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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.
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URL: http://www.connectioncafe.com
So, I still haven't finished this book. I know, I know... However! I recently took a class that integrates much of the same knowledge that David Allen applies to getting your to-do list in order and under control. It has done wonders to get me out of my inbox. I highly recommend taking a course like this if you are feeling overwhelmed: http://www.effectiveedge.com/
URL: http://www.trsohbet.name
thank you
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For those of us that do these things on a Mac, here's a good run-down of the "Getting Things Done"-style applications available: http://putthingsoff.com/osx-task-manager-showdown/ Once syncing with the iPhone is fully supported, a couple these (Things and OmniFocus) may quickly pull ahead of the pack.
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Even though I have a PDA, a BlackJack, a desktop computer, and two laptops, I still find that paper and pen is the best way for me to set up a to-do list. I think it has something to do with the satisfaction I get from crossing things off!