When I started reading The Art of Getting Things Done, I was skeptical that David Allen could deliver all he promises in the opening sentence: "Welcome to a gold mine of insights into strategies for how to have more energy, be more relaxed, and get a lot more accomplished with much less effort." Throughout the reading, his ideas seem to make sense. He details a systematic method for keeping the mind distraction free. I haven't fully implented his strategies, but have found some useful tips. I especially like the idea of having a system for even the small things. The small things, left undone and unaccounted for, can be as stressful as the big things. In my case, I can often handle the big challenges more easily. Maybe this is because I think that the small challenges shouldn't be difficult at all.
Allen gives many details of how to get your life together, at work and at home. Although his experience is mostly with executives, his techniques can help anyone with a busy schedule. The concluding chapters reiterate his two key focus points: outcomes and actions. I see these as two sides of the same coin. The desired outcome determines your actions. Actions move you toward your goal. This is certainly true in my experience teaching piano.
I am inspired to try more of the suggestions in this book in order to "get things done" with less effort and stress.
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