Just on the off-chance you wanted to spend some of your holiday time reading…

I’ve long been a fan of Scott Young. He seems to be in a perpetual state of self-experimentation, consistently sharing the lessons he learns along the way. His approach to self-development and lifelong learning is something I admire and often find inspiring.

Currently, Scott is working on what he calls his Foundations Project, a year-long effort to improve twelve different foundations for living well. One of the months in this project focuses on productivity—a topic that resonates with many of us.

Personally, I’ve always had a complex relationship with productivity. I want to get things done and make progress across the different domains of my life, but I also don’t want my life—or my sense of self-worth—to be solely defined by what I accomplish. Like many, I recognize that there’s no magic bullet for productivity. Our work, study, and mental lives are too multifaceted for a one-size-fits-all solution.

That said, I do think Scott’s approach of being a constant learner is incredibly valid. In my own career, the most productive and interesting periods have been when I’ve been open to and engaged in learning, alongside my own work. Conversely, the times when I’ve thought, “I’ve got it all figured out,” have often led to stagnation.

If you’re looking for some holiday reading or a productivity boost, Scott’s productivity reading list might be worth exploring. It’s an excellent way to dive into ideas that could inspire your own experiments in getting things done without losing sight of what matters most.

And remember, there are many ways to access books these days—ebooks, your local library, borrowing from a friend, or buying online.

Finally, if you read one of the books and find value in it, why not share what you learned? Write a short blurb about the insights you gained, and we can post it here on the blog for other students to benefit from. Sharing your perspective could spark inspiration for someone else.