Get Stuff Done Without the Stress: 5 Secrets for Making the Best Use of Your Time and Achieving Your Goals for Greater Happiness

by Risa Williams

Stress Relief Tips for Peace of Mind Learn how to design your time to make space for things that are meaningful to you. Are you stuck in a "toxic productivity" mindset where output matters more than your personal wellbeing and happiness? Learn to practice self-kindness and stretch your perception of time by finding your calm each day, which can help you get stuff done without the stress. Using goal-mapping tools, you'll learn how to stay balanced across many areas of your life while achieving your goals, and how to feel "happy and done" with things you've just completed. We only have so much time on this planet, how do we really want to spend it?  

Don’t let stress get the best of you. With stress becoming one of the biggest epidemics in recent history, more people are feeling more burnt out and stressed out than ever. That is why you’ll need a self-help guidebook about navigating your productivity in calmer, kinder, and healthier ways. Get Stuff Done Without Stress is a time management book sharing five key secrets for organizing your time, navigating your stress, and mastering your focus, that anyone can use in everyday situations. With psychotherapist and time management coach Risa William’s scientific yet upbeat advice for connecting with our balance and wellbeing, you’ll unlock more ways to go and get your goals without tipping yourself over into stress.

Figure out what matters to you and make it special. Unlike other time management books that provide overly complicated tools for managing your workload, Get Stuff Done Without Stress is full of simple and practical strategies that are about finding your life balance and general wellbeing, while taking small steps towards your goals. After all, who wants to achieve goals and feel worse after achieving them? Each chapter features encouraging prompts, advice, and illustrations that are guaranteed to boost your self-kindness and self-compassion. From time management tips to self-talk prompts, you’ll always find new ways to stay stress-free and more motivated with each read through.

Inside, you’ll also find scientific facts and wisdom such

How to break your big goals down into small weekly steps   Learning the difference between "healthy productivity" vs. "toxic productivity" How to notice the internal and external signs of stress and what to do about them Why we don't let ourselves ever feel "done" with things and how we can start to emotionally connect with our successes more So, if you are looking for a self-help anxiety book like Four Thousand Weeks, The Art of Letting Go, or It’s Up to You, then you’ll love Get Stuff Done Without Stress.

Genres: Self Help, Audiobook

190 pages, Paperback

Published February 25, 2025

About the author

Risa Williams is a LMFT (Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist).

Reviews

[Annaaaa · Rating 5 out of 5]

Would definitely reread.

[Deanna Yates · Rating 5 out of 5]

If you’re a recovering perfectionist who struggles with procrastination (like me), Get Stuff Done Without the Stress is a must-read. What I love most about this book is its gentle yet realistic approach—it’s not light or fluffy, but it also doesn’t push toxic productivity. Instead, Risa Williams shows that doing more at the expense of your health isn’t the answer; in fact, it’s often just a temporary fix.

The book walks you through five practical stages to help you take back control and finally kick that unhealthy kind of stress to the curb. One concept that really stood out to me was the distinction between self-care and treats—self-care is something that nurtures you daily (like yoga stretches), while a treat is something extra (like a yoga retreat or even a weekend class). It’s a simple but powerful way to reframe how we take care of ourselves.

But my favorite tool in the book? The Time Wardrobe. Comparing an over-scheduled life to a closet stuffed with clothes was eye-opening. Just like an overflowing wardrobe makes it harder to find what you need, an overpacked schedule makes it impossible to function efficiently. Risa has a gift for breaking down complex ideas in a way that makes them easy to understand and, more importantly, easy to apply.

If stress is a constant in your life (and let’s be real—who isn’t dealing with stress?), grab a copy of this book. It’s a quick read, but the insights will stay with you long after you finish.

[Brandon Azoo · Rating 5 out of 5]

I cannot wait to keep reading because this is something that I know will help me with prioritizing productivity: in keeping my goals on track, keeping my over-thinking mind in check while avoiding burnout and toxicity.

Getting back on track while using practical tools for managing my time in healthy productivity is definitely something that I need and cannot wait to use. A popular tool that is featured in this book is called "The Task Intensity Meter" and I definitely have a lot to manage throughout every week - from work life to personal.

Also check out her other books, they also work well for adults on the spectrum and with ADHD (I work closely with those on the spectrum and they are equally easily digestible as this one). Very good reads and congratulations on the new book, Risa! I've always been a big fan of yours and continue to look up to you.

[Emily Erickson · Rating 5 out of 5]

I interviewed Risa Williams, LMFT, for an Everyday Health piece on procrastination. I had reached out because her compassionate approach to time management seemed like just the ticket for an emotional wellness story on the topic. So when our conversation wound down, and she offered me a review copy of her latest book, I knew it would be worth a read.

Inside, I found more of her warmth in a hold-your-hand format well-suited to the overwhelmed. You can skim for the big picture, find a clear reminder, or take your time and follow her step-by-step strategies, which you can tell work for real people. For visual learners, there are simple charts. Her writing is just like that one friend who always knows just what to text you back when you’re feeling the world close in.

Recommended for people seeking clear, kind help with getting things done in their personal and professional lives.

Recommendation coming soon on my blog: emilypgerickson.com/blog.

Thanks to the author for providing a review copy.

[EB · Rating 5 out of 5]

Williams provides insightful methods for breaking down big goals into manageable steps, making progress feel less overwhelming. Her goal writing tips bring peace of mind in todays go go go culture where we are made to feel we never doing enough.

[Reader · Rating 5 out of 5]

Brilliant book! I’ve been a huge fan of Risa’s work and her latest book once again helps me reach my goals without the unnecessary stress! Highly recommend 👍🏽

[Rina · Rating 4 out of 5]

Learn to practice self-kindness and stretch your perception of time by finding your calm each day, which can help you get stuff done without the stress. Get Stuff Done Without Stress is a time management book sharing five key secrets for organizing your time, navigating your stress, and mastering your focus, that anyone can use in everyday situations. Each chapter features encouraging prompts, advice, and illustrations that are guaranteed to boost your self-kindness and self-compassion.

This book pretty much contained all the advices promised by the title - productivity, but with kindness. The ‘get stuff done’ aspect was aligned with the classic productivity advices, with tools such as goal mapping, effective workflows and so on.

The differentiating factor here was to use our internal stress level as one of the productivity metrics, instead of focusing fully on output. I think this is a very important consideration to ensure longevity, because short-term high throughput doesn’t matter in the long run if it can’t be sustained.

I’d recommend reading this if you’re a productivity fan like me!

(Thanks to Libro.fm and Vibrance Press for a gifted review copy)

See my bookstagram review.

[Ananya thefoodandbooklife · Rating 4 out of 5]

With all of us stuck in the toxic productivity trap and the hustle culture that is celebrated everywhere, this book is a must-read for everyone. The author points out all the ways that we are putting ourselves into situations that are not healthy and provides practical tools to manage the stress that comes with everyday living. The book shows examples of how to break down each goal into sizable bits that will make the process less daunting. It provides means of setting up day-to-day goals, weekly goals and long term goals and also helps in starting a journaling routine. I loved how the book was not too preachy and stayed realistic in terms of what can be achieved.

[Marissa Mariano · Rating 4 out of 5]

I really enjoyed this book! I loved the 3 weekly goals on a post it. It breaks it down enough to feel accomplished and not be overwhelmed by all of the things that need to get done. I also loved the part about reading your energy levels. Mental physical and emotional and being able to decipher which one you are running low on and picking goals to accomplish based off of what you have the energy for. I never really was able to look at it that way and I did it for the first time today and was able to accomplish a goal I’ve had for weeks! I also love the idea of journaling, starting with goals and accomplishments and also fun little things you’ve done. No matter how small and being able to look back on a day and see that there was something positive to come out of it even if it wasn’t very productive. Also breaking down goals into small things to be able to check things off as you go. So it seems like you are making progress even if it is slow going. As well as labeling things are low medium and high priority/ how much energy they will require, and being able to pick which one to do based on how you are feeling. If it’s a weekend and you have time you can work on a higher priority/ energy task rather than a bunch of smaller tasks that will be easier to accomplish during the week when you have less energy. I feel like a lot of this is common sense but it’s sometimes hard to really look at them in this way and be able to figure out what you can and cannot do in order to accomplish your goals. Highly recommend!

[Rozanne Visagie · Rating 5 out of 5]

I rarely read nonfiction books, but I received an ALC from LibroFm for this book and thought I should give it a try. Even if there's one thing I found helpful from this book, it would be a win. But this book has helped me immensely. There are so many factors that changed my perspective, and I feel I need to get this in a paperback because there are many sections I'd like to refer back to.

One thing I struggle with is time management and then feeling overwhelmed easily. But this book is the tool I needed to guide me and help me use my time effectively and to avoid burnout. I wouldn't have reached this level without this book. It's a constant work of progress, and the one thing that stood out to me is that it's okay if you don't get it all done at once, celebrate those small steps of achievement and prioritise time for self-care.

I can't recommend this book enough. It's something you will use daily, and it's definitely not one of those self-help books that will gather dust on your shelf :)

Many thanks to LibroFM and Vibrance Press for this gifted ALC in exchange for an honest review.

[Krystal · Rating 5 out of 5]

I listened to this book by Risa Williams on a long drive, and it completely lit a fire under me. I finished the audiobook in just two days and was so inspired that I immediately ordered the paperback—because this is one I need to write notes in.

As someone who loves non-fiction, self-help, and memoirs, I’ve read a lot in this genre, but Risa’s approach actually landed for me. The strategies were practical and actionable, not just motivational fluff. Her insights gave me fresh ways to look at my to-do list, structure my goals, and track my thoughts—and honestly, it gave me a real sense of hope that I could finally start making progress in my daily life.

If you’ve been feeling stuck or overwhelmed, this book feels like a breath of fresh air. I’m already looking into the rest of Risa Williams’s books—I think I’ve found a new favorite author in this space.

[Marianne Pestana · Rating 5 out of 5]

Get Stuff Done Without the Stress is a refreshing and much-needed guide to achieving goals without sacrificing well-being. Unlike traditional productivity books that emphasize relentless efficiency, Williams offers a science-backed, compassionate approach that prioritizes balance and self-kindness. Her five key strategies help readers shift from "toxic productivity" to a healthier, more sustainable way of managing time. The book is filled with practical exercises, goal-mapping tools, and insightful prompts that make productivity feel empowering rather than exhausting. Whether you're overwhelmed by to-do lists or seeking a more mindful approach to success, this book provides invaluable guidance for working smarter—without the stress.

[Catherine B · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book offers a refreshing approach to productivity by prioritizing balance, self-kindness, and stress reduction. Through science-backed strategies, engaging prompts, and practical tools, she helps readers break free from toxic productivity while achieving their goals. The book emphasizes emotional connection to success, ensuring a sense of fulfillment rather than burnout. If you want a time management guide that values well-being over hustle culture, this is a must-read.

[Colette Roy · Rating 5 out of 5]

This should be REQUIRED reading for high school students! We all need a head start in curbing our addiction to productivity, and this is a MUST-READ that will push us in the right direction!

I really appreciated the author's focus on self-care and being kind to ourselves all while teaching new habits that I know will be helpful to me! I'm currently very much engaged with redefining success each day for myself.

I look forward to reading more books by this author as I LOVED this one!

[Ksenija Sabic · Rating 5 out of 5]

I have read many goal-setting and productivity books and none have helped me as much as 'Get Stuff Done'. Dr. Williams not only gives useful tips and tricks, but provides scientifically-backed reasons for doing so. Her advice is simple and straightforward, yet very effective. This book has changed my life and I recommend it for anyone looking to improve their ability to set goals and stick with them.

[Mochicat · Rating 5 out of 5]

Loved the practical tools in the book: The Task Intensity Meter, The Hats Method, The Time Wardrobe, The Stress Scale - I broke out a pen and paper and started doing all of them the second I read them - definitely helped me even just this past week to navigate a busy work week. Gonna listen to the podcast now too - thank you!

[Mathew · Rating 5 out of 5]

Very insightful content (like examining the difference between healthy productivity and toxic productivity) that takes this book beyond every-day recommendations about productivity and stress management. Easy to adapt and personalize the concepts and tools. Well done.

[Jeanne Halderson · Rating 4 out of 5]

A few really good tidbits to take from this book. Chapter 1 was the best with the magic sticky note, or whatever she called it. There are some really good reminders in here even if you don't want to be so structured. It was worth my time.

[Monica · Rating 4 out of 5]

I’m not one for self help types of books but this was one of Libro FM’s influencer choices at some point so I gave it a try. I actually really enjoyed it and found some of the concepts to be really helpful.

It was a quick listen but it had a lot of interesting concepts and I feel like it was helpful.

I’d read more from this author. I’d also like to try reading this one instead of listening so I can take some notes.

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️