More important then any app is a methodology. Productivity apps are often a subtle way to procrastinate. I could start the project if only I had ….
I know this from experience. Probably the most respected man when it comes to a productivity methodology is David Allen, founder of the GTD (Getting Things Done) system. I highly recommend is books, and searching for him on youtube or google.
Many unofficial “gtd apps” have sprung up to handle task lists but no magic bullet yet.
Paper is a great way to start. I spend a lot of time working at computers so I appreciate the change of using analog “life hacks” There has yet to be a screen to match the resolution of a piece of paper.
I use a paper notebook for journaling, and a clipboard to walk around making mind maps on scrap paper. I then store the mind maps either on on my corkboard or in a simple A-Z filing system or the “tickler file system. A tickler system is 43 folders, one for each month and day. If you stay current and open the day or month when it comes up, it’s like mailing yourself something in the future 
For what to do today I use a whiteboard, and only put things that must be done today on a calendar because I feel guilty having not done things on the calendar. David Allen calls the calendar the “hard landscape” and many tasks don’t really HAVE to be done that day.
The GTD system lists all tasks by context so for example, if I have to water the plants at the office I would have it under @office and not worry about it while somewhere else. There is a great freedom in a trusted system more dependable then your own memory.
I do use a app for handling tasks lists to slice and dice them.
For incoming tasks and whatever I use an inbox. Clear plastic for physical and Evernote apps for digital. Evernote is great. It works well with paper because it has OCR (Optical Character Recognition) and as long as I print I can take a picture of English or Japanese text and later search it along with everything else.
Besides pictures, Evernote captures audio, drag and drops files into it and write text. It runs on Mac, Windows, a web app, and many smartphones and tables like those powered by Apple, Google and Blackberry
I live in Japan and can’t read many signs so I particularly like that the pictures I take can be displayed on a Google Map.
Anyway, Evernote is a great way to capture, sync and organize all sorts of stuff and there is a free account but the premium is cheap and worth it.
Here’s the website
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