Only a few years ago the only time management tool was a calendar where you put all of your appointments. Today, however, things are very different. With the advances in technology, new choices for time management abound. How is anyone to decide what tool is best to use?
One of the first things is to ask yourself a few questions before deciding on what to use.
- Are you someone who prefers a pen and paper or technology?
- Do you prefer to use pen and paper at your desk, but use technology when out of the office?
- Do you like having your schedule in multiple places, or just in one?
- Is your calendar shared with family members, co-workers or employees? And if so, does everyone need access to it?
Once you have answered these questions, you can move forward with choosing what tool is best suited for you and your lifestyle.
PAPER PLANNERS
There are many different planners on the market that fit just about everyone’s hectic schedules. Here are a few suggestions of some of the more popular ones:
Passion Planner – Consisting of short and long term goal setting, weekly and monthly scheduling along with a monthly review, the Passion Planner is one place for all your thoughts. For many, the Passion Planner is like having a life coach in your backpack.
Erin Condren – Do you like fun designs, life and home planning? If yes, then Eric Condren might be right for you. These are customizable planners to suit just about every lifestyle, including home fashions!
Personal Planner – This personalized planner, which started due to the founder creating a custom planner for his wife, could be just what you are looking for. You get to choose the layout and design, as well as a personalization. Take a look!
While these are relatively new on the market, the old stand-by’s still exist. They include the Day Timer, Day Runner and Franklin Covey planners. These can be either the customizable ones or the ring bound versions, based on what your needs are. With Day Runner and Franklin Planners you can still personalize them depending on the page designs, the binder, and additional pages you use. If you like the tried and true staples of office organization, these are good choices.
TECHNOLOGY
If you prefer to utilize technology for your time management, there are many different tools you can turn to. Some are as simple as the calendar in your cell phone, Google calendar, or even Outlook, or they can be more along the lines of full time management software or apps. Here are a few of the tools you can look into:
Evernote – While this is not a calendar or planner, Evernote can be used to help organize all aspects of your professional and even personal life. It is accessible both online and on your smartphone, and utilizing multiple notebooks allows for true organization. Add in the fact that you can store documents, pictures, and more in it, as well as search for what you have previously saved and you are definitely in luck.
Google – Of course there is always GoogleMail and GoogleCalendar, which work together and are accessible on all platforms. You can add in GoogleDocs and even a GoogleVoice phone number so you can be reached wherever you may be, even internationally with no additional fees!
Remember the Milk – Helps you manage tasks quickly and easily and get reminded, anywhere. This appears to be a great tool for task management, which is compatible with several others including Google and Evernote.
Zoho Calendar – Can be as simple or as detailed as you want it to be. It can work for anyone because you can set your own work week and work schedule to fit your specific lifestyle. You can customize the set-up, view and add new events, especially using the Smart Add feature. The fact that you can also share your calendar with others, to coordinate schedules, makes this a perfect choice for professionals with a busy schedule or families.
Project Management – There are numerous programs for the management of projects, virtual teams, or general collaborative work management. These programs are helpful to assure the proper flow of work, changes, adjustments, and assignments of new work to those you work with. BaseCamp, WorkZone and Asana are examples, but just as with anything, do your research to determine the one that is best suited for you and your team.
These tools are just the tip of the iceberg. There are many more to choose from and more come out regularly. One piece of advice; do your research and try things out. As no two people are the same, no one tool will work for everyone. Choose what works best for you and you will be able to have more flexibility and be more productive with your time.
1 thought on “Time Management Tools”
Many of these are good and easily applicable ideas. Thanks for posting!