Stress-free productivity: Getting Things Done by David Allen

In “Getting Things Done” by David Allen, the author posits that the human brain is not designed to hold onto every task or idea, but rather for generating ideas. He emphasises the importance of using external systems, such as calendars and notepads, to alleviate the mental load. Allen introduces the ‘GTD’ system which consists of three main habits: Capturing, where one notes down tasks or ideas immediately; Processing, a daily routine of reviewing and organising these tasks into actionable items; and Reviewing, a weekly check-in to keep the system up-to-date. By consistently implementing these habits, one can boost productivity, creativity, and presence. The core takeaway is that our minds are made for creating ideas, not storing them.