Do you ever have a nagging feeling that there's something you're supposed to be doing but you don't remember what it is? Do you sometimes remember these things at the worst possible time, like in the middle of the night, when you're standing in line for a movie or somewhere else that you can't act on it?

I used to do these kinds of things all the time, until I created a system for managing all my outstanding tasks, projects and other information.

That system is based on the "Getting Things Done" method designed by David Allen (also known as GTD). He wrote a book several years ago called (surprisingly enough) Getting Things Done.

Since then, a bit of a cult following has grown up around his method. You'll find a ton of websites with tips for following the system, as well as "hacks" for making it work better. One of the better websites in this area is Merlin Mann's 43folders.com. It's not the official website of GTD, but it's one of the most complete.

The basic idea behind GTD is you empty your brain of absolutely everything that needs to get done and put it into "containers" where you can easily review it when necessary. You do the same with physical information, such as information you need to read or review, letters you need to respond to, etc.

Some people use software to track their information (there are even dedicated programs designed around the GTD system), others use web-based tools and some even use good old-fashioned paper and pen.

The exact method you use isn't really the point. The point is how you organize it, and that's what David Allen explains in detail in his book.

Part of the method is tracking future projects, which works really well for me. I constantly have ideas for new projects, but I don't want to lose focus on the ones I'm actively working on. Now I just add the new idea into my followup system and I don't have to worry about forgetting what it was 6 months or a year from now.

If your internet business suffers because you sometimes forget to do things when you're supposed to (ever forgotten to renew a domain registration, for example?) the GTD system may be just what you need. It has certainly helped me to get on top of my business.