Obey My Blog!
	Posted by Robin Anderson at Jul 29, 2008 09:49 AM CDT Categories: Productivity

I’ll admit it. I tend to stress out – a lot. Recently, I had to take a break and soothe my stressed out soul in a nearby bookstore. I grabbed a book, found a nice secluded spot and plopped down on the floor to lose myself in a story for a few minutes. However, my serenity was interrupted when a paperback fell unexpectedly onto the floor next to me. Now, I try not to take things like this too seriously, but my curiosity got the best of me. I took a deep breath, turned it over and discovered it was David Allen’s Getting Things Done. Creepy. But I was intrigued. I started flipping through it and was impressed. This is exactly what I needed.

So how do you get things done without completely stressing yourself out? I don’t know – I haven’t finished the book yet, but I can tell you this: Get everything on your to-do list out of your head and into a trusted form, preferably electronic (well, I do work for an internet company). Consolidate all of this sacred information into one place so that it is accessible and readily available to you. This is not easy, especially for a semi-control freak like me who’s resistant to change, but the relief is palpable. I find it easier to work up project plans and timelines with my clients – which in turn builds trust and puts them more at ease. I’ve also discovered that this allows my clients the freedom to think creatively about what they want to do with their site and it allows me the chance to focus more on quality rather than on quantity. Which is a plus for me and my clients. They feel more inspired, which makes me feel more inspired. It’s gloriously contagious.

I am still not there yet though. My organization skills still need improving and I still need to finish this book, but I feel like I’ve already made some headway. If you are feeling absolutely overwhelmed and stressed out by everything you have to do, I highly recommend this book. Make it the first task on your to-do list.