Getting Things Done by David Allen

“Getting Things Done” by David Allen is a book that describes organization processes one can use to increase productivity and reduce stress. The premise of the book is that we have to externalize all the “stuff” we have in our minds by creating effective lists, schedules, and files. Once all the “stuff” is externalized, we are more able to quickly identify tasks that are required to be completed and solely focus on that task without all the mind chatter. After reading the book I identified the following four main points; manage tasks, not projects, there are five steps to organization, what consists of an effective productivity system, and how to best choose the next action. 1.) Big projects have many steps, and can be overwhelming in their complexity. The key to handling these projects is not to focus on everything that has to be done – that’s a great way to freak yourself out.
Instead, just focus on the very next physical action you need to do to move the project forward. It may be looking up a piece of information, making a phone call, or accomplishing a small task. Whatever it is, it’ll move you closer to completing the project, so don’t worry about everything else – focus only on what you can do right now. 2.) Not all work is the same. There are five separate phases of effective work: * Collecting is the act of gathering inputs: resources, knowledge, and tasks. You’ll have a much easier time making use of your available inputs if they’re all in one place before you begin. * Processing is the act of examining your inputs: what you can do with the resources at your disposal. This is where you start separating things according to what you’re planning to do next: tasks, projects, future plans, and reference information. * Organizing means taking the results of your processing and putting it in a system you trust, so you don’t have to remember it all. Tasks go on your to-do list, projects go on a projects list, future plans go into a