The 7-Minute Productivity Solution: How to Manage Your Schedule, Overcome Distraction, and Achieve the Results You Want

by John Brandon

Productive days don't just happen. They're the result of upending the habits that aren't working for us and developing ones that will. Using his proven seven-minute framework, productivity expert John Brandon reveals how to radically reduce digital distractions and revamp your routines for better focus, efficiency, and outcomes.

The 7-Minute Productivity Solution shows you how to start your day, manage your schedule, stop obsessively checking email, take effective breaks, create compelling presentations, and more.

It only takes seven minutes to transform your days from mindlessly reacting to whatever comes your way to mindfully structuring your time for maximum impact.

Genres: Self Help, Productivity, Nonfiction, Personal Development

Audible Audio

Published January 18, 2022

About the author

John Brandon is a well-known reporter and columnist for Inc. magazine, Fox News Network, Christianity Today, Relevant magazine, and many others. For ten years, he worked as a corporate manager in the Information Technology field. After 9/11, John's employer (who became nervous about the world economy) fired him. At the advice of his wife, he became a writer and has since published over twelve thousand articles in seventeen years. Over ten million people have read his thought-pieces on leadership, productivity, mentoring, and technology for Inc.com. He lives in Minnesota with his wife, Rebecca, and has four children, two sons-in-law, and three grandchildren.

Reviews

[Yelda Basar Moers · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is not a type of book I would normally read, but I LOVED this book! It happened to fall into my hands when I was at the bookstore with my son and I couldn’t stop reading it. This self-help book on productivity written by tech and business writer John Brandon is truly what I call a “wonderfind” of a book. I loved all of his tips, especially spending 7 minutes in the morning to write out your thoughts with your morning coffee, and writing at the end of the day how your day passed and if you met your goals. He also asks us to ditch “to do” lists (it causes cognitive overload— which I agree with!), beware of too much email time, and consider taking more breaks. Brandon makes it all look really simple and it really is, once you get in a habit of his method. He’s a huge advocate for journal writing too, which can change your life if you haven’t already done it. He’s an excellent writer himself, having written over 15,000 articles on various subjects. I simply enjoyed reading his words, listening to his voice, which is very soothing and comforting. He makes all of our goals and dreams seem approachable and possible. His methods are so doable and not overwhelming like so many other productivity books. I love his style of writing and find this is one of the best productivity books I’ve ever read. I hope he writes more books!

[Anna · Rating 5 out of 5]

If you feel like time gets away from you or struggle to make the most of your day, this book will help!
It encourages good habits to build into your day and calls out bad habits to eradicate for good. The best part is, the book isn't about "working harder;" it's about taking each moment seriously and giving it a name, which sometimes is "work" and sometimes is "relax," or something else.

If you ever have trouble with your time or your work, give this book a chance to change the way you think about all of it. You won't regret it!

[Nancy · Rating 2 out of 5]

This is most written for those in the work force who rely on computers to do their jobs. Hoping this would help me with my everyday distractions in completing tasks, I found it pretty much irrelevant. He was constantly quoting other people and sources and I found THAT a distraction! Maybe others will find this useful.

[Morgan Rumsey · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was a short, easy to read, practical book that I enjoyed very much. I read a chapter each day as part of my morning routine.

The chapters on social media and the 7 minute routine on setting boundaries for scrolling on social media were the most interesting. I didn’t realize just how much time I spend mindlessly scrolling when I’m stressed out, trying to get a hit of dopamine. I appreciated the practical advice on setting boundaries for how much time I spend on my phone scrolling and being more intentional about what I do on social media.

The author uses a lot of other sources and while they added a lot of information to the book, sometimes I wanted to hear more of his thoughts and opinions, not so much the thoughts and opinions of others.

Overall this was a helpful and thought-provoking read. I would recommend it to anyone who struggles with time management and would like an easy, simple solution to improve.

*I won this book in a goodreads giveaway*

[Elaysee · Rating 3 out of 5]

Some of the formulations of the seven minutes are more effective than others - spending a few minutes to set up your day is excellent if you can pull it off. From there, it can get "one formula to rule them all." Can you really make a couple of meaningful responses on social media in the last few of seven minutes? I sure can't get my words right in two minutes (witness the time I've spent second-guessing these four sentences...).

[Carianne Hirano · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was a quick self help read that emphasizes what you can and should accomplish in 7 minutes. The book talks about prioritizing and simplifying our lives especially when it comes to checking emails, meetings, social media, and more.

I really enjoyed the book. Although, it did feel like an internet article and not a book. I also really question some of the sources used within the book. However, I did receive some insights and aha moments that I will try to implement in my life.

[Derran Stokes · Rating 4 out of 5]

7 Minutes is nothing, but long enough

John Brandon explains the concept of seven minute routines exceptionally well.

The details in the routines are not new, but condensing them to a mere seven minutes is designed to create a high level of focus and action.

Currently I am having great success with the 7 minute morning routine.

[Gerald Earnhardt · Rating 3 out of 5]

Wish it focused a lot more on the 7 minute productivity tool. The book seemed like more of a basic overview.

[Randall Grewe · Rating 5 out of 5]

to the point and focus my attention

I e always been locked into the number 7. It makes goo sense to break meetings, events and activities into 7 minutes.

[Grace]

Tried to make myself finish reading this book. Almost finished it, but just couldn't stay interested. It is unfortunately not a hack that I will acquire.

[Suhaila Alfalahi · Rating 4 out of 5]

Nice convincing on how to approach work but most of it is about planning and to do lists.

[Michael · Rating 4 out of 5]

Took me more than 7 minutes, but not that much more.

Pretty good advice for some things, like morning planning. tips on handling email and web browsing in 7 minutes might work for someone, but certainly doesn't fit my own usage patterns.