From To-Do to Done: How to Go from Busy to Productive by Mastering Your To-Do List (A Revolutionary Time Management Book to Take Control of Your Busy ... Professionally)

by Maura Nevel Thomas

Are you tired of feeling overwhelmed by never-ending to-do lists? Do you struggle to prioritize tasks and accomplish your goals efficiently?

Productivity expert Maura Thomas unveils her proven system to transform your chaotic to-do list into a powerful tool of organizational success. By harnessing the power of optimal productivity strategies, Thomas equips you with the techniques necessary to skyrocket your efficiency and time management to achieve personal and professional success.

Inside these pages, you'll

Personalized Develop a personalized productivity blueprint tailored to your unique needs, ensuring maximum focus and motivation.Streamlined Learn how to optimize your work processes and leverage technology to enhance efficiency and reduce stress.Actionable Gain practical tips and techniques to overcome procrastination, boost concentration, and sustain long-term productivity gains.Work-Life Discover the secrets to achieving work-life balance by incorporating self-care, mindfulness, and boundary-setting practices into your daily routine.With From To-Do to Done as your guide, you'll finally conquer stress, eliminate distractions, and reclaim control over your time. Don't settle for a life of busyness. Transform your to-do list into a powerful productivity tool and experience the satisfaction of true accomplishment.

Genres: Nonfiction, Self Help, Audiobook, Productivity, Business

117 pages, Kindle Edition

Published June 1, 2021

About the author

Maura Nevel Thomas is an award-winning international speaker and trainer on individual and corporate productivity and work-life balance, and the most widely-cited authority on attention management. Her proprietary Empowered Productivity™ System has been embraced by the likes of the NASA, Dyson, and Google. She's ranked in the Top 10 Time Management Professionals in the World, and was named a Top Leadership Speaker by Inc. Magazine. She's also a TEDx Speaker and the author of six best-selling books. Maura is frequently featured in major business outlets including Business Insider, Fast Company, and the Washington Post, and she’s also a regular contributor to both Forbes and the Harvard Business Review, with articles there viewed over a million times.

Reviews

[Louie · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was interesting with some potentially helpful bits, but, I felt like it more geared towards someone trying to get their office work life together rather than just their life in general, which is what I'm actually looking for.

[sliceofmini · Rating 2 out of 5]

Umm.. this is very introductory , that could be a blogpost .
Even the points provided were very basic .
If you've ever tried being productive , a little bit of thinking can give you the said basic solutions . The fact is , I still have trouble; with all the mentioned points being done . I was hoping to get some solution for that. Not a longer recap of what I already know.

[Emma · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5 stars

[Tiffany Smoot · Rating 3 out of 5]

Points I liked-the whole process of a weekly brain dump, putting all your information in one place and the dividing that information into categories.
Points I didn’t like-the hatred of the paper planner & the suggested brain dump categories.
Overall, well written with some key points but I do believe you would get more out of it as a working professional than a stay at home mom.

[Rafa · Rating 3 out of 5]

Even though I think I can implement some things about this proposal into my life, I feel like I could just have read a summary and that would be enough.

[Krystyna Salvetta · Rating 5 out of 5]

I’ve had this sitting on my desk for a while, and it was easy to pick up here or there, to read in short little spurts. But I didn’t get the most from it that way.

I just took the time this week to sit down and read it cover to cover with my planner next to me. I’ve made some adjustments to my printed, paper planner, based on what I read in this book, and I’ve also downloaded the recommended Todoist app. I’m going to spend the next couple of weeks looking at that when I have some free time. I’m a paper person for sure, but that doesn’t mean that I can’t see where having an app on my phone that I use consistently would be helpful.

[Stephanie · Rating 3 out of 5]

Okay, with honesty... there is a reason why books about productivity, time management etc. are less detailed, is so everyone can get ideas because the same method does not work for everyone. For example, the author insists about digital tools and finds no disadvantages to use them (although there are disadvantages, and many time management gurus admit that) and persists on digital tools because they are the future while many people return to paper... You get the picture!

[Michelle · Rating 5 out of 5]

I am actually loving this book! I have been reading it slowly and doing everything she suggests. It's only been a week or so, but I already feel like I've accomplished more this week than I have all year. I would definitely recommend this to anyone who feels overwhelmed by their extensive "to do list" and don't know where to start.
Thank you NetGalley and Sourcebooks for the free e-copy!

[The Shakti Witch · Rating 2 out of 5]

Nothing revolutionary here. Very basic introduction to completing your tasks. The layout was very ordinary and I found the writing to be not very engaging.

*eArc provided by publisher and NetGalley

[M Aghazarian · Rating 5 out of 5]

Fantastic, just like her other books

[James Uscroft · Rating 1 out of 5]

The defining, fatal flaw, with the entire "Self-Help" industry (or guarantee of job security, if you're one of the people who's profiting from it,) is that if it actually worked, then no one would ever need to pay for this endlessly repeated and 'By The Numbers' advice with a slightly different twist ever again.

However, the fact that it *Sounds* as if it'll work (and does indeed work for a handful of people, at least temporarily,) means that 'Gurus' & 'Experts' can keep selling books, seminars and other methods of sharing the same advice which is endless copy/pasted by everyone who's ever heard it. So in short, there's absolutely no reason to buy this book when you can literally find the same 'Answers' in a million different articles and blog posts online for free. And there's definitely no point in buying it if you have ADHD or another 'Executive Function Disorder' which the author doesn't even bother to address.

[Jennifer · Rating 4 out of 5]

I can’t believe I read the whole thing on my lunch hour! The concepts at points reminded me of GTD or The Five Choices to Extraordinary Productivity, but the author pinpointed what always got me about those methods…listing priorities and time blocking. I am very much a task list person. I don’t like moving them to a specific time on my calendar because when priorities shift, that means shifting the schedule. I make lists and break down the tasks. That is what the author says to do here, but she takes it a step further by catagorizing the tasks. I made a note of her categories and plan to take a blank notebook and start listing my tasks as she did :Next Actions, Future, Projects, Someday/Maybe, Waiting For, Location, and Talk To.

[Jeremy J · Rating 3 out of 5]

A retelling of productivity advice that you will find in many other productivity books. That isn't to say these strategies don't work, only that this book is not, as the book claims, a "revolutionary time management book". Much of the material in the book is also covered in David Allen's Getting Things Done (often referred to as GTD). The author uses the analogy of putting together a puzzle to explain why to consolidate and organize your tasks. I found this effective.

Bottom line: If you've read a few other productivity books, there isn't much new here. However, if you're new to the productivity sphere, this can be a good intro to various productivity ideas.

[Sabrina Gray · Rating 3 out of 5]

I found this book to be engaging and inspirational. I would advise reading a physical copy (not an audiobook), as I found myself pausing, writing notes to myself, then rewinding sections to read again, which became disrupting to the flow.

The chapters were set out well, logically and concisely. I have implemented some of her strategies so far, which have helped to clean out the mess of things to remember from my brain. I am keen to read other books in her series, and even recommended this to my very-busy dad to help him.

[Crystal · Rating 4 out of 5]

I picked up this book not knowing it was part of a productivity series but I will be reading the other two in the series after this one. I struggle with many distractions at work as I have many internal customers but I also have big projects that have to get finished. This book help me put into conscience thought that I don't do well with my to do list because I try to make everything time based and most task really do have a weak connection to time. So I am now learning categorize differently.

[Chel · Rating 5 out of 5]

I'm always reading about productivity and to do lists, and strategies for getting more out of your day. This book is a good book - an easy chatty style, with tips that are possible to be implemented. I would recommend this to anyone who wants to achieve more within a standard week than they usually do!

Thanks to NetGally for a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review

[Ana · Rating 4 out of 5]

Don't know what to say at the moment, as productivity and time management advice has NEVER worked for me, but the ideas in this book seem useful and actionable. Lots of common sense and consideration throughout which is miles away from what productivity bros usually spew at you from their basements. I might be back for an update to this review.

[Christina · Rating 3 out of 5]

I was confused by her techniques. Although I agreed with the brain dump concept and the idea of putting together items with a time frame and both work and personal i still didn't feel i got the guidance i needed to manage my to do list. Actually felt like it was a little more over complicated.

[Tiffany L · Rating 5 out of 5]

I really enjoyed this book. I felt it has helpful tips on how to get back to being organized in the workplace and at home. I especially liked at the end when the author gave her suggestions on the apps she uses.

[Elisabeth Valienne · Rating 4 out of 5]

Not bad. Easy, quick read, great for someone who is struggling a lot with to do lists. Personally it was a little basic for me, and the system isn't really compatible with what I'm currently doing (which does work). Great book for some just not what I needed!

[Mel · Rating 4 out of 5]

I never read productivity books but someone recommended this and it had great, actionable steps that I plan on adding to help keep track of my work and personal life. It’s a very quick read too, I finished it in a couple hours.

[Bernard Chan · Rating 4 out of 5]

Surprising, this is an interesting book to kind of change some of my perception of keeping a To-Do-list.

[Carter Hemphill · Rating 3 out of 5]

Rehash of other books, but a good reminder of good productivity tips to manage one’s time.

[Paige · Rating 3 out of 5]

Some interesting notes; mostly common sense but concisely presented.

[Mehul Sheth · Rating 5 out of 5]

Another book emanating from the common roots that also led to GTD. I enjoy the philosophy and this is a good series to get familiar with a great personal organization system.

[Alissa · Rating 3 out of 5]

A good refresher and check in on how to look at your personal and work life to be more efficient

[Daniel · Rating 4 out of 5]

(Audiobook) Even thought it's a bit repetitive, it presents some good tips on organizational methods for your tasks.

[Nicole Mullis · Rating 3 out of 5]

There were a couple of pearls of wisdom here but more for a workplace productivity rather productivity In general.

[Ledi · Rating 2 out of 5]

With all due respect, audio book was annoying!

[Maureen Gallo · Rating 5 out of 5]

I am intrigued

I am excited and inspired to adopt the Empowered Productivity System that will get all of my to do's done!