Holmes serves as an antidote to this constant rush, presenting an intriguing exploration of how they can reframe their perceptions of time to cultivate days that are not merely filled to the brim but are instead deeply fulfilling.

In this transformative book, which is a literary adaptation of Holmes’s wildly popular UCLA MBA class, she stresses that your most valued resource isn’t money, but time—a finite resource with just twenty-four hours in a day. Given the reality of this limit, Holmes advocates for an enriching approach that helps you not merely add more hours to your day but to make those existing hours more worthwhile.

“Happier Hour” uses empirical research to offer insights and practical tools designed to revolutionize your approach to time management. Instead of remaining victims of your schedules, Holmes proposes you become architects of your time, spending your hours optimally and with confidence, making this one of the most relevant books on time management in our time.

The book provides robust strategies for dodging distractions that drain your time and dilute your focus. It teaches you to create, identify, and savor joy-filled moments and to purposefully design your schedules around them. It is this intentional investment of time that transforms your days from being overwhelming to being joyously satisfying.

At its core, “Happier Hour” is about leveraging small changes for significant impacts. By guiding readers to reframe their perception of time, the book empowers them to feel more present, less overwhelmed, and ultimately, more satisfied with life. The transformation begins with just one hour—turning it into a ‘happier hour’.

As Holmes articulates her ground-breaking research and insights with an engaging narrative style, “Happier Hour” lights the way to a life lived without regrets, where each passing year is viewed with contentment. With Holmes’s guidance, you can make each hour of your life a happier one, paving the way for a more fulfilling existence.

8. At Your Best: How to Get Time, Energy, and Priorities Working in Your Favor

Title: “Regain Control of Your Life with ‘At Your Best’ by Carey Nieuwhof”

With the rapid pace of today’s world, it’s easy to feel overwhelmed, overcommitted, and overworked. But, Carey Nieuwhof’s insightful and pragmatic book, “At Your Best: How to Get Time, Energy, and Priorities Working in Your Favor”, encourages readers to reject this unsustainable lifestyle and adopt a more balanced approach to life and work. This could be one of those books on time management you need for your reading arsenal.

Endorsed by renowned thought leaders like Adam Grant and Seth Godin, this book seeks to help readers reorganize their lives to achieve not just success, but sustainable productivity and wellness. Grant perceives the book as a practical guide to realigning your calendars with your true priorities, while Godin suggests it can be a life-changing tool that one should share with people they care about.

The book’s premise addresses a common phenomenon: the acceptance of an overwhelmingly busy life as a norm. Nieuwhof challenges this narrative, suggesting that constant distractions and just going through the motions is not the way to thrive in life. Instead, he advocates for a more focused, productive, and meaningful lifestyle.

Drawing from personal experiences of overcoming a season of burnout, Nieuwhof presents an approach that can potentially free up more than a thousand productive hours a year. ‘At Your Best’ offers strategies to replace chronic exhaustion with deep productivity, break the pattern of overpromising and underdelivering, and clarify what truly matters by restructuring your day.

Nieuwhof also emphasizes the importance of mastering the art of saying no without losing friends or influence, explains why vacations and sabbaticals aren’t the ultimate solutions to burnout, and presents a personalized plan to recapture each day. His book is a guide to escaping the trap of endless to-dos and starting to truly thrive at work and at home.

“At Your Best” is more than just a self-help book; it’s a lifestyle manual for those seeking sustainable success and a fulfilled life. Nieuwhof’s wisdom provides readers with the tools to stop merely surviving and start thriving, making each day work in their favor.

9. Mind Management, Not Time Management

As one of the best-selling books on time management, “Mind Management, Not Time Management,” author David Kadavy provides a revolutionary perspective on productivity. After a decade-long research journey across the globe, Kadavy has discovered that the key to true productivity isn’t more time; it’s getting more out of your mind.

Say goodbye to your restrictive daily routine and welcome a new age where hidden patterns serve as launchpads for extraordinary productivity. Kadavy empowers you to leverage your “passive genius,” enabling you to accomplish in mere minutes tasks that once consumed your entire day. He debunks the myth of “writer’s block,” offering invaluable lessons from some of the most underrated thinkers of the 19th century.

In this innovative approach to productivity, Kadavy also teaches you how to harness the power of technology without succumbing to its distractions. He even unveils an obscure, yet inexpensive gadget that could be your secret weapon to unlocking superpowers. And when life turns chaotic, Kadavy shares how you can tap into the unexpected to find your next big idea.

“Mind Management, Not Time Management” is not your average productivity book. It’s a thrilling narrative of Kadavy’s global expedition in search of the future keys to productivity. This book offers more than just tips; it equips you with the tools to learn faster, make better decisions, and turn your best ideas into reality.

So, do you have the time? More importantly, do you have the energy? If you’re seeking to enhance your productivity and discover your true potential, consider shifting your focus from managing time to managing your mind. The future of productivity is here – are you ready?

10. Four Thousand Weeks: Time Management for Mortals

In ‘Four Thousand Weeks: Time Management for Mortals’, Oliver Burkeman presents a thought-provoking take on the modern human’s struggle with time. Recognizing the average human lifespan as roughly four thousand weeks, he implores you to reconsider your traditional views on time management.

People are constantly grappling with lengthy to-do lists, overflowing inboxes, and the never-ending pursuit of work-life balance. The current narrative pushes them towards becoming more efficient, employing productivity tools and life hacks to squeeze more out of their days. Yet, Burkeman suggests that this race against the clock often exacerbates their stress rather than alleviating it. They get more enmeshed in their daily grind while their lives’ most meaningful aspects seem to perpetually evade them.

Burkeman challenges you to reflect on your “ultimate time management problem” – how best to use your finite four thousand weeks. Drawing inspiration from ancient and modern philosophers, psychologists, and spiritual teachers, he weaves an intriguing narrative that is both practical and profound.

His unique approach to time management rejects the typical fixation on “getting everything done.” Instead, ‘Four Thousand Weeks’ urges readers to acknowledge and embrace your limited time, thus encouraging the construction of a more meaningful life. The book sheds light on how your perspectives on time are not unalterable truths but choices made at personal and societal levels. Therefore, you hold the power to think and act differently about your time.

With a blend of humor, wisdom, and practicality, Burkeman’s ‘Four Thousand Weeks’ is an enticing read for anyone caught in the constant hustle of modern life. It’s a timely reminder to reflect on your relationship with time and reconsider your choices, as endorsed by Barbara Spindel of The Wall Street Journal, who deems it “well worth your extremely limited time.” This book is not just about managing your weeks, but about redefining your relationship with time itself. It advocates for a shift from frantic productivity to a mindful understanding of your finite existence.

Best Books on Time Management – Summary

Effective time management is an essential skill for personal and professional growth. The books on time management we’ve explored offers distinct perspectives and actionable strategies to help you optimize your time. 

Consider trying the YLB 90 day journal as a practical complement to your reading. This journal is designed to help consolidate your time management skills by fostering a routine of daily planning and reflection. It serves as a daily compass, guiding you to align your actions with your priorities. 

Want to know more about goal-setting and time management? Read our other posts on;

• Top 20 Time Management Tools To Boost Your Productivity
• Best Planners for ADHD: Top 11 Tools for Better Organization
• Top 40 Types Of Journals For Goal-Setting and Self-Empowerment
• 25 Powerful Time Management Strategies To Maximize Productivity

So why wait? Embark on the path of effective time management today, and witness the transformation in your everyday life.

Best Books on Time Management – FAQs

What is the number one benefit of books on time management?

The number one benefit of books on time management is that they equip you with strategies to optimize your time, enhance productivity, and reduce stress. They help you establish a structured routine, prioritize tasks effectively, and ultimately improve your overall quality of life.

What is the best way to find books on time management?

The best way to find books on time management is to look for reputable authors or experts in the field. Online platforms such as Amazon, Goodreads, and Barnes & Noble offer comprehensive lists and reviews. Additionally, consulting our curated list of the top 10 time management books is a great place to start.

What are the 4 rules of time management?

The four rules of time management are often considered to be:

• Prioritize your tasks based on their importance and urgency.
• Learn to say ‘no’ when necessary to avoid overcommitting.
• Avoid multitasking and focus on one task at a time for maximum efficiency.
• Take regular breaks to maintain productivity and mental clarity.

What are the 5 principles of time management?

The five principles of time management typically include:

• Set clear goals to understand your direction.
• Prioritize tasks based on their relevance to your goals.
• Plan and schedule your time effectively.
• Delegate tasks when possible to optimize your workload.
• Establish boundaries to maintain a work-life balance.

Are books on time management suitable for everyone?

Yes, books on time management cater to a wide range of audiences. Whether you’re a student, a working professional, or someone looking to bring more structure to your daily routine, these books provide valuable insights to enhance productivity.

How quickly can I expect to see improvements in my time management skills?

Improvement in time management skills varies from person to person and depends on consistent application of the strategies learned. While some may see changes within weeks, others may take several months. Remember, effective time management is a gradual process and requires patience.

Can reading books on time management make me more successful?

While reading books on time management can equip you with strategies to be more efficient, success also depends on how well you implement these strategies in your life. These books are tools that can guide you towards better time management, which can positively impact your personal and professional success.

Do books on time management address procrastination?

Yes, many books on time management tackle the issue of procrastination, providing insights into its psychological roots and offering practical tips to overcome it.

Are books on time management based on scientific research?

Many books on time management are indeed based on scientific research. They often include findings from psychology, neuroscience, and organizational behavior. However, it’s always a good idea to check the credibility of the author and their sources.

Can books on time management help me achieve work-life balance?

Absolutely! Books on time management often emphasize the importance of balancing work tasks with personal life. They provide techniques to manage your time effectively, allowing you to dedicate time to rest, relaxation, and personal growth alongside your professional responsibilities.