Getting Things Done by David Allen

Allen, through years of coaching and training countless individuals, has come to a fundamental realization. The majority of stress that people experience stems from mishandled commitments they either make or accept. Anything that is out of place or not in its proper state is considered an "open loop." These open loops will constantly demand your attention if they are not managed appropriately. In order to alleviate this stress, you must utilize your mind to remove these thoughts from your consciousness.