Most people are interested in getting something done. But maybe you aren't. Maybe you just want to feel productive, or efficient, or hard-working, without having to actually accomplish something. You can't just start doing that. First you need to plan, and first you need to plan to plan.

You don't hear a lot of people talk about the Getting Things Done productivity system any more. It isn't as colourful or Insta-friendly as the Bullet Journal, and although various apps have claimed to "work with GTD", they have all fallen slightly short -- because, at its core, GTD is analogue.

It's a system that works less well if you let Gmail automatically sort your email into categories, or if you let an app scan your docs to pull out to-dos or calendar items, since the whole point of GTD is that you are actively tracking and collecting every task, responsibility or concern (AKA "Open Loop") that comes your way. You have to review every email and write down every appointment, because if you spend any time worrying whether an app has neglected to auto-schedule something, that's an Open Loop that's taking up space in your mind and preventing you from getting something else done.

If your productivity system isn't one that you can trust to actually help you work, it's no good. In a recent post at the GTD blog, David Allen explains why it's so important for your productivity system to trustworthy, or you'll wind up putting more effort into the system than into the work you need to do.

It's always fascinating to read how successful people get things done. Celebrated author Raymond Chandler battled with motivational issues like everyone else. But then he set himself two clear choices: write, or do nothing else.

You may have heard the saying, "you eat an elephant one bite at a time." Even if the metaphor makes you a little queasy, the point is a valid one: to tackle something big, you just have to start. Productivity guru David Allen makes a similar point about how powerful taking action is.

Remember the excitement you felt when you launched headfirst into your latest project? Every door was open and the opportunities were endless. But then, if you're like most people, you start to stumble near the finish line. And all that momentum and drive that got you to that spot seems to just disappear.

One of my favourite things to do on a lazy Friday afternoon (when I should be working, but I have a few posts already done in advance and my mind is wandering a bit) is to do a "brain dump."

These days it isn't "so much to do, so little time", it's "too much to do, no time". Use these techniques to improve your productivity and make sure you stay on track and don't miss important tasks.

RestartGTD's Bill Meade obviously thinks a lot about GTD (Getting Things Done), and so his workspace has been adjusted and updated over the years for the most productive workflow. This is the latest iteration.

When you're motivated, the energy can tempt you to try and run through your task list and do everything. Instead, complete one difficult task that will make your life easier when you aren't motivated, says Home Office Hero.

Getting things done often has more to do with removing barriers than actually accomplishing a task on your list. Whether you have too much email, too many creative blocks, or a myriad of distractions, it's time to metaphorically (and sometimes literally) press the delete key and make your work goals achievable.

In this TED-Ed talk, David Allen, creator of the Getting Things Done (GTD) productivity method, explains how you can use GTD to be productive and more engaged with your work -- and play. The end result isn't just that you're more organised, but that you don't stress out as much.

If you've ever found yourself with a few precious free moments but then wasted them wondering how you should use them, you're not alone. David Allen, creator of the widely-used Getting Things Done (GTD) system, explains in this video that if you only stop to think about the priority of your to-dos at the last minute, you're already lost.

When coming up with a system for being productive, it's easy to think that you're starting with a blank slate. As self-improvement blog A Better Mess points out, that's simply not true.

We've told you time and again to make your to-do list clear, concise and specific. Want another way of thinking about it? Boil your work down into widgets you can crank.

David Allen, the creator of the Getting Things Done (GTD) productivity method, explains in this short video how you can get control over your to-do list by clarifying your actions and the results you want. If you're not keeping a to-do list because it's never helped you, his tips may help you start one that works for you.

Getting things done (GTD) guru David Allen recently spoke in an interview with The Atlantic about all the things that keep him organised and productive. He uses a combination of low-tech tools and digital applications to accomplish what he says is the number one thing people need to do to gain control over their lives: "externalise" all the stuff that's coming in.

Being a perfectionist is like being Harvey Dent after that crazy face fire in The Dark Knight: Half of you is achieving above and beyond in your projects and your job performance is stellar. The other half sees a dark desire rise up that wants to derail your productivity by making you obsess over every little detail to the detriment of future projects. You are a productivity Two-Face. So how do you turn off that inner perfectionist? Guy Williams, visual effects supervisor on The Avengers, argues the secret is looking to the future.

Evernote is a powerful tool not just for capturing information, but also planning projects and tasks. My Simple Curiosity has a very detailed guide to incorporating Evernote templates into your GTD workflow for project planning, plus sample templates to get you started.