Do It Tomorrow and Other Secrets of Time Management

by Mark Forster

A totally updated time-management system to follow the author's highly successful Get Everything Done.

Mark Forster's book Get Everything Done and Still Have Time to Play took an entirely new approach to time management. One of his most important points was that once we have taken on a commitment, prioritising does not work because we need to do everything relating to that commitment. In the six years since he wrote the book, as he has reached thousands of people through writing, seminars and coaching, he has continued to develop and refine his methods. He has now perfected even more effective methods of getting everything done through the introduction of some radical new ideas, including closed lists, the 'manyana principle' and the 'will do' list. He is brilliant at helping people to use new forms of communication effectively so that they do not become a tyrant. The result is a complete system which will enable almost anyone to complete one day's work in one day.

Genres: Productivity, Nonfiction, Self Help, Business, Personal Development, Psychology, Management

Audible Audio

First published November 1, 2006

About the author

Mark Forster is full-time life coach. He frequently runs workshops and seminars specialising in time management.

Reviews

[Smilla's Sister · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is THE book on time management, the one and only. I've been applying its very simple and straightforward principles for over 5 years now, and I'm happy as the proverbial pig. I've no idea where I would have been without it now.

It teaches you everything you need to know (which isn't very much but is super smart and nothing like the stale "time management" advice other books offer - what the guy says is seriously unique) in order to organize your workload. By the time I was done with this book, I was a different person. As a freelancer working from home, I always end up with a huge workload I can't possibly handle on my own. This book teaches you exactly how to do it. I started by "declaring a backlog" (as he teaches) and guess what? - it was the first and last backlog I had to do because these days I'm constantly on schedule!

Please please please guys, if you need advice on time management and organizational skills, buy, borrow or steal this book. It might be the last one you'll ever need. No other books on the subject - including some international bestsellers I won't mention - are anywhere near this one. They don't even scratch the surface. Forster got it all covered. If he happens to read this, I'd love to thank him for giving me my life back.

[Justus · Rating 5 out of 5]

Its a good book. The most simple of the productivity books I've read but it also means a very simple system. You either do stuff or you don't, so for him one's things to do list is binary and there is no need to prioritize per se. The title comes from the fact that one of the main points of the book is to push off any non-emergency activities to the next day. In so doing it frees up your day to do things that you planned the day before which gives you much more room to be realistic about how much work you do during the workday and limits the interruptions that will limit your ability to focus.

The "quizzes" in each of the chapters is also a nice touch to drive his point home. Very good read.

[Zlata Petrenko · Rating 5 out of 5]

Моя первая книга на тему тайм-менеджмента, сравнить не с чем, но эта мне понравилась. В книге есть действительно дельные советы, которые я начала применять на практике в работе и в жизни. Также подчеркнула для себя несколько, казалось бы таких очевидных, но важных правил, о которых часто забываю и буду переодически возвращаться к этой книге чтобы напомнить себе о них.

[Timofey Peters · Rating 5 out of 5]

Зачем читать: чтобы узнать новый подход к организации дел, наконец-то разобраться с завалами и запустить систему, чтобы эти завалы не образовывались.

Принципы системы Форстера:
* Имейте четкое видение — устанавливайте границы действий чтобы понимать не только то, что вы собираетесь делать, но и то, чего вы делать не собираетесь.
* Делайте дела по очереди — не надо прыгать с дела на дело как матрос с брамселя на бушприт, доделали одно, принимайтесь за другое.
* Работайте понемногу и часто — мозгу, как и телу, нравится регулярная и посильная нагрузка. Правило помидора в помощь.
* Устанавливайте границы — границы помогают сосредоточиться. Границы темы, материала, приёмов, инструментов. В том числе временные границы.
* Ведите закрытые списки — в закрытый список ничего нельзя добавить. Он не отвлекает вас на добавление новой работы и он не может стать больше, только меньше.
* Уменьшайте число случайностей.
* Ставьте обязательства выше интереса — из интереса не выйдет ничего стоящего, если он не превратится в обязательство. Если мы принимаем обязательство, то должны отказаться от много другого.

[Anastasiia Mozghova · Rating 4 out of 5]

мне почему-то сложно определиться со своими впечатлениями от этой книги. структура страдает, да и какие-то моменты в ней показались мне очень спорными и категоричными. но в то же время я интересуюсь и учусь систематическому подходу к жизни, поэтому тут были и очень полезные для меня части. однозначно нашла для себя несколько важных идей, которые применю и проверю на практике.

[Michael · Rating 5 out of 5]

At some point a few months (years??) ago I decided I wasn't productive enough and I read David Allen's Getting Things Done. Great, I thought. I'll just implement this system and I'll be on my way. Well, I never managed to keep up with it. It was just too much.

I'm actually using Forster's new system Autofocus, but this book provides related information. I've only just started using it (2 weeks), but so far it's been great. It's so simple and I am being insanely productive.

[Elly · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a powerful book on time management, a method that works for those of us that do not have a secretary and lots of people we can delegate to. It aims to get all the incoming work done within two days, except for longer running projects, and those are started within that time period. The basic idea is that the amount of new work that you get in a typical day is also the amount of work that you can handle in a typical day (or something is wrong with your workload). I learned a lot about planning my days.

I learned even more from Mark Forster's website. He gives information about new developments (and a first chapter of this book) on the website for free, and I strongly recommend visiting it. I am mixing the method in this book with the Autofocus method mentioned there at the moment, some days/weeks mostly working with daily lists made the day before (thus doing it tomorrow), but at other times working more with the general lists of the Autofocus method (I use version 4).

And for those wanting the most recent developments, Mark even gives his newest method away for free on his website, a sort of renewed version of the DIT method. The website is available on the autor-page.

[John DeCuir · Rating 4 out of 5]

A phenomenal book that turns traditional time management practices on their head. Much of what Forster recommends is rooted in not only neurological understandings of the brain but also rooted in common sense. My only quibble is that Forster seems to have moved on from the method described in this book and onto the new Autofocus system described on his website. Nevertheless, there is a ton of useful information described in this book that has much to recommend it.

[Susan · Rating 5 out of 5]

I absolutely LOVE this book! This is my second time reading it and I will read it many more times. So many great ideas - and contrary to most productivity systems!

Will focus my efforts on creating closed Will-Do lists and focusing on the least urgent tasks first (so they never become ugent!).

Love his ideas for "tricking" your mind into getting things done, his filing system and "little and often".

I will be searching out this author's other books!

[Joe · Rating 5 out of 5]

Mark Forster's Do it Tomorrow and Other Secrets is filled with common-sense advice and real-world problems with solutions. My biggest takeaways were the concepts of reducing randomness with a buffer and of creating and completing daily closed lists.

[Al · Rating 4 out of 5]

Simple and straightforward, makes complete sense.

[Michael · Rating 4 out of 5]

I love to-do lists and they keep growing! I have several commitments, business activities and social events. Sometimes, it’s hard to find “time for myself”. And as the to-do lists keep on growing, motivation can reach zero %. This book has an interesting point-of-view; procrastination is encouraged. There are lots of exercices and I encourage every reader to complete them!

My life has changed since I applied the “Do it tomorrow” system. To-do lists don’t grow anymore, It feels like I have more time for myself and I still maintain control and overview (which is important for me). Sounds impossible to you? Admittedly, I didn’t believe either this method would work. But for me, it works. Order your book today, and start reading it tomorrow.

The book gives clear instructions, personal opinions and has a clear index. The concepts are clearly defined and the idea’s of the author are well developed.

[Stephanie Callaert · Rating 3 out of 5]

“To complain about a shortage of time is like a fish in the sea complaining that it has a shortage of water.” This is how Mark Foster starts his book. He explains how you can work with much less stress. He will learn you what you can do to organize your work better and how to deal with interruptions.
This book is very instructive because it not only explains what time management is exactly but there are also exercises in the book. You can apply these exercises to your own life. By reading this book you will easily achieve your goals within the deadlines.

[Benjy · Rating 3 out of 5]

Some ideas were great like the current initiative and do that first thing in the day. The other bits I found repetitive and non useful in a regular working day. Many emails do need to be answered straight away, and cannot be ignored until tomorrow or even later in the day. Found the book repetitive without explaining what the benefit was in performing many of the tricks he espouses.

[Lenore · Rating 5 out of 5]

Best, simplest system for being productive. Helped me get the better of resistance. Has now been bested by Forster's new, even simpler method, discussed here .

[Steve]

Recommended by Susan Johnson at GTD User Group meeting.

[Mike DuVall · Rating 5 out of 5]

Excellent book. Deceptive title. It's all about deciding what to do and not letting daily distractions stop you from doing what you've decided to do.

[Jane · Rating 4 out of 5]

Enjoyed his ideas and found the book humorous as well. Less complex and more accessible than gtd.

[Alex Memus · Rating 2 out of 5]

Я не понял, откуда такая повальная любовь к этой книге. Автор уныло и надменно толкает свой подход. В нем есть норм моменты, есть безумные моменты, но нет системности. Фостер всё время говорит про важность принципов, но в самой книге их то ли нет, то ли он не может их нормально объяснить.

Система у Фостера довольна простая:
* Have a clear vision
* One thing at a time
* Little and often
* Limits
* Closed lists
* Reduce randomness
* Commitment v. interest

Две самые полезные идеи про то, что закрытые списки мотивируют лучше (привет Платина в играх на PlayStation) и что почти все входящие задачки можно отложить в бэклог до завтра (но я и сам так делаю интуитивно).

А вообще, претензии мои будут примерно одинаковые к любой книге про тайм-менеджмент:
* К чему вообще этот пере-угар по эффективности и таскам? Суета какая-то. Буддисты бы не одобрили.
* Работать будет почти любая система (как в терапии любой вид структуры дает эффект после хаоса). Так что нет большого смысла залипать в детали конкретного метода. Лучше бы авторы описывали принципы эффективной работы, предлагали что-то типа конструктора, из которого каждый может сам себе собрать систему.
* И в целом, мне не нравится фокус на перфекционизм у таких авторов. "Задача должна быть сделана хорошо или даже не стоит за нее браться." Лучше бы принятию поучились.

[library_jim · Rating 4 out of 5]

Great methods, worth reading. He's updated his recommended method on his website (markforster.net), but the principles in the book still apply and his new method is really a variation on this one. Brilliant stuff that will help you finally break down resistance to the things you avoid or put off. Big help to me!

[Stantontas · Rating 3 out of 5]

Reading productivity books is so much better than getting actual work done. From this one I picked up: don't take on too much, don't rush after the most recent inbox entry (unless you really have to), keep a "backlog" list and pick one "stalled" thing to be your focus, i.e. first thing you work on each morning.
Didn't bother with the exercises, but.

[Libbeth · Rating 4 out of 5]

I found that I had already developed a lot of the suggestions as my own way of doing things, but I found the idea of a "Current Initiative" to be a better idea than my usual method of keep transferring a "to do" and never actually doing it because it seemed overwhelming.

[Jane H · Rating 4 out of 5]

Not entirely helpful to my stay-at-home life, but interesting principles. I definitely like the idea of having a closed list each day (ie: having a list that actually gets done rather than a running list of all I ought to get done... someday). Will be trying out some of his ideas!

[Dora]

Recommended at: http://vanrees.org/weblog/archive/200...

[Regina]

He has some helpful ideas for my personality that helps take the frazzle out of a to do list or the overwhelm from incoming tasks. I am trying a few of his ideas out and its helping my focus.

[Betti Moser · Rating 4 out of 5]

Useful

[Jaime Berryman · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is hands down the best book on time management I have ever read. This should be a required read for everyone!

[David Domínguez · Rating 5 out of 5]

Best productivity book I've read. 100% recommended.

[Victor Malyushev · Rating 5 out of 5]

I’d heard a lot about this book, and it didn’t disappoint. Forster’s approach to time management, the “Closed list” and the “Current initiative” helped me rethink how I organize my day. I found many useful insights and will definitely use this method going forward. It's a great read for anyone tired of overcomplicated productivity systems.

[Annie Hogue · Rating 4 out of 5]

The methods here are proving helpful to me, particularly a couple that differ from Getting Things Done. First, only doing a thing now if it is truly urgent, even if it is a simple thing that can be done quickly. That buffer reduces the exhausting switching from one thing to another that, as a mom, I have to do enough of already. Second, closed lists, as opposed to lists you keep adding to. I really like this idea of always writing things down on the “do it tomorrow” list, and there’s your day’s will-do list for tomorrow. I’m not trying to get ahead, get things off my mind, etc in a stressed way; I’m more comfortable in my work. My email is also routinely dealt with now in the same way: all yesterday’s email I usually handle in one sitting and leave today’s emails for tomorrow.

There’s much more and all of it very useful. I listened to this but bought a paper copy to refer to as I’m putting things into practice. Very thankful for this book and the author’s work.