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Zen to Done: The Ultimate Simple Productivity SystemThe Ultimate Simple Productivity System
1 hr and 47 mins
Zen To Done (ZTD) is a system that is at once simple, and powerful, and will help you develop the habits that keep all of your tasks and projects organized, that keep your workday simple and structured, that keep your desk and email inbox clean and clear, and that keep you doing what you need to do, without distractions. This book was written for those who want to get their lives organized and actually execute the things on their to-do list by changing existing habits. And let me say that changing your habits is possible. Using the habit-changing techniques I describe in this book, I have made many habit changes: I quit smoking, started running, started eating healthier, completed a marathon, doubled my income and got my finances in order, have almost eliminated my debt now, completed a triathlon, lost more than 20 pounds, and started a successful blog, and more. Read this book. You'll be amazed at what you can accomplish with this productivity system.
©2008 Leo Babauta (P)2011 Brilliance Audio, Inc.
Zen To Done (ZTD) is a system that is at once simple, and powerful, and will help you develop the habits that keep all of your tasks and projects organized, that keep your workday simple and structured, that keep your desk and email inbox clean and clear, and that keep you doing what you need to do, without distractions. This book was written for those who want to get their lives organized and actually execute the things on their to-do list by changing existing habits. And let me say that changing your habits is possible. Using the habit-changing techniques I describe in this book, I have made many habit changes: I quit smoking, started running, started eating healthier, completed a marathon, doubled my income and got my finances in order, have almost eliminated my debt now, completed a triathlon, lost more than 20 pounds, and started a successful blog, and more. Read this book. You'll be amazed at what you can accomplish with this productivity system.
©2008 Leo Babauta (P)2011 Brilliance Audio, Inc.
Audible Audio
First published January 1, 2007
368 people are currently reading
2321 people want to read
About the author
Leo Babauta
87 books716 followersLeo Babauta is a simplicity blogger and author. He created Zen Habits, a Top 25 blog (according to TIME magazine) with 260,000 subscribers, mnmlist.com, and the best-selling books focus, The Power of Less, and Zen To Done.
Babauta is a former journalist of 18 years, a husband, father of six children, and in 2010 moved from Guam to San Francisco, where he leads a simple life.
He started Zen Habits to chronicle and share what he's learned while changing a number of habits.
Babauta is a former journalist of 18 years, a husband, father of six children, and in 2010 moved from Guam to San Francisco, where he leads a simple life.
He started Zen Habits to chronicle and share what he's learned while changing a number of habits.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 198 reviews
November 27, 2011
I would only recommend this to a person who has NEVER read a blog post or a book on how to be productive. Otherwise, you pretty much know all the stuff here. It emphasizes the simplification of your productivity system.
Since I have loads of tasks to do that have deadlines (from school), I have no problem being organized. I use the iPhone app iStudiez Pro for scheduling all school work/exams/courses/lectures...etc. That's it. No calendars, no notepads, nothing. But whenever the weekend comes and I need to do personal errands/tasks, things get messy. I am currently working on a project and I need to organize my time and be efficient and effective, which is why I read this book in the first place. A friend of mine recommended I use asana.com, and I am currently using it. It's great and easy to use. Let's hope I stick to it!
Best advice this book has:
Keep things simple.
If you're comfortable with a notebook and a pencil, use that only. Don't be attracted to constantly trying out new systems, since that will waste your time.
Set 1 goal a year, or 2-3 max, and don't set goals that you do not really want to achieve. That will only distract you from your real goals.
November 5, 2009
This is a handy little e-book. I read it because I had read an interview with David Allen (author of Getting Things Done) and that interviewer suggested that Zen To Done was the minimal one had to read to get started on GTD. I ended up reading Zen to Done kind of in parallel with GTD and it helped me to understand the concepts.
In GTD the approach is to just jump right in, take a couple of days, collect everything, process it, and from that point on continue with the GTD method. Zen To Done is all about slowly developing the habits that enable one to accomplish high levels of productivity as outlined in GTD. It's a short read that's worth the $10 download and the time to read it.
In GTD the approach is to just jump right in, take a couple of days, collect everything, process it, and from that point on continue with the GTD method. Zen To Done is all about slowly developing the habits that enable one to accomplish high levels of productivity as outlined in GTD. It's a short read that's worth the $10 download and the time to read it.
March 2, 2010
Zen to Done is Babauta's bizarrely simple take on David Allen's Getting Things Done and Steven Covey's 7 Habits.
I read this book when looking to simplify my GTD system, and this has definitely helped. The concept of Big Rocks, Most Important Tasks, and Simplifying have helped me become more productive.
This review is evidence of that.
I highly recommend this book. And because it is uncopyrighted, I will gladly share my copy of it.
I read this book when looking to simplify my GTD system, and this has definitely helped. The concept of Big Rocks, Most Important Tasks, and Simplifying have helped me become more productive.
This review is evidence of that.
I highly recommend this book. And because it is uncopyrighted, I will gladly share my copy of it.
December 29, 2014
I have been trying to figure out my own GTD system, but I couldn't, simply because it's just too complex.
Zen to Done on the other hand immediately gave me a sight of hope - it's OK not to implement everything and at once.
The biggest take away was to schedule 3 (at most) Most Important Tasks for the first part of the day, get them done and then I can freestyle from there.
Honestly, it was a big relief to experience this. For me, this is stress free productivity. Highly recommended to anyone who wants to organize his/her life a bit better.
Zen to Done on the other hand immediately gave me a sight of hope - it's OK not to implement everything and at once.
The biggest take away was to schedule 3 (at most) Most Important Tasks for the first part of the day, get them done and then I can freestyle from there.
Honestly, it was a big relief to experience this. For me, this is stress free productivity. Highly recommended to anyone who wants to organize his/her life a bit better.
May 9, 2018
A simple and clearly-written productivity system, including the following suggested habits:
1) Write down all your to-dos as soon as you think of them; carry a notebook for the purpose.
2) Practice Inbox Zero.
3) Each week, think of 4-6 things you really want to accomplish; each day, think of three.
4) Get into flow and do your three most important things.
5) Keep context lists of various tasks, such as work, personal, errands, phone calls, and things you want to follow up on.
6) Organize.
7) Do a weekly review each week.
8) Cut out everything that you don't really have to do.
9) Have a morning and evening routine.
10) Follow your passion.
Unlike many productivity systems, the book simply explains what the productivity system is, and doesn't go into anecdote after anecdote about how Successful Person X uses this system.
1) Write down all your to-dos as soon as you think of them; carry a notebook for the purpose.
2) Practice Inbox Zero.
3) Each week, think of 4-6 things you really want to accomplish; each day, think of three.
4) Get into flow and do your three most important things.
5) Keep context lists of various tasks, such as work, personal, errands, phone calls, and things you want to follow up on.
6) Organize.
7) Do a weekly review each week.
8) Cut out everything that you don't really have to do.
9) Have a morning and evening routine.
10) Follow your passion.
Unlike many productivity systems, the book simply explains what the productivity system is, and doesn't go into anecdote after anecdote about how Successful Person X uses this system.
April 24, 2021
Leo Babuta zebrał w całość kilka popularnych metod dotyczących życia i organizacji (szczególnie GTD Davida Allena) i stworzył z tego własną, maksymalnie uproszczoną metodę zwaną Zen To Done. Dzięki jego systemowi wprowadzenie w życie wartościowych nawyków wydaje się naprawdę nietrudne - autor jasno wyjaśnia, co i jak robić, z jakich narzędzi korzystać i jak maksymalnie wszystko upraszczać.
Nie jest to książka odkrywcza, ale można z niej wydobyć trochę inspiracji oraz kopniaka do działania. Na mnie podziałała bardzo dobrze.
Nie jest to książka odkrywcza, ale można z niej wydobyć trochę inspiracji oraz kopniaka do działania. Na mnie podziałała bardzo dobrze.
March 2, 2018
Quotations from other books (mostly Getting things done) - and nothing original.
All the book is the author arguing with Mr Allen´s ideas and pointing out how he is better...and all of the sudden there is the end of the book and we learned almost nothing new.
(in one of the last chapters he explains us why he is convinced that he didn´t steal the rights of Mr Allen´s and his GTD method)
Obsahuje citáty ze "Sedm návyků skutečně efektivních lidí" a z metody GTD (Allen: "Mít vše hotovo").
Dále však téměř nic vlastního.
Text je také v této (malé) knize hodně roztahaný (i volné stránky).
A navíc je použita taková ta "časopisecká metoda" k upoutání pozornosti při prolistovávání: , že skoro na každé stránce je jedna věta z běžného textu zapsána znova -jen jiným písmem a tučně.
V časopise to dle mého má nějaké opodstatnění, ale v knize mě to fakt rozčiluje.
All the book is the author arguing with Mr Allen´s ideas and pointing out how he is better...and all of the sudden there is the end of the book and we learned almost nothing new.
(in one of the last chapters he explains us why he is convinced that he didn´t steal the rights of Mr Allen´s and his GTD method)
Obsahuje citáty ze "Sedm návyků skutečně efektivních lidí" a z metody GTD (Allen: "Mít vše hotovo").
Dále však téměř nic vlastního.
Text je také v této (malé) knize hodně roztahaný (i volné stránky).
A navíc je použita taková ta "časopisecká metoda" k upoutání pozornosti při prolistovávání: , že skoro na každé stránce je jedna věta z běžného textu zapsána znova -jen jiným písmem a tučně.
V časopise to dle mého má nějaké opodstatnění, ale v knize mě to fakt rozčiluje.
August 9, 2016
A little book of common sense. If you're an unproductive person and can't figure out why, this may offer the kick start you need to do what you don't realise you're already capable of doing.
It's suggestion to keep a diary, and record every new task that comes to mind in the diary so that you don't clutter your mind with things to remember (that you inevitably forget), has lightened the weight off my shoulders. Reviewing the diary each morning and evening prevents procrastination. Reducing your year-long plans to just one or two goals and focusing on that goal gives life clarity.
This book has touched me in positive, practical ways.
It's suggestion to keep a diary, and record every new task that comes to mind in the diary so that you don't clutter your mind with things to remember (that you inevitably forget), has lightened the weight off my shoulders. Reviewing the diary each morning and evening prevents procrastination. Reducing your year-long plans to just one or two goals and focusing on that goal gives life clarity.
This book has touched me in positive, practical ways.
March 8, 2013
Another in a long list of productivity books I've read. This one, like all the others, basically says 3 things: write your shit down, organize your shit, do your shit.
October 19, 2025
Muy breve, claro y directo.
No da vueltas sobre conceptos, no mete paja innecesaria, no pone mil ejemplos. Va directo al grano.
Esto es lo que más me ha gustado.
Son 10 hábitos "sencillos" (lo pongo entrecomillado porque son sencillos de comprender y empezar a poner en práctica, pero, como todos los hábitos, cuesta interiorizarlos y convertirlos en rutinas). Él anima a trabajarlos de uno en uno, o como mucho, dos o tres simultáneos si lo vemos viable.
Yo llevo un tiempo poniendo en práctica los cuatro primeros, que son los hábitos fundamentales del libro. Trabajar con estos cuatro es lo que él llama la opción ZTD Minimalista, que es la forma más simple de aplicar su sistema.
Más adelante implementaré los demás, pero por ahora ya empiezo a notar beneficios en mi productividad. Estoy más organizada, más enfocada y dando los pasos que me acercan a cumplir mis objetivos, motivada para seguir avanzando y mejorando.
No esperes grandes revelaciones, sobre todo si ya has leido sobre hábitos y productividad (de hecho, él mismo comenta en el libro que se inspira en el GTD de Steve Allen, pero simplificando los pasos y con variantes propias).
Si quieres unas pautas sencillas para empezar a poner orden en tus tareas y proyectos, o si necesitas un pequeño empujón para enfocarte o motivarte, puede ser muy buena opción.
No da vueltas sobre conceptos, no mete paja innecesaria, no pone mil ejemplos. Va directo al grano.
Esto es lo que más me ha gustado.
Son 10 hábitos "sencillos" (lo pongo entrecomillado porque son sencillos de comprender y empezar a poner en práctica, pero, como todos los hábitos, cuesta interiorizarlos y convertirlos en rutinas). Él anima a trabajarlos de uno en uno, o como mucho, dos o tres simultáneos si lo vemos viable.
Yo llevo un tiempo poniendo en práctica los cuatro primeros, que son los hábitos fundamentales del libro. Trabajar con estos cuatro es lo que él llama la opción ZTD Minimalista, que es la forma más simple de aplicar su sistema.
Más adelante implementaré los demás, pero por ahora ya empiezo a notar beneficios en mi productividad. Estoy más organizada, más enfocada y dando los pasos que me acercan a cumplir mis objetivos, motivada para seguir avanzando y mejorando.
No esperes grandes revelaciones, sobre todo si ya has leido sobre hábitos y productividad (de hecho, él mismo comenta en el libro que se inspira en el GTD de Steve Allen, pero simplificando los pasos y con variantes propias).
Si quieres unas pautas sencillas para empezar a poner orden en tus tareas y proyectos, o si necesitas un pequeño empujón para enfocarte o motivarte, puede ser muy buena opción.
September 10, 2019
Solid little book.
If you are familiar with GTD system from David Allen this is nothing new for you.
Leo just simplified the whole thing, threw away a few things and updated it for today's age.
I still love the GTD system, although I have needed to listen to David's seminar twice to be able to adapt it for my needs in the right way.
Anyways, it does not matter what system exactly you will pick because you will notice that you are going to modify it with time. The important thing is to continue using a chosen system to have a much better and simpler life.
If you are familiar with GTD system from David Allen this is nothing new for you.
Leo just simplified the whole thing, threw away a few things and updated it for today's age.
I still love the GTD system, although I have needed to listen to David's seminar twice to be able to adapt it for my needs in the right way.
Anyways, it does not matter what system exactly you will pick because you will notice that you are going to modify it with time. The important thing is to continue using a chosen system to have a much better and simpler life.
April 19, 2024
The best book on productivity, organisation, and time-management you'll actually read, and with lessons you can implement immediately. Short and simple, yet realistic and powerful.
Anyone can conjure up a "perfect", all-encompassing system for organising their life. But will it stick? Will you do it in five months time? Or is it too daunting? Babuta shows excellent awareness of how simplification and gradual implementation of organisation habits is the best way to getting things done, long term.
Anyone can conjure up a "perfect", all-encompassing system for organising their life. But will it stick? Will you do it in five months time? Or is it too daunting? Babuta shows excellent awareness of how simplification and gradual implementation of organisation habits is the best way to getting things done, long term.
August 2, 2017
ZTD captures the essential spirit of the new system: that of simplicity, of a focus on doing, in the here and now, instead of on planning and on the system.
January 24, 2024
Система простая, понятная, похожа на ту что и я использую
March 26, 2016
Každý človek sa zrejme raz dostane do situácie, kedy sa doslova zasekne v práci. Priveľa e-mailov, zápisov a úloh z porád, neutíchajúce telefonické, či ústne požiadavky. Hromady nevybavených papierov na stole. Tisíc rozrobených úloh, žiadna dokončená. A takto sa to opakuje ako v zlom hororovom kolotoči každé ráno. Existuje množstvo nástrojov, ktoré pomáhajú zvýšiť produktivitu, množstvo dlhosiahlych návodov. Do toho nezmyselného chaosu prichádza Leo Babauta so svojím jednoduchým systémom Zen a hotovo, zahŕňa len desať jednoduchých krokov. Jednoznačne pomenúva problémy (doslova si pri čítaní šomrete popod fúzy: Presne, presne! Akoby som seba videl...), hľadá ich príčiny a navrhuje systém, ktorý (aj keď oproti iným systémom osobnej produktivity má len pár bodov) doporúča aplikovať pomaly a postupne pridávať ďalšie a ďalšie. Absolútne sa nesústredí na hľadanie vhodných nástrojov, pretože ako sám hovorí, sú to len nástroje na Vašej ceste. Nie je potrebné hľadať tie najdokonalejšie, najsofistikovanejšie, či najdrahšie. Preferuje jednoduchosť, vnáša do celého systému zenový pokoj. Sám som už počas čítania knihy jeho systému prepadol a snažím sa v duchu jeho filozfie fungovať, takže ak hovorím, že funguje, nie je to len práznda fráza.
Ku tejto knihe som sa dostal vlastne omylom - hľadal som nejaké publikácie o Zenovej filozofii a narazil na toto. Začítal som sa a už po prvých riadkoch mi bolo jasné, že túto knihu nielen dočítam, ale budem si ju s nadšením čítať znova a znova, citovať (a nielen sám sebe) konkrétne pasáže a tešiť sa z jej výsledkov. Babauta píše jendoducho, konkrétne a z praxe. Vytvoril funkčný systém najprv sám pre seba a teraz sa s ním prostredníctvom svojho blogu a tejto knihy podelil so všetkými, ktorí hľadajú spôsob zvýšenia vlastnej produktivity.
Ku tejto knihe som sa dostal vlastne omylom - hľadal som nejaké publikácie o Zenovej filozofii a narazil na toto. Začítal som sa a už po prvých riadkoch mi bolo jasné, že túto knihu nielen dočítam, ale budem si ju s nadšením čítať znova a znova, citovať (a nielen sám sebe) konkrétne pasáže a tešiť sa z jej výsledkov. Babauta píše jendoducho, konkrétne a z praxe. Vytvoril funkčný systém najprv sám pre seba a teraz sa s ním prostredníctvom svojho blogu a tejto knihy podelil so všetkými, ktorí hľadajú spôsob zvýšenia vlastnej produktivity.
January 26, 2021
Zen to done es un libro muy práctico y conciso sobre organización personal. Se inspiró en otras técnicas como "Eat that frog" de Bryan Tracy o "Get things done" de David Allen pero principalmente, "Los 7 hábitos de la gente altamente productiva" de Stephen Covey pero digerido y simplificado. Y por si fuera poco, ofrece una versión aún más simple, minimalista, de su propio método, que consiste en desarrollar 4 hábitos: 1- recopilar ideas, 2-procesar y no acumular, 3-Planificar, usar una simple lista de pendientes (To-do), eliminar lo no esencial y ordenarla por prioridad, siendo las tareas más importantes y difíciles (las ranas de Tracy) las de mayor prioridad. Y finalmente 4-Hacer, el hábito de ejecutar cada una de las tareas de la lista, sin distracciones ni multitarea. El sistema completo contiene 6 hábitos más para un total de 10 hábitos. Además, incluye una metodología para formar hábitos, aunque se puede mejorar incorporando ideas de publicaciones más recientes. Muy recomendable, por lo práctico y conciso.
August 18, 2015
For those who haven't ever read any books or blogs about self-organization, self-improvement, etc, this might provide a few pointers. For others, there is nothing new here and the writing style is a bit tedious. Now I understand those who said bullet lists don't belong in a book. It's like the book was written by a list freak.
The most helpful for me was chapter 11, and it can be summarized thusly: "Set a yearly goal and some short-term goals, set aside a short amount of time every week to review your progress towards them". Of the others, it's like the author keeps talking about the word "triage" without actually ever hitting it.
Oh, and it looks like the author has a bone to pick about the book Getting Things Done, he keeps mentioning his methods are better than those. Makes me want to read GTD so much more.
The most helpful for me was chapter 11, and it can be summarized thusly: "Set a yearly goal and some short-term goals, set aside a short amount of time every week to review your progress towards them". Of the others, it's like the author keeps talking about the word "triage" without actually ever hitting it.
Oh, and it looks like the author has a bone to pick about the book Getting Things Done, he keeps mentioning his methods are better than those. Makes me want to read GTD so much more.
September 12, 2010
Not anything new. He just combines the best of GTD with Covey's 7 habits and I think that is pretty lame. It is almost plagerism. Pretty disappointing. Most all of his inciteful tips I was going already. I didn't learn anything new.
March 24, 2015
Jednoduché, poučné a pro mě ze všech motivačních knih i nejvíc reálné. Asi první kniha tohoto žánru, která mě zaujala natolik, abych si některé rady nejen vzala k srdci, ale i je zavedla do každodenního procesu.
July 5, 2013
Less compelling than 7 Habits; less overwhelming than GTD. This little book is a calming reminder that time and task managementdon't have to be stressful.
December 2, 2020
Nada recomendable
April 4, 2021
Geniusz produktywności: do ogarniania 95% życia, czyli dzieci i domu ma żonę. Do ogarniania swoich pozostałych spraw - systemy. Dziękuję, postoję.
November 1, 2024
it had some good thoughts - like having priorities and labeling tasks based on the context of where/when you can do it. But it just isn't good otherwise imo.
Babauta is contradicting himself quite frequently - like get rid of all the tasks that aren't that important, but at the same time keep a separate list for them?
There is pretty much zero chance for free time. During free time you should just clean or exercise or -better yet- think about the next task. I feel like that would only make a person more anxious.
The example of a person that uses ZTD is pretty idealistic. There's not that many people who, even when liking their job, get up in the morning, jump out of bed and so happy they can work again. Also in said example the guy yes, prepares snacks for his kids, but... spends no time with them at all? nor his wife? Makes me wonder if when Leo Babauta thanks his wife at the end of the book for "being patient with him" wasn't like that as well.
Also, I feel like the minimalism he talks about is good for, well, paper lists. With digital ones, which he really advocates against, once you set them up, you can do with long lists and still have order in it and not get overwhelmed. You can set priorities, labels, etc. and even different lists. Yes, one can get caught up in creating them first - but once you set up the system, it won't really take that long the next time over. Which he conveniently mentions happens with paper lists - but not with digital ones.
And doing only tasks that lead to the goal we have set for the year is also very unrealistic. Yes, focusing on one goal is important, but then it is also possible that we spend 10 years on one goal and don't get to others at all. Or we can work towards the goal but not work on anything else and becoming bitter about said thing because it's starting to get on our nerves.
One more thing I'd like to point out is that in the beginning he talks about how so many self-help books keep repeating the same things over and over needlessly and it is boring and that it won't be found in his book. I would like to politely disagree on that - he repeats soooo many things! It's annoying at a certain point. Like saying the same thing 10 different times.
Overall I feel like it's not really worth reading. I think you can just sum it up into:
- find joy in doing things
- create lists of tasks, prioritize them, see if some things really are needed to be done
- focus on the task at hand
- create labels for when you can do those tasks so that you can then look at the list of things you
can actually do
- have some goals that you can work towards
Babauta is contradicting himself quite frequently - like get rid of all the tasks that aren't that important, but at the same time keep a separate list for them?
There is pretty much zero chance for free time. During free time you should just clean or exercise or -better yet- think about the next task. I feel like that would only make a person more anxious.
The example of a person that uses ZTD is pretty idealistic. There's not that many people who, even when liking their job, get up in the morning, jump out of bed and so happy they can work again. Also in said example the guy yes, prepares snacks for his kids, but... spends no time with them at all? nor his wife? Makes me wonder if when Leo Babauta thanks his wife at the end of the book for "being patient with him" wasn't like that as well.
Also, I feel like the minimalism he talks about is good for, well, paper lists. With digital ones, which he really advocates against, once you set them up, you can do with long lists and still have order in it and not get overwhelmed. You can set priorities, labels, etc. and even different lists. Yes, one can get caught up in creating them first - but once you set up the system, it won't really take that long the next time over. Which he conveniently mentions happens with paper lists - but not with digital ones.
And doing only tasks that lead to the goal we have set for the year is also very unrealistic. Yes, focusing on one goal is important, but then it is also possible that we spend 10 years on one goal and don't get to others at all. Or we can work towards the goal but not work on anything else and becoming bitter about said thing because it's starting to get on our nerves.
One more thing I'd like to point out is that in the beginning he talks about how so many self-help books keep repeating the same things over and over needlessly and it is boring and that it won't be found in his book. I would like to politely disagree on that - he repeats soooo many things! It's annoying at a certain point. Like saying the same thing 10 different times.
Overall I feel like it's not really worth reading. I think you can just sum it up into:
- find joy in doing things
- create lists of tasks, prioritize them, see if some things really are needed to be done
- focus on the task at hand
- create labels for when you can do those tasks so that you can then look at the list of things you
can actually do
- have some goals that you can work towards
June 28, 2018
Dlouhý článek o mixu metody osobní produktivity GTD (Mít vše hotovo) a dalších metod vedoucích k větší produktivitě nejenom v práci. Takový dojem ve mně kniha zanechala. Celá kniha je ve své podstatě o autorově osobním výběru pro něj funkčních procesů z několika jiných knih. Tedy přesně to, co by si měl každý člověk udělat sám a být si vědom jedné zásadní věci, že je to systém stoprocentně funkční jen pro něj.
Metodu GTD autor sám nepochopil a když o ní mluví, hodně ji osekává a zapomíná na důležité detaily, které tuto metodu dělají uchopitelnější. Tím pádem o ní mluví jako o složitém systému, který musíte přijmout celý a najednou, o čemž metoda vůbec není. Autor pak metodu zjednodušuje a osekává, čímž se stává ještě více neuchopitelnou. Kdo ale nečetl původní knihu GTD, nemá šanci knihu Zen a hotovo pochopit.
Celá kniha se opravdu chová jako dlouhý článek o osobní přístupu autora k pracovním procesům. On sám na začátku knihy říká, že nic nebude opakovat, proto máme být pozorní. Pozorný čtenář (nebo posluchač - knihu jsem měl jako audio) ale záhy zjistí, že se autor v knize neustále opakuje, tudíž by se už tak krátká kniha dala ještě více zkrátit. Vznikl by tak opravdu čtivý článek pro inspiraci ostatních, jak nějaký člověk vzal několik známých metod a úspěšně si je upravil k obrazu svému.
Z celé knihy se dá vyzdvihnout jen pár myšlenek, které dokáží obstojně povýšit váš osobní mix produktivity. Otázkou ale je, jestli tuto knihu kvůli pár myšlenkám stojí za to číst. Pro člověka, který si teprve svůj mix začíná tvořit bych knihu každopádně nedoporučil.
Metodu GTD autor sám nepochopil a když o ní mluví, hodně ji osekává a zapomíná na důležité detaily, které tuto metodu dělají uchopitelnější. Tím pádem o ní mluví jako o složitém systému, který musíte přijmout celý a najednou, o čemž metoda vůbec není. Autor pak metodu zjednodušuje a osekává, čímž se stává ještě více neuchopitelnou. Kdo ale nečetl původní knihu GTD, nemá šanci knihu Zen a hotovo pochopit.
Celá kniha se opravdu chová jako dlouhý článek o osobní přístupu autora k pracovním procesům. On sám na začátku knihy říká, že nic nebude opakovat, proto máme být pozorní. Pozorný čtenář (nebo posluchač - knihu jsem měl jako audio) ale záhy zjistí, že se autor v knize neustále opakuje, tudíž by se už tak krátká kniha dala ještě více zkrátit. Vznikl by tak opravdu čtivý článek pro inspiraci ostatních, jak nějaký člověk vzal několik známých metod a úspěšně si je upravil k obrazu svému.
Z celé knihy se dá vyzdvihnout jen pár myšlenek, které dokáží obstojně povýšit váš osobní mix produktivity. Otázkou ale je, jestli tuto knihu kvůli pár myšlenkám stojí za to číst. Pro člověka, který si teprve svůj mix začíná tvořit bych knihu každopádně nedoporučil.
July 13, 2020
This was not great.
While I appreciate the core idea of "GTD but one at a time" the book never really goes beyond this and ends up repeating a bunch of sentences over and over again. And I'm not even sure if the strategy of only doing one habit of GTD at a time makes sense.
For example if I decided to to the collection habit for a month and was very diligent at collecting all my open loops, productivitywise I think I would still be in a terrible position because the collection habit only makes sense if you are reviewing the lists you make also. If you are not regularly reviewing the list you collect open loops on your brain is probably going to pick up the loops because it doesn't trust that you will deal with them at some point. Or at least this is what David Allen would probably say, and I would definitely believe it.
The problem, though, is that it's not just these two habits that depend on each other but almost every habit in GTD and ZTD depends on each other. You can't have collection without review just as much as you can't have review without organisation.
The idea of doing only one of these habits at a time is not something I could imagine happening in any succesful way.
On top of that, even if I had to assume that you could somehow make this work by only doing one habit at a time, I found the actual content in the book very light and not nearly well substantiated enough.
While I appreciate the core idea of "GTD but one at a time" the book never really goes beyond this and ends up repeating a bunch of sentences over and over again. And I'm not even sure if the strategy of only doing one habit of GTD at a time makes sense.
For example if I decided to to the collection habit for a month and was very diligent at collecting all my open loops, productivitywise I think I would still be in a terrible position because the collection habit only makes sense if you are reviewing the lists you make also. If you are not regularly reviewing the list you collect open loops on your brain is probably going to pick up the loops because it doesn't trust that you will deal with them at some point. Or at least this is what David Allen would probably say, and I would definitely believe it.
The problem, though, is that it's not just these two habits that depend on each other but almost every habit in GTD and ZTD depends on each other. You can't have collection without review just as much as you can't have review without organisation.
The idea of doing only one of these habits at a time is not something I could imagine happening in any succesful way.
On top of that, even if I had to assume that you could somehow make this work by only doing one habit at a time, I found the actual content in the book very light and not nearly well substantiated enough.
November 26, 2022
When I came back to earth after working single-mindedly on a single project for a very long time, I realized I had to teach myself how to deal with more than one thing. I looked around quite a lot and finally landed on this book.
If we can put aside the overeasy reference to 'Zen', and the (American-) dreamy naïveté of the chapter on passion, this is actually the best system I've come across to deal with multiple tasks and complicated projects without losing touch with one's overall goals and purposes in the chaotic trenches of weekdays.
I found it superior to Allen's Getting Things Done in (i) prioritization in accordance with significance and relevance for long term goals, (ii) execution (the actual doing), and (iii) level of maintenance (it is a lot simpler, which is a good thing). The book needs editing for sure, but I'd take the unpretentious and under-edited writing with errors and loose ends over the corporationalized and best-sellerized language of GTD and similar productivity books.
If we can put aside the overeasy reference to 'Zen', and the (American-) dreamy naïveté of the chapter on passion, this is actually the best system I've come across to deal with multiple tasks and complicated projects without losing touch with one's overall goals and purposes in the chaotic trenches of weekdays.
I found it superior to Allen's Getting Things Done in (i) prioritization in accordance with significance and relevance for long term goals, (ii) execution (the actual doing), and (iii) level of maintenance (it is a lot simpler, which is a good thing). The book needs editing for sure, but I'd take the unpretentious and under-edited writing with errors and loose ends over the corporationalized and best-sellerized language of GTD and similar productivity books.
November 3, 2023
The title of the story was important because it encapsulates the calm, organised approach the book teaches towards tackling our daily tasks. The quote, “Much of the stress that people feel doesn’t come from having too much to do, it comes from not finishing what they've started.” pinpoints where stress comes from and how to manage it, for me at least. The author merges the calmness of Zen philosophy with practical steps to get things done. It’s not just about being productive, but about doing it in a relaxed, focused way. In a world where everyone seems to be constantly busy and stressed, the lessons from this book are a breath of fresh air. It teaches us not only to manage our tasks, but also to manage our mindset towards them, showing a path to reduce stress and achieve our goals with a clear and calm mind. This book is a reminder that a mindful, organised approach leads to greater productivity than being constantly busy.
October 27, 2016
I'm so glad I finally picked up this book again and finished it. What added to my understanding was not perusing the Zen Habits blog but hearing interviews with Leo Babauta. Zen I am not but the way is clearer. The processes outlined clearly in the book are nowhere near new though his suggestions for implementing them one at at time and his concentration on habits versus goals and simplifying is new (to me). These principles will also take some as much reflection as action. This isn't a book to grab if you want to change your life in a week. His way requires one to trust that developing one habit at a time will lead to the type of life you want. I don't (currently...ever?) have patience or discipline so I'll be re-reading it regularly.
July 11, 2020
I've read a lot on productivity online, including the Zen Habits website. I knew this was a small book but I expected more new material, some expansion on his ideas and some worked examples. In particular I was looking for how he handled Projects, worked out his Tasks and , which is only briefly mentioned online. Unfortunately, I found almost nothing new and often I'd already read these words elsewhere in posts or in interviews given by him. I read this book in one sitting, and felt that it really was not worth the money I paid for it.
If you haven't read the website already then this book really is excellent advice although it would be worth reading David Allen's GTD first, which is a much more ground breaking change to your productivity. ZTD adds those extra tweaks for those who struggle to get GTD working smoothly.
If you haven't read the website already then this book really is excellent advice although it would be worth reading David Allen's GTD first, which is a much more ground breaking change to your productivity. ZTD adds those extra tweaks for those who struggle to get GTD working smoothly.
July 22, 2020
This guy obviously just read both *Getting Things Done* and *The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People* and mushed them together. I don’t necessarily dislike that. If anything, I’ve been looking for a system like the one described here. This book was written terribly, though. I don’t mean to be mean, but the author is obviously not a writer of any sorts. Lots of grammatical errors throughout. Many concepts are discussed (as acronyms, even) only to be properly introduced in a later section. The only reason I could really decipher what this book was about is because my brain is poisoned and I’ve maniacally read both *Getting Things Done* and *7 Habits* (the former maybe three times). To read and understand this book is to diagnose an illness.
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