The Art of Efficient Productivity and Work-Life Balance: My Key Takeaways

Getting Things Done: The Art of Stress-Free Productivity tackles the concept of productivity, something most PR professionals in the world today struggle with each day. David Allen, the book's author, attempts to answer the question: how can I master productivity?

Whether it be in the office, at home, or in the classroom, it has become increasingly evident that the meaning of "work" has changed immensely today. The art of getting things done seeks to help with insightful strategies to get more things accomplished with less effort and to find a sustainable work-life balance essentially. For the group discussion, much of my focus will relate to part one of the three-part components, which provides context and an outline to Allen's method for "high-quality workflow management" (p. 4).

The first key takeaway from the book came from Chapter 1: A New Practice for a New Reality. Allen introduces the key to managing the stuff that may overwhelm you in everyday life. He explains that managing your actions - or thinking more efficiently can minimize your stress and maximize your productivity with little effort. Think about prior internships you may have had. In what ways did you view your to-do list as "things" to manage, rather than actions to take? In the PR field, it is important to think about problem-solving through this lens. It can help you manage smaller tasks at ease, which provides more clarity when tackling more important tasks that require more time and energy.

One can use horizontal and vertical action management to ease the tension that comes with feeling out of control. Think about the last time you were in a situation that left you wishing you had more time or energy to manage the "stuff" that causes you stress. Horizontal control deals with the coherence across all activities you're involved in. On the other hand, Vertical control manages what Allen calls "thinking up and down the track of individual topics and projects" (p. 21). In the PR profession, one may use horizontal and vertical management to alleviate your mind from things to do and help you get things done. Allen states: "Appropriate action management lets you feel comfortable and in control, as you move through your broad spectrum of work and life, while appropriate project focusing gets you clear about and on track with the specifics needed" (p. 21). This separation is needed in the PR field, as it sometimes feels as though an influx of information takes our attention away from both tasks and projects.

Chapter two introduces the five stages of mastering workflow. These five stages consist of 1) collecting things that need our attention; 2) processing what they mean and what to do about them; 3) organizing the results; then 4) review as options for what we choose to 5) do.

Collecting places a visual element to the infinite amount of tasks in your mind. Every task and project, big or small, should be written down. Processing takes a step further. It challenges you to think about each "thing" on your to-do list and how attainable it can or cannot be finished by your actions. Organizing deals with a system tied to each thing you have just processed. This step should also be written down and include a level of differentiation between smaller and more significant tasks. Reviewing makes sure the system is cohesive and clear. Doing relates to actual action based on the tasks you have just written down. I think this system is critical in the field of public relations. It can help professionals utilize problem-solving through a system that clarifies and reviews tasks that require action. These five steps can help any aspiring PR professional determine and define how to move forward in aspects in their career, whether it be vertically or horizontally.