Book Recommendation: The Productivity Project

As a work from home writer, designer and publisher I live and die by my productivity. Therefore, I’m always keen to learn how to be more productive. Why work harder when you can just work better?

Thus The Productivity Project by Chris Bailey was like catnip to me.

I really liked this book, and I suggest you read it if you are interested in increasing your own productivity. While I’m not going to rehash the entire book’s contents here I found one key point incredibly valuable and insightful.

Chris explains how you need three things to be productive. Behold, the below (homemade) Venn diagram:

As you can see from this incredible graphic, productivity lurks at the intersection of time, energy and focus.

• If you have time and energy but no focus, you will not be productive.
• If you have energy and focus but no time you will not be productive.
• If you have focus and time but no energy you will not be productive.

To be productive, you need to have the time and energy to focus on the task at hand.

I found this simple revelation tremendously powerful. It explains why my productivity can vary wildly throughout a typical day. For example, when I’m in my morning deep work routine I can get an incredible amount of work done in two hours. I am not normally as productive in the afternoon as by then I’m normally running out of mental energy and I do not control my focus as vigorously.

Writing in My Tortoise Enclosure

Given I’m always seeking to get better at this writing and publishing lark, I thought I’d have a go...

The GameatoryCreighton Broadhurst

In any event, if you are interested in productivity I highly recommend you pick up the Productivity Project by Chris Bailey.

(And, as always, please note there are no affiliate links in this post and I have received nothing for recommending this book).