Soon after I landed my first professional job in my midtwenties, I picked up a book called Getting Things Done. Written by executive coach and consultant David Allen, it presented an approach to personal productivity that was systematic and principled.
That approach is known as GTD, and it immediately had a dramatic impact on how I worked. It was like putting on X-ray glasses: suddenly I could see the information flowing toward me in terms of clear categories, each one designed to make it easier to act on that information.
Of the many definitions and distinctions that Allen introduced me to, perhaps the most powerful is between projects and areas (of responsibility). These are the two most actionable categories of information you encounter each day, and thus the most important to master.
I’ve noticed this is also a confusing and unclear distinction for many people. Let’s take a closer look at each one through the lens of how they work within PARA.