Too busy? A short article and five books on time management

Thank you for reading my third newsletter, Work Notes, where I write about what I notice about leadership and behavioral change at work.

The topic this time: time management.

We're busy at work. Too busy.

So here are five books that changed my view on time management.

No time to read books? Then you can just read the article in the Guardian with the terrific title My hours seem to slip away. How can I manage my time better?.

1 - 4000 Weeks , by Oliver Burkeman

You only have about 4,000 weeks in your life.

Bizarrely little, right?

Former Guardian columnist Oliver Burkeman's conclusion is, therefore, that you can't do everything. So you have to let things go. You can't please everyone. So choose who you disappoint and who you don't.

Moreover, this book is so well written that even if it doesn't help you (which I doubt), it's still a great way to spend your short time on earth.

2 - Deep Work, Cal Newport

I read this book years ago, but it has always stayed with me.

How do you stay focused in a world that constantly demands your attention with emails, social media, and colleagues who want to brainstorm with you?

Computer scientist Newport introduces the idea of deep work: long, uninterrupted periods of concentration. Precisely something that is becoming increasingly rare.

In between those periods of deep work, you can do the rest: emails, meetings, and a chat at the coffee machine.

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" Every time we say yes to something, we implicitly say no to something else." Vanessa Bohns, Time Magazine

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3 - You have more influence than you think , Vanessa Bohns

Based on the title, you might not think of a time management book.

Yet Cornell professor Bohns shows how important it is to influence your environment.

For example, by making it easier to say no to claims on your time.

And that might just be one of the most important time management skills out there.

4 - Grip, Rick Pastoor

Rick Pastoor offers practical tips to help you gain more control over your work.

It is an accessible book with a reassuring message: hard work does not automatically have to lead to a lot of stress.

5 - Busy, Tony Crabbe

A beautiful book about our obsession with being busy. Something the author himself struggles with.

Crabbe argues that “busy” is actually a bad brand.

So, come up with something better. For example, instead of saying you're busy, say you're focusing on finishing a project this week.

If you could recommend one book about time, which one would it be?

I am curious

Until next time,

Lars

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This article first appeared in the Werktekeningen newsletter. You can subscribe to receive it.