Productivity for Teens: A Round-Up

Do your teens make New Year’s resolutions or goals? Perhaps you wish they would? If any of those goals relate to being more productive or managing time better or simply getting things done, then consider one of the following resources. Each of the resources below works well with a group of teens as well (in a family setting or church youth group setting).

Productivity for Teens: A Round-Up

Just Do Something: A Liberating Approach to Finding God’s Will by Kevin DeYoung. Moody, 2014. 144 pages.

Reading Level: Teen/Adults, ages 15 and up

Recommended For: Ages 15 and up

Written especially for those in college, DeYoung’s Just Do Something is also applicable to students about to finish high school. For the first time, high school students are making life decisions: Where should I go to college? Should I go to college? What sorts of future jobs might be good for me? Should I take a full load of AP classes, or should I get a part-time job my senior year? Is the girl I’m dating someone I could marry?

DeYoung writes succinctly, humorously, and directly to the reader. Doing away with such means to finding God’s will as setting out a fleece, waiting for a sign, opening the Bible and pointing at random to a verse, and depending on dreams and visions, DeYoung instead directs readers to God’s Word. What do we learn about God’s will and wisdom from His Word? The value of godly friends, godly counsel, time in the Word and prayer, and understanding how the Lord has created you as an individual all play a role in making those big decisions. A quick read, yet a thoughtful one: try this with a teen Sunday school class or Bible study group (or have your teens read it to discuss as a family!). This book benefits from discussion.

• Worldview/moral value: 5
• Artistic/literary value: 4.75

Crazy Busy: A (Mercifully) Short Book About a (Really) Big Problem by Kevin DeYoung. Crossway, 2013. 128 pages.

Reading Level: Teen/Adults, ages 15 and up

Recommended For: Ages 15 and up

Another short, punchy book by Kevin DeYoung, Crazy Busy discusses our 21st century world: we are indeed “crazy busy.” Sometimes that’s in the form of over-commitments. Sometimes, the busyness manifests itself in unnecessary—but felt—obligations. For instance, are we Scripturally mandated to pray for every. single. prayer request? Consider all the sharing happening on social media, through church newsletters, email prayer chains, and the like. How will we do anything except pray if we take the time to consider each and every one?

DeYoung offers guidance on everything from navigating the plethora of prayer requests (hint: prioritize your local community and those you have personal connections with) to setting our priorities. Although written for adults (there’s a chapter on parenting, for instance), the principles are valuable for teens, too. After all, the habits they put in place now can serve them for a lifetime. Frankly, I’ve re-read this book every January since it first came out!

• Worldview/moral value: 5
• Artistic/literary value: 4.75

Do More Better (Student Edition): A Practical Guide to Productivity by Tim Challies. Cruciform Press, 2017. 128 pages.

Reading Level: Teen/Adults, ages 15 and up

Recommended For: Ages 15 and up

It’s time to get practical. Where DeYoung’s Crazy Busy helps us look at the big picture of busyness and productivity, Challies takes us to the nitty gritty of week in, week out. Challies picks up where DeYoung leaves off, asking readers to define priorities and mission first. (The two books work admirably together.) From there, he walks readers through an explanation of his own time management tools and systems, offering suggestions for taking his practice and applying it to the reader’s own preferred tools.

What sets this apart from all the other productivity books? Challies consistently reminds readers that our goal as Christians is not to simply “get more done.” Rather, it is to glorify God and love our neighbors. In our weekly review time, Challies encourages readers to ask how we can serve and surprise: how can we serve the Lord and our neighbors? Where might we surprise our neighbors? (including those in our own homes) The student edition is virtually identical to the original with the inclusion of a few explanations of a student’s possible vocations. Thus, a parent and teen could go through the two simultaneously. Note: we’ve seen these for sale at Reformation Heritage for a fraction of the price listed on amazon.

• Worldview/moral value: 5
• Artistic/literary value: 4

Do Hard Things: A Teenage Rebellion Against Low Expectations by Alex Harris and Brett Harris. Multnomah, 2008. 242 pages.

Reading Level: Teen/Adults, ages 14 and up

Recommended For: Ages 14 and up

If you’re looking for a light, inspirational book for your teen, this is a great one.  Just about any young adult can read and benefit from it, and since it was written by young adults to their peers, it’s not as stuffy or distant from the experience of young readers.  Basically, the book is a call to do something great with your life through sacrifice. Do Hard Things is more inspirational the other titles in this round-up, but that may be just what your teen needs at the start of this new year (as opposed to succinct, practical guidance).

From a reader: “Alex and Brett capture the passion and potential of our generation perfectly in this book. In Do Hard Things, they encourage us to go above and beyond the status quo in everything from schoolwork to serving the poor. This is a truly unique and sorely needed book.” Note: this book works well in conjunction with This Changes Everything by Jaquelle Crowe (particularly if you have younger teens at home as well).

• Worldview/moral value: 5
• Artistic/literary value: 4

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