Robin's Reviews > Getting Things Done: The Art of Stress-Free Productivity
My rating:
Getting Things Done: The Art of Stress-Free Productivity
by David Allen
by David Allen
Rather difficult to review this book, as I haven't had a chance to put it into practice yet. I'm sort of in limbo between 2 households.
This is a long review, and I have skipped some minor points, but I think this is it in a nutshell.
**spoiler alert**
In places GTD reads like a self-help/motivational seminar, which is okay -- that's what it is. Some people (and I admit to being one) just need a hand to hold while they deal with 'Pandora's boxes' (my own term for things put aside to deal with "later"). Allen's theory - how you need a comprehensive outside system to keep all your information for you and free up what he calls your 'brain RAM' - makes a lot of sense, and the Work-Flow system really does work. It is, as others have said, very much 'Duh!', but the presumption is for someone already stymied to have the Work-Flow system out in front to keep them on track, to help prevent them from being truly overwhelmed with everything being dealt with.
And you will feel overwhelmed if you implement the GTD system! In the beginning, you set aside some time for brainstorming through ALL your commitments and projects, write each one on a separate piece of paper, and put it in an IN box (regular office style, or even just a designated place) to work through later using the Work-Flow system. Allen advocates putting Absolutely Everything in your life on the table for processing, because otherwise, he says, your brain will still be using its RAM, running round in circles, making sure you haven't forgotten anything. The GTD system is set up to free your brain from expending all that energy. Allen says that implementing this will free you from the stress of always trying to remember everything, as you'll have one system, instead of myriad little notes and to-do lists. After brainstorming, you start at the top of your IN box and with each item or piece of paper, go through the Work-Flow system.
I've paraphrased that system below, and basically it runs like this --
1. 'Stuff' to IN box (like I said, that can be anything - your brainstorming notes, papers, books and folders to file or just put away, projects to be worked on)
2. Define to yourself 'what it is'; in other words, take just 15 seconds to actually look at it. Don't do it yet (that comes later), but right now clarify and acknowledge its presence in your life.
3. Ask yourself 'Is it actionable?' Does something need done about this; is there a 'next action' needed?
4. If you answer 'No', then either --
a) Throw it away, *OR*
b) File it for later reference, *OR*
c) Put it aside for later thinking and review
5. If you answer 'Yes', then is it part of a project? If so, then put it aside for either --
a) Planning and brainstorming, *OR*
b) Review for Next Action
6. If you answer 'Yes', and it is not a project, then ask if the Next Action can be done in the next 2 minutes. If the answer to that question is 'No', then either --
a) Delegate it (if need be) to the person who can do it, *OR*
b) Do it yourself ASAP, *OR*
c) Do it at a later specified time
7. If the Next Action can be done in 2 minutes, then JUST DO IT.
As you can see, a good filing system is a must for using this plan!
The real trick to GTD is, once you have things in running order, to keep up with it, brainstorming when needed, and going through the Work-Flow chart once a week, especially the Review files (what Allen calls the Tickler files), the Project files, and things you've Delegated. I suppose that's the trick anyway to Life-with-a-capital-L, but it seems to me the GTD program is one that would incorporate your complete Life, and be much easier to jump back into if things slid by for a bit.
Some reviewers have said Allen should have just presented the Work-Flow system in pamphlet form instead of a couple hundred pages. But there are other ideas in here -- and besides, I think the book was written for those who need a day-long seminar, who need various other ideas, anecdotes and suggestions to allow us to wrap our brains around what turns out to be a true lifestyle change.
... At least, I'm presuming the GTD system will be all that. I'm still in the brainstorming stage!
This is a long review, and I have skipped some minor points, but I think this is it in a nutshell.
**spoiler alert**
In places GTD reads like a self-help/motivational seminar, which is okay -- that's what it is. Some people (and I admit to being one) just need a hand to hold while they deal with 'Pandora's boxes' (my own term for things put aside to deal with "later"). Allen's theory - how you need a comprehensive outside system to keep all your information for you and free up what he calls your 'brain RAM' - makes a lot of sense, and the Work-Flow system really does work. It is, as others have said, very much 'Duh!', but the presumption is for someone already stymied to have the Work-Flow system out in front to keep them on track, to help prevent them from being truly overwhelmed with everything being dealt with.
And you will feel overwhelmed if you implement the GTD system! In the beginning, you set aside some time for brainstorming through ALL your commitments and projects, write each one on a separate piece of paper, and put it in an IN box (regular office style, or even just a designated place) to work through later using the Work-Flow system. Allen advocates putting Absolutely Everything in your life on the table for processing, because otherwise, he says, your brain will still be using its RAM, running round in circles, making sure you haven't forgotten anything. The GTD system is set up to free your brain from expending all that energy. Allen says that implementing this will free you from the stress of always trying to remember everything, as you'll have one system, instead of myriad little notes and to-do lists. After brainstorming, you start at the top of your IN box and with each item or piece of paper, go through the Work-Flow system.
I've paraphrased that system below, and basically it runs like this --
1. 'Stuff' to IN box (like I said, that can be anything - your brainstorming notes, papers, books and folders to file or just put away, projects to be worked on)
2. Define to yourself 'what it is'; in other words, take just 15 seconds to actually look at it. Don't do it yet (that comes later), but right now clarify and acknowledge its presence in your life.
3. Ask yourself 'Is it actionable?' Does something need done about this; is there a 'next action' needed?
4. If you answer 'No', then either --
a) Throw it away, *OR*
b) File it for later reference, *OR*
c) Put it aside for later thinking and review
5. If you answer 'Yes', then is it part of a project? If so, then put it aside for either --
a) Planning and brainstorming, *OR*
b) Review for Next Action
6. If you answer 'Yes', and it is not a project, then ask if the Next Action can be done in the next 2 minutes. If the answer to that question is 'No', then either --
a) Delegate it (if need be) to the person who can do it, *OR*
b) Do it yourself ASAP, *OR*
c) Do it at a later specified time
7. If the Next Action can be done in 2 minutes, then JUST DO IT.
As you can see, a good filing system is a must for using this plan!
The real trick to GTD is, once you have things in running order, to keep up with it, brainstorming when needed, and going through the Work-Flow chart once a week, especially the Review files (what Allen calls the Tickler files), the Project files, and things you've Delegated. I suppose that's the trick anyway to Life-with-a-capital-L, but it seems to me the GTD program is one that would incorporate your complete Life, and be much easier to jump back into if things slid by for a bit.
Some reviewers have said Allen should have just presented the Work-Flow system in pamphlet form instead of a couple hundred pages. But there are other ideas in here -- and besides, I think the book was written for those who need a day-long seminar, who need various other ideas, anecdotes and suggestions to allow us to wrap our brains around what turns out to be a true lifestyle change.
... At least, I'm presuming the GTD system will be all that. I'm still in the brainstorming stage!
Sign into Goodreads to see if any of your friends have read Getting Things Done.
sign in »
