REVIEW: 'How to put my affairs in order. The Art of stress-free productivity ", by David Allen

More a month ago, I thought that anyone who is interested in issues of productivity, GTD methodology uses or at least tested its suitability. The reality was quite different. So to start is still necessary to tell about the system David Allen.

Newcomers of GTD

In his book "How to get my affairs in order. The Art of stress-free productivity ", which became an international bestseller, David Allen describes a system of organization affairs, who shared me time management to classic TM and GTD (literally - "to bring cases completion ").

At the time, GTD has saved me from the brain rupture and burn. The purpose of this system is not only to organize and plan things. I would say that the GTD - a system time managementDesigned for our information age with constant input signals about what should be done, to think, to read, to clarify, to learn, to see ...

GTD - is more than a way to manage tasks and projects. This methodology deals with the fundamental issues of meaningful work, meaningful way of life, psychological well-being, and not merely offers techniques to increase productivity and productivity.

David Allen, "How affairs in order"

The main task of Allen's system - free your mind for creativity and problem solving, to a quiet confidence in the importance of the case, that you are doing right now. How often do you have a productive and useful accomplishments saturated days, from which there is no satisfaction? This happens because you do not order. Or perhaps those, but just to say that you can not. At the same time in your head constantly scrolling list of outstanding cases, depriving concentration, ease and peace of mind. GTD will help get rid of this ballast.

Inter alia:

1. You never do not miss anything.
2. You will have a system for fast and correct selection of the following actions.
3. It becomes more productive, not just more in time.
4. Get rid of the lion's share stress.
5. Learn to love and plan for your life instead of letting it do the circumstances or other people.
6. Learn the three models are the choice of the optimal action.
7. Will gain control over the project.
8. Learn to focus on the result.

What do you need? To begin, read a book by David Allen's "Getting Things in Order". It consists of three parts.

The first part describes the general picture, a brief overview of the system and explaining what is its uniqueness and relevance, and then we describe the methods themselves in a concise and accessible form. The second part explains how to apply the principles of the system. This is your personal practice of incremental application of the models described in everyday life. The third part describes an even more subtle and significant results, which you can achieve by making these methods and models an integral part of your work and personal life.

In parallel with the book read of GTD on Layfhakere. In the article you can find a lot of useful tips from those who have long been practicing this system.

What is new in the revised edition

In the preface to the book Dmitry Inshakov - Getting Things Done head office in Russia - writes:

The new edition of the book - it is an independent work. We added two new chapters and a lot of information, taking into account the current realities of the world of information technology. Translation redone from scratch. Particular attention was paid to the standardization of terminology. For all disputable issues with the Russian translation we addressed directly to David. Translating get the most authentic and close to the original on the merits.

It's hard to say how close to the original translation, but otherwise it's a really good text: easy to read, the information is fed simply and clearly.

But is this edition of independent work? Yes, in the book a lot of new information that takes into account the realities of the digital age. But in this sense, it is only useful for beginners and those who are practicing the GTD, experienced difficulties in adapting the methodology to computer organizer, and cloud services. So much for recycling old information.

But two new chapters entirely different matter.

Chapter 14. GTD methodology and cognitive science

The results of research in the field of social and cognitive psychology have documented the effectiveness of the principles that form the basis of this methodology.

David Allen, "How affairs in order"

The chapter discusses the latest research in the following areas:

• Positive Psychology (not to be confused with positive thinking);
• distributed cognition;
• facilitation of cognitive load on the open-ended questions;
• flow theory;
• a theory of leadership;
• the pursuit of goals through the implementation of intention;
• psychological capital (PsyCap).

After reviewing the research, I realized why GTD works and how to improve the effectiveness of the methodology itself and life in general.

Chapter 15. The path to perfection in the GTD

This chapter is useful for both beginners and masters of the GTD, as well as those who started but became disillusioned and quit. David Allen explains the reason for the failure and how to fix it.

This chapter describes the three levels of ownership methodology and explains how to get them. I foresee objections in the style of "We need to spend time doing things rather than learning all TM systems." This is true only for those who see the development of GTD as ends in themselves. For me, it is a tool, and what he is perfect, the easier, more enjoyable and faster to work with him. The fifteenth chapter seriously inspired to take up the practice of GTD and bring to automatism, which will experience less stress and fatigue more effectiveness.

Summary

So what we have in the end:

1. Excellent translation.
2. Recycled material for the digital world.
3. Two new chapters with valuable content.

For beginners, I recommend definitely buy a book to study it and bring the system to life. Seasoned web «GTD-Schnick" I hope that on the basis of article will take a decision to buy or not publication. I'd buy…

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