The Literary Horizon: Getting Things Done

Getting Things Done by David Allen

In today’s world, yesterday’s methods just don’t work. In Getting Things Done, veteran coach and management consultant David Allen shares the breakthrough methods for stress-free performance that he has introduced to tens of thousands of people across the country. Allen’s premise is simple: our productivity is directly proportional to our ability to relax. Only when our minds are clear and our thoughts are organized can we achieve effective productivity and unleash our creative potential. In Getting Things Done Allen shows how to:

* Apply the “do it, delegate it, defer it, drop it” rule to get your in-box to empty
* Reassess goals and stay focused in changing situations
* Plan projects as well as get them unstuck
* Overcome feelings of confusion, anxiety, and being overwhelmed
* Feel fine about what you’re not doing

From core principles to proven tricks, Getting Things Done can transform the way you work, showing you how to pick up the pace without wearing yourself down.

via Amazon

I’ve heard about GTD (as it is sometimes known) while tooling around on Lifehacker and Pinterest. The things that make me an editor are the same things that make me an organizer, and I organize everything. I’m happy with my workflow right now (it’s a combination of elaborate to-do lists and the mantra “I can’t do anything about things I don’t know about”), but it’s always good to brush up on what else is out there and is working for people. Plus, I keep toying with a copy of it at a used bookstore where I have some store credit, so it won’t be too long until it’s on my desk.

Jessica at The Bluestocking Society found it revolutionary; her review details her workflow. Will at Tillabooks also loved it, but disliked how paper-focused it was. (I think there are several programs eager to help…) Hillary at Adventures in Never Never Land found it useful, but also repetitive. Rebecca at the Book Lady’s Blog uses it in her own life—this post discusses how she uses it, which is interesting.

Getting Things Done was published on January 8, 2001.