Regarding task management, and software, having tried OmniFocus, The Hit List, iGTD, Things, and a few other simpler apps, I came to the conclusion that they’re all great, but you have to find the one app that SUITS YOU best.

For me it was Things because it was the only app that I actually found myself consistently, naturally going to to see what I had to do next. I think the reason for that was the simple organisation method implemented in Things. A task either has to be done today, next, at a certain point in the future (when it would move into my today list), before a certain point in the future, or some day.

Before that, I used OmniFocus which I really liked, but it was too structured, and yet too unstructured. I never knew what I had to do today.

Things doesn’t have multi-level tasks (apart from one extra level through projects), which I think is good in a way for a personal task manager because it keeps it simple.

In your post you only mention, The Hit List, as a task manager, while the title gives the impression this will be about choosing a task management system.

I’d recommend that everyone trying to choose a task management system checks out at least OmniFocus, Things, The Hit List, and pen and paper before deciding which system they want to use.

Back to systems for getting stuff done, again, this outlines all the different systems really well. I choose to use a unique “roll your own” system. This involves storing all of my tasks in Things, and planning what things I need to do tomorrow at the end of the day with Things’ “Today” list.

When it comes to doing these things, I’ll often just see what needs to be done, do it, and get on, but sometimes I need a little more then that, so I launch FocusBooster, and use the default 25, 5 settings. If I finish the task before 25 minutes is up, I’ll just stop the timer, and take a five minute brake. If not, I’ll either move on to another task, or continue working on that task after my brake for another 25 minutes.