Chapter 9 Post

Aside from the initial set up--creating an in box and understanding the fundamentals of productivity--chapter 9 contains the most critical information for actually implementing a program, as it delineates the specific thought processes necessary to operate efficiently on a daily basis.  Allen's analysis of the four criteria model is infinitely useful for determining the optimal task to work on at any given time.  Although his previous introduction to the method made possible a rough implementation of it, the specific details in this chapter, for instance structuring list categories according to physical context, enable a more thorough system to be developed.

Additionally, Allen's in depth explanation of the threefold model highlighted some difficulties with which I frequently struggle.  His anecdote about a busy Monday morning perfectly illustrates the overwhelmed mindset in which I constantly find myself--much through faults of my own.  As he states, doing predefined work and defining what work needs to be done regularly are essential to being productive in the present and preventing crisis situations from arising in the future.  Even in the face of "urgent" commitments being thrown at us unexpectedly, it is important to remain calm and stick to a plan; every pre-planned task that is neglected in favor of working on an emergency will become an emergency in its own right at some point.