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Getting Things Done offers a way of organizing your life through the use of projects and contexts. Think of it as an improved version of the to-do list.

If you’re interested in improving your productivity and reducing stress, I encourage you to check out the book. Merlin Mann of 43 Folders has an excellent introduction to the GTD (Getting Things Done) philosophy here.

One great thing about owning a Mac is the abundance of GTD-centric applications. Once you’ve learned the basic GTD framework, you won’t want to go back to a traditional to-do list app.

Here are a few GTD apps that I’ve had a chance to play with:

OmniFocus - This might be one of the best GTD apps. The developer has an incredible track record and they’ve spent their time tuning this app. It’s currently in beta but an official release should be out by January 8th. If you pre-order before the release date, you can get a 50% discount.

iGTD - My first and one of my favorite GTD apps. Follows closely with the GTD philosophy and it’s easy to get into. iGTD is free but a commercial version is in the works. Don’t worry, according to the author iGTD will remain free.

TaskPaper - Simplicity is its strength. If you like a simple interface, this is the app for you. Your information is stored in a text file so transferring your notes and to-dos to other formats is a painless process.

GTD can potentially improve your life for the better by removing the burdens in your brain and laying them down on paper. Using one of these apps takes this process to the next level by processing your data in ways that are not possible through traditional means.

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