Getting Things Done

David Allen’s Getting Things Done: The Art of Stress-Free Productivity remains the gold standard for personal organization and workflow management. 

First published in 2001, this book introduced a systematic approach for capturing, clarifying, and executing tasks that has influenced countless productivity systems since. While many have modified or streamlined Allen’s ideas into new frameworks, none match the clarity and depth of this foundational work.

Allen’s core insight that mental clutter undermines focus still resonates, especially in an age of constant digital distraction. His practical guidance on externalizing tasks, defining clear next actions, and conducting regular reviews creates lasting order out of chaos. 

For those facing a daunting backlog of unfinished tasks, applying the “Only Handle It Once” (OHIO) method can be a dramatic short-cut: decide and act immediately on each item to break through inertia. Overall, Allen’s method endures as the essential manual for sustainable, stress-free productivity.