How David Allen Maximizes Productivity In A Single Day - Hive

David Allen is a productivity consultant who created the GTD (Getting Things Done) methodology. The basic principles of GTD include a ... All HowtouseHive ProjectManagement Productivity Remote&hybridwork In7HoursWith,weexploretheroutinesofleadingprofessionalsintheirspacetolearnthewhen,why,whereandhowtheywork.Ineachdiary,wewilllookatwhatthey’redoingatsevendifferentcheck-insthroughouttheirday. HiveistheprojectmanagementtoolthatpowersfastmovingteamsatplaceslikeStarbucks,Google,Comcast,Anheuser-Busch,ToyotaandEASports.WanttolearnmoreabouthowHivecanhelpyourteam?Contactoursalesteamhere,ortryafreetrialhere(nocreditcardrequired). DavidAllenisaproductivityconsultantwhocreatedtheGTD(GettingThingsDone)methodology.ThebasicprinciplesofGTDincludeaconceptcalled“mindlikewater”andtheideathatyourbrainisthespaceforhavingideas,notforholdingthem.He’salsotheauthorofseveralbooks,includingthebest-sellingGettingThingsDone:TheArtofStress-FreeProductivity.Here’showhespendshis7Hours. 7AM–FuelTheBody&TheBrain Igetupsomewherebetweensevenandeighto’clockinthemorningandhaveaglassoflemonwater.EitherIpreparethecoffeeandlemonwater,ormywifedoes.Andwhoeverdoesthat,theotherpersontakesthedogoutforamorningwalk(wehaveaCavalierKingCharlesSpaniel).Ialsohaveasoyproteindrinktostartmyday,aswellasacoffeewithourBodumFrenchPress. Ithenchecktheweather—IliveinAmsterdam,andtheweatherherechangesfrequently.IalsoliketoreadatleastthefrontpageofTheNewYorkTimesonmyiPad.Thentogetmybrainkickstarted,IplayWordsWithFriends—I’vegotabout10or15gamesgoing. 8AM–StartTheDayOrganized  AbitlaterinthemorningI’llusuallycheckemail,atleastanemergencyscantoseeifthereareanyemergenciesoranyfun,quick,easystufftohandle.Checkingmyemailissortofwheretheplanningofmydayends—therestofthedayisfocusedonthingsastheycomeup,andIlargelydowhatIfeellikedoing.Theonlythingthatdoesn’tgowiththeflowisthatthedoghastogooutprettymucheveryfourorfivehours.Whichisgreat,itgetsusoutintoabeautifulparkwehavenearourhouse. I’vealwaysbeenprettywellorganized,notbecauseI’maperfectionist,butmostlybecauseI’mjustlazy.Ijusthateredoinganything.SoIalwaysliketohaveaclearenoughspacetobeabletodothekindofworkIwantedtodo.Atthebeginningofmycareer,Iwasveryattractedtoclearmentalspace,bothinmeditationpractices,spiritualexploration,andmartialarts.Ithenstartedmyownconsultingpractice,DavidAllenCompany,afterlotsofdifferentjobs.IfiguredI’djustliketoworkprojectbyproject.Atthistime,Ialsofoundthatasmylifegotmorecomplex,Icaughtmyselfthinking:HowdoIkeepclearspace?ThisiswhatledmetodevelopingGTD.It’sprettyeasyforclearspacetogetmessedupwhenyouhaveabusierlife.Iwantedawaytoprotectthat. TheoriginsofGTDstartedwithamentorImetinconsulting.Hecameupwithanumberoftechniquestohelpclearexecutives’heads,andhetaughtmehowtodumpinformationoutofthebrainanddecidenextactionsforeverything.Itturnedoutthoughthatthetechniquesweworkedontogetstuffoutofpeople’sheadsandintoactionwashugelytransformationalforalltheclientsthatIworkwith.Thatsolved90%oftheirissues—justgettingtheirheademptyanddecidingnextactions.Theylovedhavingsomesortoftrustedsystemtorelyon. Andsuddenly,whoknew,Ifoundmyselfthrustinthecorporatetrainingworld.For20years,Ihelpedtrainhundredsofthousandsofpeople,justthroughreferrals.Butwedidn’tcallitGTDthen.Wedidn’tcallthingsGTDuntilIwrotethebookGettingThingsDone.Thatwasjusttheshorthandweused.Itbecamethisbrandthatranoutfromunderus,butittookme20yearstofigureoutwhatI’dfiguredout,andthatitwasuniqueandnobodyelseseemedtohavefigureditout.Itwasbulletproof.ThatwasthestartofGTD. 11AM–BreakForLunch Throughoutthemorning,I’mworkingonthingsastheycomeup.MywifeandIworktogether,andshehasherownschedule,soweendupeatinglunchonourown.UsuallyIwillhaveanearlylunch,whichkindofbreaksuptheday.Thedogwillprobablyneedtogooutagainatthispoint,someormywifewilltakethedogoutforanothershortwalkinthepark. 12PM–ReviewMaterialsForDavidAllenCompany  Afterlunch,it’sbacktowork.OftentimesmywifesendsmetrainingmaterialsfortheDavidAllenCompanythatIneedtodoafinalediton.Andthattypeofworkshowsupprettymuchadhoc,butit’ssomewhatconsistent.ProbablyonceortwiceadayI’vegotsomethinglikethatIneedtolookat. TheDavidAllenCompany,whichismyorganizationthatcoachespeoplearoundtheworldonGTD,isofficiallyrepresentedin90countries,butwehaveanumberoflicenseesthathavewholeregions.Wealsohaveabout30mastertrainers,andoncewecertifythemasamastertrainer,thentheyhavetheabilitytocertifytrainerswithintheirownlanguagesandregions. That’salotofwhatmyworkhasbeeninthelasttwotothreeyears—supportingthenewlicenseeswhowanttogetstartedandbuildcredibilitywithintheirownregions.SountilthepandemichitinMarch,Itraveledalot.Alotofmytravelwastospendtimewiththenewlicenseesaroundtheworld.Doingalotofpress,promotionalstuffandkeynotes.Thatobviouslyisn’tthecaseanymore,butitwasahugepartofmyjob. 3PM–RechargeWithANap I’mabigfanofnaps,andsleepingeneral.I’llusuallytakea25minutenapmanyafternoons.25minutesisthesuggestednaptime.Beatsacupofcoffeeifyoucandothat.  Ifyouwanttolearnmoreabouttherestorativepowerofsleep,agoodfriendofmine,Dr.TheoCompernolleoutofBelgiumwroteabookcalledBrainChains.He’sdonealotofresearchtosuggestjusthowimportantsleepis.Thebrainhasanarchivalfunctionthatneedstostopcognitivefocustobeutilized,andcognitivefocusedattentionneedstostopenoughtobeabletothenunderstandallthisstuffthat’sgoingon.Todothat,yourbrainneedstime.Sleepiswherealotofthatstuffgoeson.That’swhy“sleepingonit”actuallyworks.Andthat’swhyItakeanap. 7PM–SetAsideEveningsToRelax Usuallybythistime,bydinnertime,mywifeandIrelax.WegotoNetflixandgetagoodmovieon,orpickupagoodbookandread.Idon’ttrytodoanythingthatrequiresexternalmeetingsorinterviewsafteraboutfiveorsixo’clock,somydayprettymuchstopsthen.Wealsoliketocookdinneraroundthistime,andwe’vegotorganicmarketsthatwejustwalktoandkeepourselvesstockedwithgreatingredients. 9PM–PlanForTheNextDay  AfterwewatchNetflixandcookdinner,Iactuallystartplanningthenextday.ThefirstthingIdobeforeIgotobedislookatthefollowingdayormaybethenexttwoorthreeonmycalendar.Icheckinwithmyscheduleandassessthehardlandscape.HardlandscapebeingexternalcommitmentsthatIhave,thingsthatIneedtoshowupfor,likethisinterview.Andany“have-tos”fortheday.IfIhavetosendaFedExonFridaysometimeduringtheday,that’sonmycalendaraswell.Ifyou’rethinkingaboutitmetaphorically,hardlandscapeisthestructuresinyouryard.Softlandscapewouldbetheplantsyoumovearound.ThehardlandscapeisimportanttomebecauseitletsmeknowhowlongIcansleep—I’mabigsleepfan.SoIlovetosleepaslongasIcan.ThatgivesmeasenseofthestructurethatIworkaround,becauseoverallIplanaslittleasIcangetbywith. OnceI’mdonegoingthroughthenextday’sactionitems,mydayisofficiallyover. Sharethisarticle LeaveaReplyCancelreplyYouremailaddresswillnotbepublished.Requiredfieldsaremarked*Comment*Name* Email* Savemynameandemailinthisbrowserforfuturecomments. ThissiteusesAkismettoreducespam.Learnhowyourcommentdataisprocessed. LearnhowHivesavesthislawfirm$150,000amonth.