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Have you ever woken up one day before work and thought, "I'd love to just unplug today!"

Chances are you've thought about it: the onslaught of e-mails that never stop coming, instant message pop-ups and endless phone calls, all working to distract you from doing your job and keeping you sane in the work place.

On top of all these office distractions comes the fact that the "life" aspect of your work-life balance (if such an idea exists in the digital age) is also in "always-on" mode, ramming gobs of digital content - YouTube videos, BitTorrent, Facebook, MP3s to name a few - at you at broadband-like speeds.

It's undeniable that claims on part of early Internet pundits that the worker of the future would enjoy enhanced productivity, more leisure time and a paperless office was definitely wishful thinking. The average worker nowadays spends the vast majority of their waking life tethered to a desktop, laptop or smart phone device, simply trying to stay on top of it all.

In the age of the Web, being connected all the time is forcing us to find new ways to adapt to the overwhelming amounts of stuff available online.

Yet it's not just the sheer amount of content out there that's pressuring us, it's the nature of the electronic beast as well.

In his recently published book, Against the Machine: Being Human in the Age of the Electronic Mob, author Lee Siegel argues that Web culture's supposed benefits - the blogosphere's watchdog status on traditional media and Wikipedia's culture of free information, just to cite a few examples - have actually done us more harm than good.

Siegel makes his case through examples of sometimes-amateurish qualities of online video, the potential unreliability of Wikipedia entries, ad hominem attacks published via anonymous postings on message boards and other concerns.

It's all enough to make you want to run away from the Web sometimes, isn't it?

While no one is arguing the Web is perfect, it's not a real option for the average person to simply tune out of the Internet and exist in a digital-free world. Electronic communications is here to stay and we must learn to find new ways of coping with this reality.

So, here are some trusty tools to help you deal with everything we face online so we can appreciate the Web better, stay productive and be happy with our digital lives.

Lifehacker.com

One of the best sites on the Web, Lifehacker.com is an invaluable resource for anyone looking for new methods to manage their digital life. Usable for Mac, PC and Linux users, Lifehacker features links to free software, office management tips and other cool articles. Part of Nick Denton's Gawker Media empire, Lifehacker has stories on topics ranging from creating simple forms for data gathering in Microsoft Word to how to recover lost Wi-Fi passwords. It even has tips on how to better organize your e-mail at work and brewing the best cup of coffee.

In the irreverent, free-spirited tone of the web, Lifehacker also has fun stuff on how to use vodka to remove a band-aid painlessly, or even how to get through airport security checkpoints without the stress. Oh, and did I mention it's free and has tonnes of software available for download?

Techcrunch.com

An absolute must-read for Silicon Valley types, Techcrunch is more than just an insider's guide to the hottest and latest Internet start-ups - it's potentially where people learn about the future of the Web.

Run by Michael Arrington, the Techcrunch empire - the network is now over 10 blogs strong - is essentially where the latest Web 2.0 companies get their start online. If you've heard about a Web service like Facebook or Bebo and want to learn more about them, Techcrunch will likely have in-depth articles, news stories and the latest product announcements from Internet start-ups. If you want to know more about a Web service, Techcrunch is a must-read.

Aldaily.com

Do you ever feel like you spend way too much time online reading dull e-mails and want some intellectual substance on the Web? Well, look no further - Arts and Letters Daily is the place to go.

A collection of the best writings on the Web with plentiful links to newspapers, magazines and blogs, Aldaily.com posts on the latest big events in news and current affairs while also keeping a list of the most relevant and noteworthy bloggers out there. If you want to read more online but you don't know where to start, this is a great site to try. It's also a welcome antidote to the sometimes-vacuous material available out there online.

Really Simple Syndication (RSS)

While RSS has been in use for a few years now, the technology - an online feed format that updates content on the fly - is now perfect for our turbo-charged online lives.

Why should you use RSS? Say you run into work late and have no idea what the day's headlines are. You fire up your computer, get your initial tasks done and then turn on an RSS Reader like Mozilla's Thunderbird (free for download at mozilla.com). You click an update button and then the latest news feeds become available, saving you time and giving you good links without having to hunt around for them.

Widgets

Want a quick hit of information on the weather, news or traffic conditions without having to go to several Web sites? A widget may be your answer. Available as part of Apple's Dashboard interface as well as downloads for PCs and Linux computers, widgets are graphical user interfaces that sit on a desktop for quick, easy access. Every kind of widget is available, ranging from BBC News tickers to the latest forecasts. This is a great way to get your information fix while staying productive.

All of these techniques offer you ways to deal with the sheer amounts of information out there. In time, you'll be able to better organize your work-life balance with these resources - an essential skill everyone needs to stay sane in our Red Bull-enhanced, digital world.