You can argue forever* about whether to use Google scholar or Web of Knowledge, Word or LaTeX, Excel or Origin...But the most important tool is the simplest.Get yourself a thesis writing notebook, and make it the first and last thing you use every day.Start the day by writing down what you hope to achieve. Break down tasks into small, achievable milestones, and tick them off as you go.Write down ideas and tasks for later throughout the day... so you don't lose the thought, but you don't get distracted from what you're working on now, either.And at the end of the day, write down ideas for tomorrow.It's the simplest technology in the world, but sometimes the simplest things make the biggest difference.(* there is no argument. Use LaTeX, WOK and Origin.)