In an earlier edition of Best Practices, we recommended Peter Allen’s book Getting Things Done. This small book is invaluable in keeping busy managers from going crazy ... literally. It’s not unusual for Allen to get endorsements from very smart people who say his system changed their lives.
To oversimplify, Allen’s premise is to create a trusted system for downloading tasks to an external list and organizing them so your brain doesn’t have to act as an imperfect filing cabinet, constantly worrying that something is missing. His book is full of practical tips that allow you to spend time on the things that count, without the anxiety that comes with having a very busy schedule. I find myself using his tips every day, whether it’s something as simple as dealing with an issue then and there if it takes less than 60 seconds, rather than making it one more task for the list.
James Fallows is a fellow believer and senior correspondent of The Atlantic. His classic article on Allen’s concepts in the July/August 2004 issue is a pleasure to read, and last year he followed up with an interview with Allen that updates it. In the interview, he asks Allen about the increased pace of life, how technology is changing the basic way we think, and whether the world will just keep getting busier. Do yourself a favor and put reading this interview on your to-do list.
The article is available for free here.
