Three years ago, Kevin Wilde overhauled his life in an effort to be more organised. As vice-president of General Mills, the US food manufacturer, he was already successful. But as its chief learning officer, he was sure he could learn some new tricks about personal productivity. So he called in David Allen, author of the best-selling book Getting Things Done (GTD).

Mr Allen’s approach to personal organisation is rigorous to say the least. It involves gathering every single unfinished task or “open loop” in your life – from implementing a new policy across your company to fixing a leaking tap at home – into a regimented system of to-do lists so that they no longer weigh on your mind.