EE Staff Writer
Getting Things Done: The Art of Stress-Free Productivity takes the reader through the logic of David Allen’s methods to de-clutter your life. David Allen, a productivity consultant from Shreveport, Louisiana, published the book in 2001 under the Penguin Books imprint. In this book, the reader follows Allen’s productivity program full of useful tips and advice to lead a stress-free and organized life.
Prior to reading David Allen’s book, I had been searching for ways to help manage my time and work better, especially before heading off to college. After reading Getting Things Done, I learned countless strategies that would guide me through the rest of my life. This book is filled with beneficial tips and advice, along with the reasoning behind productivity and management.
The primary message of the book is the idea that in order to think clearly and be productive, you must clear your mind of all commitments and things you need to get done. If you record them externally, then you will be focused on performing the tasks, rather than remembering what you have to do. “It’s possible for a person to have an overwhelming number of things to do and still function productively with a clear head and a positive sense of relaxed control” (pg. 3).
Getting Things Done: The Art of Stress-Free Productivity contains valuable information for every aspect of a teen’s life. Time management and productivity affects day-to-day life whether, cleaning a house or running a company. David Allen said, “…much of the stress that people feel doesn’t come from having too much to do. It comes from not finishing what they started.” Take advantage of the resources around, and learn how to lead a stress-free life.