Getting Things Done: The Art of Stress-Free Productivity (Book)
David Allen, Author.  New York, NY: Penguin Books, 2001.

You're writing a sermon, when you remember that you haven't bought milk. You're at a board meeting, when you remember that you haven't called Aunt Louise. You're updating your church Web site, when you remember that you haven't paid this month's electric bill. Sound familiar? If so, this book is for you.

In Getting Things Done, David Allen explains how you can be both more productive and less stressed by following his organizational system. The key is to first gather the incomplete "stuff" of your life into a huge in-basket. Then, determine what each item is and if it requires some action. If not: trash it, put it in a tickler folder, or file it for later reference. If so: ask yourself what the next action is. Does that "next action" take two minutes or less? If the answer is "yes," do it now. If the answer is "no," either delegate it to others or defer it on a calendar or "next actions" list. This system also allows for projects involving large-scale planning.

Allen devotes a chapter to each of his system's components. He also reassures us that if we can't implement the entire system, following only a few of his suggestions will pay off. But the more you can implement, the easier life will be. Because the book speaks to the way we all think and live, anyone—clergy, laity, staff—will find it helpful.

Average Customer Rating: Not yet rated
Rate this resource and share your thoughts.

Return to category listing