Build habits, protect deep work, and choose what to do and what to leave out.
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The habits and focus foundations most other productivity advice builds on.
Explains how small daily improvements compound into large changes over time, and offers a practical framework for building good habits and breaking bad ones. Focuses on making habits obvious, attractive, easy and satisfying, and on identity. Suits anyone seeking lasting change.
Argues that the ability to concentrate without distraction on demanding tasks is increasingly rare and valuable. Cal Newport proposes strategies for building routines that protect long periods of focus. Helpful for knowledge workers, students and managers.
Decide what matters, then capture and organise the rest.
Makes the case for doing fewer things better: identifying the vital few priorities, saying no to the rest and accepting trade-offs deliberately. Greg McKeown offers a method for focusing time and energy. Suits busy professionals and leaders who feel stretched.
Presents a method for managing commitments by capturing everything on your mind, clarifying what each item requires and organising actions into a trusted system that is reviewed regularly. Aims to reduce stress and free attention. Useful for professionals juggling many projects.
Courses on productivity systems and deep work.
Browse Productivity coursesCourses on managing your time and priorities.
Browse Time management coursesMore critical takes on time, pace and distraction.
Starts from the fact that a human life is short and argues that trying to get on top of everything is a losing game. Oliver Burkeman suggests accepting limits and choosing what to neglect. A more realistic approach for people overwhelmed by to-do lists.
Questions the pace of modern knowledge work and proposes three principles: do fewer things, work at a natural pace and obsess over quality. Intended for professionals who feel overloaded and want a sustainable alternative to constant busyness.
Offers a framework for managing distraction by understanding the internal triggers that pull attention away, making time for planned work and guarding against outside interruptions. Nir Eyal treats distraction as a problem of motivation and habit as well as technology.
Excel courses from beginner to advanced.
Browse Excel & spreadsheets coursesPick one behaviour to test for two weeks and judge it by whether it improves focus or output.
This week: Pick one behaviour to test for two weeks and judge it by whether it improves focus or output.
