15 Killer Productivity Blogs You Shouldn’t Overlook

Productivity isn’t something that generally just happens. We have to work at it.  Fortunately, there are quite a few resources out there that can help us find a better way to do something, get motivated to start, or even offer suggestions for how to keep the momentum we’ve built.

While some blogs seem to be a bit of a distraction when we’re really trying to be productive, there are plenty of others that can get us pointed in the right direction.

When reviewing the list I have personally created below, you may notice that many of the best blogs covering productivity also touch on other aspects of self improvement, both physically and emotionally.  It makes sense, as our ability to move forward with our jobs and responsibilities (even the things we enjoy) is dependent on how we feel about ourselves.

Here are 15 “killer” productivity blogs you shouldn’t overlook…

43 Folders – This blog can be a little irreverent, but it offers tips, hints, and suggestions on a wide variety of topics.  Much of the content is geared toward being more productive in your work/creative life.  43 Folders has been around since 2004 and has an incredible amount of information for productivity hounds to mine.

Black Belt Productivity – Written by Jason Echols and Michael Ramm, this blog is sort of an ode to all things GTD (Getting Things Done).  They help readers find ways to be more efficient with their time and to simply get a bit of perspective.  From multitasking to dealing with a case of “The Mondays,” they’ve got ideas for putting it all together.

Craig Harper – This Australian personal-trainer-turned-motivational-speaker shares his interesting, and sometimes controversial, ideas on all things personal development.  His humor keeps the blog interesting, and he doesn’t mind making you feel a little uncomfortable if that’s what it takes to get you thinking and behaving in new ways.

Dumb Little Man – While originally started by Jay White, this blog now shares tips, hints, and ideas from many different writers who have something good to contribute.  Advice here reaches beyond just work productivity to give suggestions on how to improve all aspects of your life.

LifeDev – “Empowering Creative People” is the tagline for this blog, and it focuses on simple strategies you can implement in your work life to make things easier, as well as to be more successful at what you do.  The posts manage to be comprehensive without being overwhelming, which makes this blog an easy read that packs a punch.

Lifehacker – Probably the most famous of all the productivity blogs, Lifehacker’s slogan is “tips and downloads for getting things done.”  Simply put, a “hack” is a shortcut, and it is often used to refer to methods to fix or work around a computer problem.  Lifehacker takes this concept to a whole new level by offering advice not just for technology, but for all areas of your life.

Pick the Brain – This blog may fall under the “self improvement” category, but it does so by giving great advice on how to improve personal productivity and motivation.  The articles are designed to help readers find the best ways to get themselves into the right mindset to become productive and successful.

The Positivity Blog – This site centers on ways to improve oneself to live the best life possible.  The author has a fairly unassuming quality about him, and his advice is based on things that have worked in his own life.

Productivity Café – Think the best productivity secrets have to be complicated?  This blog might change your mind.  It offers simple tasks that you can do in order to “sharpen your skills so you know what tasks and projects to do and when and how to do them.”

Productivity Goal – This particular blog seems to hit on most of the major areas of getting things done with its subheading of “Work productivity, time management, organization, tools and tips.”  While it may not have as many subscribers as some of the bigger players in the productivity niche of the blogosphere, there is a sizable archive full of great advice and suggestions stretching back to 2006.

Stepcase Lifehack – With a focus on how to make life a little easier in order to improve productivity, Lifehack is one of the most popular blogs of its kind.  The goal here is to “get things done in a faster pace” through organizing and automating.

StevePavlina.com – This blog bills itself as “Personal Development for Smart People.”  The author is a bit of an Internet phenomenon, with his lengthy posts and huge following.  His topics range from personal habits to money and careers to relationships to spirituality.  The main thrust of it all is to take responsibility for yourself and then to take action to become the person you want to be.

Unclutterer – While this blog claims not to be a productivity site, it sure does offer a whole lot of advice that can help us all become more efficient.  The main focus is on organizing your home and office.  It can help you streamline your processes, get rid of distractions, and—yes—unclutter your little corner of the world.

Wise Bread – Part of improving productivity is learning to work with what you have.  Wise Bread is all about “living large on a small budget,” and they offer great advice on how to be frugal and how to actually have fun and live a great lifestyle while spending less and saving more.

Zen Habits – It’s nearly impossible to compile a list of the best productivity blogs without talking about Zen Habits.  The tagline is “simple productivity,” and the goal is to help others achieve better lives through simplicity, organization, habit building, and health, among other things.  A great place to start is The Beginner’s Guide to Zen Habits.

Of course, spending hours and hours reading the archives of all these blogs would have a decidedly negative effect on your overall productivity.  Instead, consider choosing one or two blogs a day and limit yourself to no more than one hour of searching old posts for topics that are the most relevant to your current needs.  After all, the ultimate goal is to get more done, not to simply read about getting more done.

Do you have a favorite productivity blog that is not in this list?

I would love to hear about it. Feel free to add your comments below.

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Posted on July 23, 2009