Allen David offers an effective concept for the distribution of personal resources in his book How to Put Things in Order: The Art of Productivity Without Stress. Literary work is the result of 20 years of practical activity, supported by theoretical research. How to gain the ability to separate the important from the secondary while maintaining calm and balance, without which full health is unthinkable? David Allen's Technique gained widespread use due to its accessibility and ease of use; the author himself presents its essence in the form of a call “Have time to live!”.
What is this book about?
The book includes three main parts. The first part is devoted to a general description of what the David Allen system is. The second part deals with the use of the author’s methods in practice, while the third gives an idea of the effectiveness of applying new approaches to managing your time. The author emphasizes that the techniques proposed by him do not imply a choice between productivity of work and usefulness of rest. Rather, they are aimed at mastering the art of constructive combination of both without stress and loss of strength. The areas of application of the technique are very different - home and family, schooling and education, organization of production and any other enterprise.
General idea of the system in the first part of the book
Actual requirements for performance indicators have changed significantly compared to those requests that existed earlier. Allen David notes that most of the varieties of work (in companies, in enterprises) are now intellectual and multi-tasking, without clear boundaries and a notion of completion. Also, most people are hindered by an imaginary lack of free time and real personal disorganization. The author of the methodology writes that in order to conduct his business more efficiently, first of all, you need to “free your brains”, that is, transfer unfinished business in the form of recordings to any media, electronic or paper, thereby saving yourself from “excess garbage”. It is very important to regularly review records, adjusting them to reflect current changes. Having disappeared from your head and finding yourself in a notebook or on a smartphone, most of the problems lose their imaginary significance, and only the most necessary comes to the fore. It is very important to identify the specific steps to follow towards the goal. This can be done using the methodology described in the book of the five stages of planning.
Putting the system into practice in the second part of the book
You should start with the preparation of the working area, says Allen David. Special time is required to organize a place in the office or at home, as well as an intermediate workplace, if professional duties require it. A properly equipped workspace implies the presence of comfortable furniture, the necessary stationery and a rationally equipped document storage system. The collection of information for its subsequent distribution by priority is also considered preparation for work. The book describes in great detail the types and methods of storing and sorting documentation, ranging from paper files and ending with system folders on the computer. You can also learn from it:
- How to sort the cases and divide them into categories;
- in what cases is it necessary to delegate the task to other people;
- when and for how long it is necessary to postpone the work;
- How to properly organize work with projects;
- what methods can support the created system in working condition.
The results of using the system in the third part of the book
Successful implementation of innovative methods gives excellent results. The better a person is aware of the time and quantitative framework in the field of his obligations (and at the same time copes well with them), the less he experiences anxiety and stress. The full-fledged, high-quality implementation of plans causes a surge of inspiration, backed up by dividends in the form of the need to take on more complex things. Allen David calls the traditional time management technique erroneous, as it implements the assumption that less important tasks do not require close monitoring. Thus, remaining outside the conscious level, “unimportant” problems will attack the person from the unconscious part of the psyche, causing anxiety and stress, depriving energy. According to the new, author’s methodology, all problems and tasks, regardless of relevance and size, must be discovered and placed in “their place”. Accordingly, all mental garbage will be sent to the "basket", thereby freeing up space for fresh ideas.
Valuable information in the field of growth and improvement of personal potential is offered to readers by David Allen. Feedback from its customers, those who, by their own example, have tested the effectiveness of the new system, are filled with recognition and gratitude. The author admits that his work causes him deep satisfaction and does not let him get bored. He believes that freedom and a new experience of productive concentration through relaxation are possible for everyone.