Is your workload overwhelming? Does it just keep mounting up while your stress levels reach fever pitch? In Getting Things Done David Allen teaches you how to keep a clear head, relax and organise your thoughts while implementing the methods that he has introduced at organisations like Microsoft, Lockheed and the US Department of Justice: Learn the 'do it, delegate it, defer it, drop it' principle to empty your in-tray. Handle e-mail, paperwork and unexpected demands in a system of self-management. Plan and progress projects. Reasses goals and stay focused. Apply the two minute rule when deciding what to do now and what to defer. Overcome feelings of anxiety and being overwhelmed. With clear and specific methods and advice, David Allen's tried and trusted formula for business efficiency could transform the way you operate and your experience of work.
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Amazon Review
With first-chapter allusions to martial arts, "flow", "mind like water", and other concepts borrowed from the East (and usually mangled), you'd almost think this self-helper from David Allen should have been called Zen and the Art of Schedule Maintenance.
Not quite. Yes, Getting Things Done offers a complete system for downloading all those free-floating gotta-dos clogging your brain into a sophisticated framework of files and action lists--all purportedly to free your mind to focus on whatever you're working on. However, it still operates from the decidedly Western notion that if we could just get really, really organised, we could turn ourselves into 24/7 productivity machines. (To wit, Allen, whom the New Economy bible Fast Company has dubbed "the personal productivity guru", suggests that instead of meditating on crouching tigers and hidden dragons while you wait for a plane, you should unsheathe that high-tech sabre known as the mobile phone and attack that list of calls you need to return.)
As whole-life-organising systems go, Allen's is pretty good, even fun and therapeutic. It starts with the exhortation to take every unaccounted-for scrap of paper in your workstation that you can't junk. The next step is to write down every unaccounted-for gotta-do cramming your head onto its own scrap of paper. Finally, throw the whole stew into a giant "in-basket".
That's where the processing and prioritising begin; in Allen's system, it get a little convoluted at times, rife as it is with fancy terms, subterms, and sub-subterms for even the simplest concepts. Thank goodness the spine of his system is captured on a straightforward, one-page flowchart that you can pin over your desk and repeatedly consult without having to refer back to the book. That alone is worth the purchase price. Also of value is Allen's ingenious Two-Minute Rule: if there's anything you absolutely must do that you can do right now in two minutes or less, then do it now, thus freeing up your time and mind tenfold over the long term. It's common sense advice so obvious that most of us completely overlook it, much to our detriment. Allen excels at dispensing such wisdom in this useful, if somewhat belaboured, self-improver aimed at everyone from CEOs to football mums (who, we all know, are more organised than most CEOs to start with). --Timothy Murphy --This text refers to the Hardcover edition.
Review
Productivity guru David Allen shows how to organise a busy life, overcome bad habits and still be able to function calmly and effectively (WATERSTONES BOOKS QUARTERLY )
With first-chapter allusions to martial arts, "flow", "mind like water", and other concepts borrowed from the East (and usually mangled), you'd almost think this self-helper from David Allen should have been called Zen and the Art of Schedule Maintenance (As whole-life-organising systems go, Allen's is pretty good, even fun and therapeutic. It starts with the exhortation to take every unaccounted-for scrap of paper in your workstation that you can't junk. The next step is to write down every unaccounted-fo )
That's where the processing and prioritising begin; in Allen's system, it get a little convoluted at times, rife as it is with fancy terms, subterms, and sub-subterms for even the simplest concepts. Thank goodness the spine of his system is captured on a straightforward, one-page flowchart that you can pin over your desk and repeatedly consult without having to refer back to the book. That alone is worth the purchase price. Also of value is Allen's ingenious Two-Minute Rule: if there's anything you absolutely must do that you can do right now in two minutes or less, then do it now, thus freeing up your time and mind tenfold over the long term. It's common sense advice so obvious that most of us completely overlook it, much to our detriment. Allen excels at dispensing such wisdom in this useful, if somewhat belaboured, self-improver aimed at everyone from CEOs to football mums (who, we all know, are more organised than most CEOs to start with). (Timothy Murphy , AMAZON.CO.UK REVIEW ) --This text refers to an alternate Paperback edition.
With first-chapter allusions to martial arts, "flow", "mind like water", and other concepts borrowed from the East (and usually mangled), you'd almost think this self-helper from David Allen should have been called Zen and the Art of Schedule Maintenance (As whole-life-organising systems go, Allen's is pretty good, even fun and therapeutic. It starts with the exhortation to take every unaccounted-for scrap of paper in your workstation that you can't junk. The next step is to write down every unaccounted-fo )
That's where the processing and prioritising begin; in Allen's system, it get a little convoluted at times, rife as it is with fancy terms, subterms, and sub-subterms for even the simplest concepts. Thank goodness the spine of his system is captured on a straightforward, one-page flowchart that you can pin over your desk and repeatedly consult without having to refer back to the book. That alone is worth the purchase price. Also of value is Allen's ingenious Two-Minute Rule: if there's anything you absolutely must do that you can do right now in two minutes or less, then do it now, thus freeing up your time and mind tenfold over the long term. It's common sense advice so obvious that most of us completely overlook it, much to our detriment. Allen excels at dispensing such wisdom in this useful, if somewhat belaboured, self-improver aimed at everyone from CEOs to football mums (who, we all know, are more organised than most CEOs to start with). (Timothy Murphy , AMAZON.CO.UK REVIEW ) --This text refers to an alternate Paperback edition.
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Most Helpful Customer Reviews
180 of 186 people found the following review helpful
By A Customer
Format:Paperback
This is a life-changing book. I was drowning in paper, felt constantly anxious about things I wasn't getting done, was missing deadlines, finding it hard to keep on top of my various commitments and projects. I thought I was just a disorganized person; this book has changed everything for me. I now have a clear idea of my commitments, an easy-access and reliable filing system, a simple way of capturing all my necessary actions, an empty inbox, and freer weekends. I should add that I have always been very cynical about these kinds of books and in fact I still am: I have looked at several other books on 'personal organization' and find them (a) ludicrous, pumped-up, pop-psychology books full of jargon and power phrases but signifying nothing, or (b) obsessed with making you a more productive little unit at work. This book is about making you a happier person - and makes it clear that the result of his simple techniques might be that you actually do less, by realising how your schedule works and refusing to take too much on. I can't recommend it enough.
66 of 68 people found the following review helpful
Format:Paperback
First off, I'll start by saying: "Don't hesitate, JUST BUY IT!!"
This is one of the best investments you'll ever make. I've read "Getting Things Done", got hooked, then proceeded to read D.Allen's other book "Ready for Anything" as well as source and listen to the CDs "Getting Things Done fast". I can honestly say that this book and the whole "GTD" way of thinking has changed my life.
Before this book, I was a procrastinator who was almost always late for deadlines and often unreliable with commitments. I read a variety of books on time-management, productivity and procrastination-motivation, but none as influential as this.
I have been using GTD for about 2yrs now, I am highly organized, productive, with all my commitments outlined in an organized and trusted system - nothing slips through the cracks any more. I've set everything up in Outlook, have my categories such as @home, @computer, @out etc and just keep ticking away Next Actions and completing projects. I synchronize everything with my smartphone (HTC S620) and have the whole system (calendar, tasks, contacts, notes) portable with me wherever I go. My inbox remains empty and all my emails are correctly processed. Finally, I've introduced the habit of the Weekly Review and now look forward to blocking the outside world, once a week, to take stock and reorganize myself and prepare for the week ahead.
Since I got this book, besides being productive and organized, I find myself meeting all deadlines and feeling much less stressed.
Like I said, JUST DO IT and buy the book! What you'll get is one of the best and most practical books on personal productivity!!!
This is one of the best investments you'll ever make. I've read "Getting Things Done", got hooked, then proceeded to read D.Allen's other book "Ready for Anything" as well as source and listen to the CDs "Getting Things Done fast". I can honestly say that this book and the whole "GTD" way of thinking has changed my life.
Before this book, I was a procrastinator who was almost always late for deadlines and often unreliable with commitments. I read a variety of books on time-management, productivity and procrastination-motivation, but none as influential as this.
I have been using GTD for about 2yrs now, I am highly organized, productive, with all my commitments outlined in an organized and trusted system - nothing slips through the cracks any more. I've set everything up in Outlook, have my categories such as @home, @computer, @out etc and just keep ticking away Next Actions and completing projects. I synchronize everything with my smartphone (HTC S620) and have the whole system (calendar, tasks, contacts, notes) portable with me wherever I go. My inbox remains empty and all my emails are correctly processed. Finally, I've introduced the habit of the Weekly Review and now look forward to blocking the outside world, once a week, to take stock and reorganize myself and prepare for the week ahead.
Since I got this book, besides being productive and organized, I find myself meeting all deadlines and feeling much less stressed.
Like I said, JUST DO IT and buy the book! What you'll get is one of the best and most practical books on personal productivity!!!
31 of 32 people found the following review helpful
By Tetsou
Format:Paperback
I've always thought of myself as a reasonably well organised individual. However, after reading David Allen's `Getting Things Done' I realised that there were areas of my personal time management that could benefit from applying the GTD system.
Dave Allen's GTD is a solid, well-written and sensible guide to improving time management. He describes his book as a `compilation of more than two decades worth of discovery about personal productivity'. Indeed, throughout the book there are snippets of information from Allen and thoughtful quotes on all aspects of time management from setting time aside to getting the basics of a filing system together: `You increase your productivity and creativity exponentially when you think about the right thing at the right time and the tools to capture your value-added thinking'.
Because GTD does not favour any particular technology, you are free to adapt the system to your own needs. So, whether you prefer to build your to-do-list using a low-tech notebook and pencil or to capture them using the latest Blackberry device, then you are free to do so and the system still works.
But there are areas of GTD where the lack of advice on incorporating technology into the system is a little too sparse. I found this to be particularly true on the topic of dealing with email about which the book barely mentions. Given that we spend so much of our time managing email and we depend upon it for much of our workflow, I thought more discussion on the subject would have been justified. I have subsequently incorporated some of the GTD techniques into my own methods for tackling email management.
Still, I'm a convert to the concepts and techniques described in the book which I have found to be very effective.
Tetsou
Dave Allen's GTD is a solid, well-written and sensible guide to improving time management. He describes his book as a `compilation of more than two decades worth of discovery about personal productivity'. Indeed, throughout the book there are snippets of information from Allen and thoughtful quotes on all aspects of time management from setting time aside to getting the basics of a filing system together: `You increase your productivity and creativity exponentially when you think about the right thing at the right time and the tools to capture your value-added thinking'.
Because GTD does not favour any particular technology, you are free to adapt the system to your own needs. So, whether you prefer to build your to-do-list using a low-tech notebook and pencil or to capture them using the latest Blackberry device, then you are free to do so and the system still works.
But there are areas of GTD where the lack of advice on incorporating technology into the system is a little too sparse. I found this to be particularly true on the topic of dealing with email about which the book barely mentions. Given that we spend so much of our time managing email and we depend upon it for much of our workflow, I thought more discussion on the subject would have been justified. I have subsequently incorporated some of the GTD techniques into my own methods for tackling email management.
Still, I'm a convert to the concepts and techniques described in the book which I have found to be very effective.
Tetsou
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Most Recent Customer Reviews
4.0 out of 5 stars
Helpful book
This has been really helpful in that it has motivated me to tidy up my in box, manage it more effectively and focus better on managing projects
Published 1 day ago by Michaela Stevenson
5.0 out of 5 stars
Sound consolidation of Time-Planning Methods
David's approach to improving productivity is not to throw all the balls in the air and give us a new approach. Read more
Published 2 days ago by Rob Appleby
2.0 out of 5 stars
It took almost 2 years to get to reviewing this purchase. What does...
If you took out all the anecdotes, reminiscences and stories about times that Allen helped some overwhelmed executive, and just included the actual techniques, this book would be... Read more
Published 3 days ago by Ann O'Nymus
5.0 out of 5 stars
Useful information, easy to implement ideas
I found this book really helpful. It's easy to read as it is very well structured. The ideas are easy to implement and after just a few days, my mind feels clearer and everything... Read more
Published 10 days ago by Phoebe
4.0 out of 5 stars
Very helpful
I've read this book a few times now, and each time I implement the advice given I become more productive.
Published 18 days ago by Claud Williams
5.0 out of 5 stars
It works!
This has been around for a while now but it took me some time to truly embrace the principles. I had read around the subject, without ever actually reading the original book. Read more
Published 22 days ago by Mr L D Toomey
4.0 out of 5 stars
If you follow the advice in this book, it will improve your...
It's not easy to follow, in that you have to change bad habits formed but with the hep of this book it is possible to dramatically change your life, in an organisational sense.
Published 24 days ago by VickyB
5.0 out of 5 stars
Important book
I've tried following the GTD method now for about 3 years. I've gotten a lot of benefit out of the method but still there's a lot to learn. Read more
Published 1 month ago by Sam u li
4.0 out of 5 stars
Great in principle, but out of date
David Allen's book is probably the best one there is on personal time management, enabling you to keep track of personal, family, work, hobby and social commitments all within the... Read more
Published 1 month ago by Keith Thomas
5.0 out of 5 stars
Actually very good
Not rocket science - just the application of some good common sense and some good structures for managing our very hectic lives. Read more
Published 1 month ago by Bluebeastie
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