At Your Best: How to Get Time, Energy, and Priorities Working in Your Favor

Former attorney Nieuwhof (Didn’t See it Coming) presents a helpful “stay out of burnout” handbook by providing stressed readers with concrete and sensible advice. The author offers a tantalizing promise at the outset: “What if you learned how to live at your best, personally and professionally?” First, he requires readers to be honest about time, correctly note if something doesn’t get done, and explains what he terms the “stress spiral” that comes from a recurring inability to make time for important things. Next, he encourages readers to embrace the “thrive” cycle and focus upon passion. Dividing hours into red, yellow, and green zones—low-, moderate-, and high-energy, respectively—he advises readers on how to tackle the highest-stakes items during green zones (the time of day when their attention is most focused) before delegating tasks downward. He also counsels readers on how to keep focused, even among uncontrollable interruptions, capping each chapter with an “in a snap” summary of the principles suggested. With refreshing honesty, Nieuwhof admits he doesn’t follow his own advice all the time and that allowing mistakes can help keep the process going. Burned-out readers will find much to ponder in Nieuwhof’s wise guide. (Sept.)