Getting Things Done, or GTD, is a system for getting organised and staying productive. It may seem complicated on the outside, but the end goal is to spend less time doing the things you have to do so you have more time for the things you want to do. Let's break it down and see how you can apply a simplified version to your life.

Microsoft has pushed out an update to their task management software, To-Do. The latest update adds some handy features and ups the ante after Google finally started getting their task management house in order earlier this week.

I have a bad to-do habit. I make big ambitious lists of things I want to do, then let them pile up in my to-do app until I'm so scared that I quit the app and start a new one. But I've found a way out of my to-do debt.

As we have argued in the past, email is not the problem - we are. And it's not just the productivity drain or the antisocial effects of constantly checking our phones and computers for new messages.

There are psychological ramifications too. By constantly looking for new information and tasks from other people, we are degrading the importance of the things we want and need to do. This flowchart explains what you're doing wrong - and how to fix it.

Our digital world is filled with distractions that keep us from focusing on what's important. Thankfully, there's Pagico 8.7, the elite task manager that turns all your tasks, notes, and projects into beautiful flowcharts, so you can divide and conquer you task list, even amidst all the chaos.

Your to-do list is supposed to help keep you organised, but you still have to do a lot of the grunt work to manage your schedule. Todoist wants to make it easier by suggesting the best times to get your tasks done based on your habits.

A straightforward to-do list might make you more productive, but it can also make your job feel tedious and boring. It's time to start reincorporating your big goals within your to-do lists.

There's a solid case to be made for going public with your goals. You can use the same method with your to-do list, and beyond the accountability factor, writing your list for someone else can help you make it more succinct and efficient.

To-do lists keep track of tasks we have to do, but they hardly ever provide actual motivation. A small tweak to your productivity method can solve that problem pretty quickly. All you need to do is start maintaining a "break list" instead, and you'll find yourself more eager to get things done.

If you like the simplicity of Clear, but want a to-do list that's more schedule-oriented, Sorted might be the task-juggling app you've always wanted.

I've tried dozens of solutions to clean up my inbox, and so far, the Sortd Chrome extension comes closest to helping me use and organise email the way I work. Sortd transforms Gmail into a drag-and-drop workspace with columns of customisable lists. It's like life-organising webapp Trello, but for email.

Most of us have things we have to do every week that are necessary but don't have a great impact on your professional or personal progress. Fast Company advises taking all those tasks and doing them on a day set aside for them.

Ah, for the care free days of youth, right? When your every class was planned ahead of time, you coordinated every after school activity, and everything you did had a due date. Wait, that sounds super organised. Maybe adults should try that.

To-do list too long? While many of us stress out about having unfinished tasks hanging over our heads, Time Management Ninja reminds us that unfinished to-do lists are actually a good thing.

Trello is an awesome tool that can help you organise your entire life. Combine it with the automation magic of Zapier, and Trello can remind you of all your priorities and the routines you want to carry out.

Mac: Wunderlist, our favourite to-do app for OS X, got an update today with a few great new features, including a new shortcut for creating to-dos, smart due dates and a new shortcut for search.

Google polarised the Gmail crowd when it released Inbox. For some, it was confusing and unhelpful. For others like myself, however, Inbox is a breath of fresh air. Here's how it's changed my workflow, and why I think it's worth giving it a shot.

If you're not careful, work can take over your life and creep into your precious personal time. It's not always easy to know when to finish your work day, but picking something to cap it off ahead of time can help.

iPhone: You have countless options for to-do apps on iOS, but if you're looking for something a little more colourful with a lot of options, Prio is worth a look. It does everything you need in a to-do app.