Luckily, the same technology that provides endless distractions can also be used to minimize interruptions when you're looking for a break. Apps like Forest and Zero Willpower exist for this very reason. They block specific sites and apps from your phone or computer for a certain amount of time to help you focus and minimize the madness. Forest takes the motivation a step further by gamifying the process and letting you plant a virtual forest with your productivity. It will even let you use tokens you earn within the app to donate real money to deforestation causes. Now you're productive and saving the rainforest. Win-win.

Using concepts like the Eisenhower Matrix or Eat That Frog can put your to-do list in ...