Overcoming procrastination: A 10-book reading list for creative minds
Oh the irony. You’re procrastinating from creating something, learning something, achieving something… and yet you’re here searching for a book to figure it out.
If my sardonic opening hasn’t made you close this site and get back to working on your goals, then you’ll find a book here that can help you overcome any procrastination habits you might have.
As someone who’s drowned in the worries of wasted potential, I’ve read several books (maybe too many) that inspire others to be more disciplined and focused on creative goals.
Reading books like the ones below can help you clear the cobwebs and get back on track. I’ve added Amazon links to ten top books to overcome procrastination, and boost your productivity and creativity.
Let’s get cracking:
1. The War of Art by Steven Pressfield
The War of Art is a call-out to aspiring artists, creatives, or anyone who wants to make an impression on the world. You are at war, and your enemy is called ‘The Resistance’.
‘The Resistance’ is an energy that comes in all shapes: fear, self-medication, victimhood, rationalization… and it stops you from reaching your dreams.
In short, easily digestible chapters, Steven Pressfield shows us how to overcome the resistance, counter wasted potential, and go from the realm of ‘amateur’ to ‘professional’.
2. Deep Work by Cal Newport
Cal Newport argues that deep work is not just a way to overcome procrastination, but gives you the most in-demand skill in the world right now: the ability to focus in a world of distractions. Achieve it, and the world is your proverbial oyster.
In order to learn new things quickly, or produce our greatest ideas, we need to commit to bursts of work that match quality with speed. The idea of deep work is to move beyond our good intentions, and instead rely on rituals designed to maintain a state of unbroken concentration. This book shows you how to claim this superpower for your own.
3. The Power of Habit by Charles Duhigg
At its core, The Power of Habit is a study of how our habits make or break us. Duhigg argues that to get where we want to be in life, it’s essential to study the science of our own habits, and then craft them toward our future.
This all stems from three stages:
Cue (the trigger that initiates a certain behavior)
Routine (the behavior itself; the action you take)
Reward (the benefit you gain from doing the behavior)
Master the three stages, and you’ll master the power of habit.
4. The Power of Now by Eckhart Tolle
This is not particularly a book about procrastination, and unlike any of those in the list so far. It’s about how our only real route to joy, presence, and connection is our ability to tap into the now.
Quite often, our procrastination can stem from a past or future worry. We may be thinking about the future result not being good enough, or remember a previous failure. This can stop us from progressing.
The skill to be so deep in the present moment that you feel a sense of flow is one that can be developed. Eckhart Tolle is one of the best teachers for exactly that.
5. The ONE Thing by Gary Keller and Jay Papasan
How full is your to-do list today? I’m willing to bet that there are lots of things on there you want to achieve. But although ambition is great, too much ambition can stop us from making forward movement.
The book The ONE Thing is about prioritization and how it leads to productivity. It analyzes the ways in which multitasking has been wrongly praised as a desirable trait.
By applying the principles in this book, you can concurrently do less and achieve more. The one thing is a simple concept, but one that leads to extraordinary results.
6. Eat That Frog! By Brian Tracy
Mark Twain once said, “Eat a live frog first thing in the morning and nothing worse will happen to you the rest of the day.” This is the driving principle behind Brian Tracy’s book: by conquering your most challenging task first, you can have the greatest momentum in your life.
Eat That Frog! is also a time management book, covering how you can zero in on crucial tasks and then accomplish them, day by day. Don’t ever confuse what your priority is ahead of lesser tasks - this concept (and book) can change your life for the better.
7. The Willpower Instinct by Kelly McGonigal
This book uncovers the science of self-control: what it is, and how it can improve your productivity and focus.
The author is a health psychologist at Stanford University, working in ‘science help’. This is an industry where they break down research so the average person can understand it. And this simple but powerful read is a result of that.
You may think that willpower means resisting temptation… but this is only one small piece of the puzzle. The book uncovers three willpower types: ‘I won’t’ power, ‘I will’ power, and ‘I want’ power. Harness the balance of all three and you’ll be driven high-speed to the life you want.
8. Atomic Habits by James Clear
Atomic Habits is a little bit like The Power of Habit’s more practical brother. Both are great reads and worth reading in tandem, but James Clear’s book is full of actionable advice anyone can take to add more good habits to their life and change bad habits.
Atomic Habits is a powerful weapon to counter procrastination. James Clear will show you how your habits are routinely changing your behaviour, and will drive you towards a plan that will put you onto a more productive path.
9. Show Your Work! by Austin Kleon
Austin Kleon is the bestselling author behind Steal Like An Artist. His book Show Your Work! is subtitled 10 Ways to Share Your Creativity and Get Discovered.
This book is for anybody who is creating something but has not released it. Anybody who is waiting for the perfect moment. Newsflash: that time is right now!
This is a great read for anybody trying to turn their creative pursuit into a habit and lead a more productive and creatively-fulfilled life.
10. The Obstacle Is the Way by Ryan Holiday
This book is centered on the ancient philosophy of Stoicism, which helps you take on the struggles of life with confidence and grace. If procrastination is your obstacle, this book will teach you how to get unstuck and unleashed.
Every obstacle of ours can work as an advantage, and a path to improve on. The Obstacle Is the Way tells stories from history that show how persistence and innovation triumphed over difficulty, and led to stronger individuals in the long term.
Conclusion
Still reading this article? Time to take action instead.
Go read one of these books, and do the thing!
