I’m going slightly “off-topic” this month, because it seems that the challenge of juggling too many tasks resonates with many of our colleagues and clients.  I recently started following a productivity system that is working really well for me, and I wanted to share it with you.  It’s a system created by David Allen called “Getting Things Done.”  I’m not connected to them in any way – I’m just impressed with how well it works, so I wanted to pass this along.

I learned to use the system by reading the book called “Getting Things Done” by David Allen, which is available on Amazon.com and on Allen’s website, www.davidco.com.  I really feel like I’m getting more things done and feeling less overwhelmed than before.  Here’s a description of the system from the website:

GTD^® is the popular shorthand for “Getting Things Done^®“, the groundbreaking work-life management system and book by David Allen that transforms personal overwhelm and overload into an integrated system of stress-free productivity.

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Sophisticated without being confining, the subtle effectiveness of GTD lies in its radically common sense notion that with a complete and current inventory of all your commitments , organized and reviewed in a systematic way, you can focus clearly, view your world from optimal angles and make trusted choices about what to do (and not do) at any moment. GTD embodies an easy, step-by-step and highly efficient method for achieving this relaxed , productive state. It includes: 

• Capturing anything and everything that has your attention
• Defining actionable things discretely into outcomes and concrete next steps
• Organizing reminders and information in the most streamlined way, in appropriate categories, based on how and when you need to access them
• Keeping current and “on your game” with appropriately frequent reviews of the six horizons of your commitments (purpose, vision, goals, areas of focus, projects, and actions)

Implementing GTD alleviates the feeling of overwhelm, instills confidence, and releases a flood of creative energy. It provides structure without constraint, managing details with maximum flexibility. The system rigorously adheres to the core principles of productivity, while allowing tremendous freedom in the “how.” The only “right” way to do GTD is getting meaningful things done with truly the least amount of invested attention and energy. Coaching thousands of people, where they work, about their work, has informed the GTD method with the best practices of how to work (and live), in that most efficient and productive way.

I hope you find the system as helpful to you as it has been to me!