Getting Things Done
David Allen · A system for organizing tasks and commitments to reduce stress and get more done.
23 people say it helped them, in their own words on Hacker News.
What people said
Of course I got his book, and of course it changed my thinking. I wouldn't be writing this if it hadn't. I have ADD, and am also deeply suspicious of self-help literature.
What I learned from the book was not a specific method, but how to think about task management in a way that makes sense given the limited capacity of my brain
Personally I've found systems like "Getting Things Done" (the classic book) helpful - it emphasises getting things out of your head and into a trusted system.
This one alone changed my life in a great way - no more forgetting important things, knowing what all my projects are in my personal life & work life
Separating the three basic concepts of planning, making decisions, and actually doing the work, into discrete sessions, has been a life changer.
It has helped me a lot beyond GTD because the same principles can be applied in other contexts such as agile dev work or organising a company.
A book I read 10 years ago that forever changed the way I manage productivity and organization both at work and in my personal life:
It really changed how I approach not only my workday but pretty much everything that could constitute "work" in my daily life.
I'm a lot more organized after reading this book and the author does talk about the scientific basis for 'limited' willpower.
For me the two-minute-rule and concept of breaking a task down into actionable steps really changed the way I do things.
the two biggest game changers for me have been quick capture and weekly review. A la David Allen's "Getting Things Done" or "7 Habits of Highly Effective People" (both absolute game changer books for me).
it has already made a considerable improvement in my productivity. I've had problems with procrastination as well, but with GTD I see myself wanting to do stuff.
About 5 years ago I read 'Getting Things Done' and (despite my misgivings) it literally changed my life.
After reading GTD, I wrote down everything I could think of that I would have to or want to do, ever.
His practice in his book Getting Things Done helped me practice this, not just abstractly know it.
I have more or less copied the approach to to-do lists described in that book into a Trello board
Reading it made a profound and lasting impact on how I approached my work.
It's actually helped me be less stressed and calmed me down a bunch.
getting things done by David Allen it helped me sort things out of my head to make room to be inspired.
if something is going to take two minutes or less, just do it. That simple rule helped me immensely.
the author has a few ideas and techniques I really liked, that have helped me get motivated.
the whole concept of "what's the next action" has really worked for me.
Last year I got busy with lots of small organizational things that were overwhelming. I read and implemented GTD and it helped me out a lot.
Description from Open Library
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.
Read the full description
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.
What people got from it AI summary
Best if you feel overwhelmed or procrastinate and want a system to get tasks out of your head.
- Cleared mental clutter
- Ended forgetting and procrastination
- Made work feel manageable
Style
Practical tools · 279 pages
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The one-line description under the title is written by AI. Quotes are copied word for word.