Archive for the ‘Time Management Tools’ Category

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Warning: Use These Time Management Tools At Your Own Risk

Thursday, December 8th, 2011

This is an interesting post about how the tools we use to help make our lives much easier

Time management matrix as described in Merrill...
time management matrix

can sometimes add to the frustration and work load in our lives if we don’t use the tools correctly.  Time management is no exception to this rule.  There are many powerful time management tools out there than can really help effectively manage our time, but they can also drive us down the rabbit hole as well if we are not careful.  Read on for more about how time management tools can wast our  time if not used effectively.

Are you managing your time efficiently? Or do you often find out that the time lost in working on your time management is more than the time saved from it? This is by far the biggest risk, along with losing money on bad tools or bad time management training.

Remember:

The point of time management is to improve the way you use your time, free up your brain from unimportant tasks, and free you up from stress. If instead of this your efforts to manage time end up in less time for you and more stress, you are obviously on the wrong way.

Tools and software can help you a lot to control your time better. Instead of having to remember activities and techniques, time management tools help you automate them. But… sometimes there is a risk. Let’s explore three major types of tools and the risks associated with them:

Low Risk: Calendars
Calendars help you organize your events, meetings, dates, important milestones and other duties. They help you not to miss your visit at the dentist and can remind your friends to come at the party tomorrow. Many calendars are free and have nice features like email reminders, sending iCal invites and so on. Calendars are very useful time management tools and you should use them. But use them properly, because otherwise they can get you in trouble too.

The main risk with calendars is to rely too much on yours. If you expect your calendar to know your appointments better than you (which is it’s purpose anyway), what happens when it doesn’t work well? What happens for example if you rely on receiving email reminder about an appointment but exactly this time the email arrives in your spam box? Such events are rare and that’s what makes them so unexpected.

You should never rely 100% on technologies. If an event is important for you, insert it in 2 or 3 calendars, put it in your phone alarm, use the good old method with paper and fridge magnet.

Medium Risk: To do lists
To do lists are neat little apps that let you create projects, assign tasks to them, reorder them, and mark them done when done. While bloody simple, these apps are very useful for time management. They help you not forget the tasks you have. They help you write your ideas as tasks in very simple way. They help you watch how you accomplish a project. Very nice!

What’s so risky about them? Just think a little. What happens with the tasks that you forget to write in the list? I’ll tell you. They never get done.
Then what happens with the not-so-easy tasks? I’ll tell you. They never get done, because you always move them after the others and if by any chance they remain the last in the list, you come up with new ideas and new tasks.

And finally, when your to-do list becomes too large, it causes the decision block. How to order the tasks, which ones to do first? When you have a long task list you can easily feel depressed and lose your motivation.

But don’t get me wrong, to do lists are great tools when used right…

High Risk: Time management charts
Time management charts are supposed to help you visualize how you spend your time, figure out the time wasters, and figure out which activities you do in your most productive time. They can be extremely powerful in giving long term results by helping you organize your daily routines and productive time better.

They can also lead to extreme time waste if not used correctly. Imagine what happens if you underestimate the importance of proper tracking and enter values in the chart “as you feel them”. Generally you will decrease the time spend to time wasters (think checking your Facebook account), because you don’t feel them as wasters. At the end the time management chart will show totally misleading information.

Another even more common risk is just to spend too much time maintaining your time management chart and then get no useful results. You don’t need another addiction – if you can get useful results from using time management charts in a couple of weeks, drop using them for good.

Don’t forget that time management tools are created to help you and they will, if you use them well. And if you combine them with the best time management activities you will be the master of your time!

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Employee Time Management Software – Taking Advantage to the Fullest

Wednesday, July 20th, 2011

Employee Time Management Software

Using the right tools can certainly give you more of an advantage in terms of increasing your income, reducing your costs and reducing time doing your everyday tasks.  As a result, it’s important to know what is out there and how you can use it to your greatest advantage.  In this article, we discuss how to best use employee time management software to get the best results for your business.

Read on in the following article about Employee Time Management Software

Time is one of the most precious resources to businesses today and one way to take better advantage of this is to implement some type of employee time management software. We all talk about getting more with less, yet we continue to do the same old things expecting different results. Time is one of those resources that once spent it is gone never to return.

So how do we get more from a constant source? After all a second is a second! A minute is a minute! An hour is an hour and so on until there is no more time available. It will continue to tick and tick away until it is gone forever. Although I am not going to sit here and recommend any one employee time management software in particular I will say that you need something to get your business day under control before you don’t have a business anymore to worry about!

Time management software will go deeper than just tomorrow…

Regarding how a good employee time management software system can help you manage your day boils down to prioritizing what is important from what isn’t. Too many times we start the day thinking that we have all the time in the world to complete what we need to do and before we know it we haven’t even come close to accomplishing anything at all. Some people, including myself, have thought that making a list the day before of what I really need to do tomorrow is a great and effective way to prioritize our day! I guess after applying this practice for a long time I would have to say “Hog Wash!”

Good employee time management software will go deeper than just tomorrow. It is more than just prioritizing a day or two, or even a week or month. Good business planning means that you have to separate what really matters from what doesn’t. What is going to keep your doors open and expanding your business from just surviving. Therefore, using software that will dig deeper into why you are doing something instead of just doing it. Not doing something because we have done it this way for ever. No we need to ask if what I’m doing is going to bring something back to the business.

An employee time management software system should be helping you to make better decisions about how you spend your time. After all anyone can set up and schedule for what you need to do tomorrow. Heck I don’t need some expense software or any system for that matter to help me just write out a schedule for tomorrow. I need a software or system that will help me make better decisions about how to spend my time. Better decision making is truly the key to good time management.

I am not suggesting that we should be rude…

So let’s talk about some of the everyday decisions that we make without giving much thought of whether it will pay dividends to our business. The conversations that we have on a daily basis must be questioned to know whether they are going to bring back returns to our business. I am not suggesting that we should be rude, but sitting and having lunch with someone that is not adding value should not happen. Calls we make should be focused on bringing value to our business. Conversations we have with our employees need to be focused on building our business. Again, I am not suggesting being rude to anyone. Just know what you need to accomplish and focus on that. An employee time management software system should be focused on that as well.

Employee time management software can also be used to help drive productivity for your staff as well. Are our employees being as productive as possible? After all labor is generally the most expensive part of any business. If you can find another thirty minutes to hour for each employee you have how much would that be worth to your business? My guess is with most reputable time management software systems you will find much more than this. It might be as simple as adjusting schedules. It might mean simply that you begin the day with a quick team meeting to prioritize everyone’s day by establishing a solid plan!

For more information on employee or employment types of software please visit my website Employee Handbook Templates.

 

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Time Management Tools – A Few Tools That Will Help You Become Organized

Monday, December 13th, 2010

Using time management tools can make a huge difference in being able to get a handle on your time.  Some tools are on paper, others are software programs.  IT all depends upon what your personality and style is.  Read on for more about what kinds of tools are available and what fits best with your personality.


Here are some videos about time management tools:


Time Management Tools – The Action Machine

cli.gs Time Management Tools – The Action Machine Our brains love goals, big or small, because they’re built to be goal-seeking machines. Give your brain a goal, and it immediately goes to work finding ways to achieve it. Once your brain has a goal, …

3 FREE Time Management Tools To Help You Be A More Effective Boss To Yourself In Your Business

www.marcus-baker.com Would knowing about some free tools to better help you manage your time be useful? If so watch my video to learn how you can use three simple methods to keep you on track to achieving your business goals.

Time Management Tools are everything (Trapper Woods for IlearningGlobal.TV)

tinyurl.com Success is a brick by brick AZ process. So, what if someone gave you the bricks, the tools and the process? What then? tinyurl.com


Here is an article about time management tools:

Time is plainly hard to manage for a lot of people because of numerous distractions that keep them from being productive. In order to have effective time management, you need to have tools that will hopefully keep you on track and allow you to finish things that need to be done.

There are various time management tools that can be used if you want to change your bad time management habits. The most common is the pen-and-paper combination. In the world of MacBooks and Blackberry phones, carrying pen and paper around may seem ridiculous, but it really is not. Of course, gadgets are awesome but the thing is they run out of battery. Pen and paper, on the other hand, don’t. Plus, the pen and paper can easily be pocketed. And compared to pricey gadgets, no one really steals pen and paper.

Using pen and paper as your daily planner will enable you to keep tabs of anything you feel is important. These vital tools will keep your thoughts organized and will help you develop the habit of jotting things down that will eventually help you to be a better worker.

Paper will be forever reliable especially if it is in the form of sticky notes and post-it. This particular time management tools are highly effective especially if you strategically post them on an area that you actually see all the time. If you practically live in front of your computer, posting the notes on your monitor will be a great idea. You can also have sticky notes on your bedroom wall, refrigerator door or even on the cover of your favorite book.

Another tool people could use is the ever reliable planner (or organizer). Now, this is also considered “pen and paper” combination but unlike the aforementioned tools, planners are more organized and detailed. This can also be the tool where you can input the tasks that you’ve accomplished so far.

The planner can also be a constant reminder of special occasions in your life. You can easily keep tabs on your loved-ones’ birthdays, anniversaries and any other events important to your life. This way, you won’t be caught off-guard and no one in the family will be mad at you for not remembering his/her birthday.

It may sound funny or a little bit bordering OCD but having a back-up planner is another wise technique to manage your time properly. You can have one at home and one at the office. And both must be updated. If you think this is too much, you can just have your planner and your smart phone as a back-up.

The last and certainly the most important time management tools there is your health. This may seem strange to others (and perhaps to you as well) but you have to keep in mind that your body is the one that enables you to do your work. Without it, all the “ridiculous” planning and strategies to manage your time will be futile. Take care of your body for you to have enough energy to really get things done.

By simply clicking on the link below, I will give you my best reports totally for free on effective time management tips and secrets.

http://TimeManagementTutor.com


Here are some blog postings about time management tools:


Tracking Your Time: 5 Awesome Tools For Freelancers for Time …

Taimur, great to see your thoughts on these different time management tools. We’d love to know what you think of Qlockwork – it’s a time tracking app we wrote as an Outlook plug-in, so if you’re an Outlook user it’s really easy to use. …

Publish Date: 06/11/2010


15 Free Online Time Management Tools

I did some research and discovered (thanks to FreelanceSwitch.com and go2web20.net) that there are actually a ton of free online time management tools. Here’s some of the one’s that looked worth while. All should be free or in some type …

Publish Date: 08/28/2009


The 25 Best Time Management Tools & Techniques: How to Get More …

The 25 Best Time Management Tools & Techniques: How to Get More Done Without Driving Yourself Crazy. ISBN13: 9780976950608; Condition: New; Notes: BRAND NEW FROM PUBLISHER! BUY WITH CONFIDENCE, Over one million books sold! …

Publish Date: 12/07/2010

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Blackberry Software Time Management – Use Your Blackberry to Manage Your Life and Business

Sunday, November 7th, 2010

There are many tools that people can use to get a better handle on their time.  Many smartphones come with software or apps that allow them to manage their time more effectively and efficiently.  Software for Blackberry time management is available that will help you use your Blackberry cell phone to improve your life.

Here are some videos on Blackberry Time Management:

Help Me Boost My Time Management with a Smartphone Decision

www.2time-sys.com Follow me on my journey to figure out if I can improve my productivity with a decent smartphone purchase. I’m interested in real productivity, not just stuff like calling my Mom from the shower… By the end, I should be able to hel…



Here is an article on Blackberry time management called: Really Use Your Blackberry to Manage Your Life and Business

You know the scene.  Blackberry users are a loose club.  Own a Blackberry – you’re in.  When we see each other we compare notes on the best programs to add.  We all are looking for ways to make our lives faster and easier to manage.

Personally, I need to be flexible.  One moment I at my desk working on an email.  Two minutes later I’m sending a reply but now I’m down the hall or even heading for the car.  Blackberry to the rescue.

Now on my third blackberry over four years, I’ve had the chance to try lots of programs.  This is the list of the best ones that work for me.

Wall Street Journal reader for Blackberry.  Use it several times a day.  Very quick to scan headlines.  Then click for summary and click again to get the full article.  Did I say this is free!  So far they are not charging for blackberry users.  The app will send articles to anyone in your phone book, Facebook, or quick link to your email.  Also has custom search and your portfolio is automatically updated.

HP 12C Financial Calculator.  This one will cost $13.  Works perfect.  I took the basic calculator off my phone.  You can chose RPN or algebraic.  Check it out at lygea.com

Project Manager – Task List.  And fully searchable free form database.   Rexwireless offers a bunch of software solutions.  I chose two that fit my needs for flexible and detailed task and project management and another to handle all of the databases and notes I want to carry with me.  (I replaced a palmtop computer with the blackberry).  ToDoMatrix and IdeaMatrix work very well.  Most people that use them claim they are the best applications available.  They integrate well with the rest of the BB apps.  All of the data is automatically and instantly synced with the web-based versions.  So you can work on the phone or on the web.  Customer service has been incredible when needed.  They also offer enterprise level versions where the whole company can share data.  Best application on my BB, I live in these applications.  Cost is $60 each or both for $100.

Google Mobile products.  Google has several great tools.  I use some but not all.  GoogleMaps goes right on top.  Love the live traffic updates and quick searching for a place I need by just scrolling to the general area on the map and searching.  GoogleSync is critical for me to automatically back up my calendar and addressbook.  You will need a Google account, then you sync with an online calendar and addressbook.  The calendar can then be shared with staff.  Watch who takes priority with the gmail/sync.  I recommend you back up the BB databases using the desktop and cable also.  Sync works well, but is confusing until you get the preferences right.

Google also has a gmail client for the blackberry.  I use this for email sometimes.  Mostly to get email that I’ve already removed from the BB.  (I frequently delete the BB email to clear memory.)  But with gmail I can find anything for years back.

Beyond411  Quick location based and every other type of search too.  I use this as my first line of search.  Don’t have to open a browser to start searching.  Just quick type and click.  It is location based so it is great for finding a place you need close by.  It gives maps, directions, addresses and phone numbers.  Just click on the phone number and you’re making table reservations!  It also does general web searches, white pages, and 1000 more special searches so you only get the type of responses you want.  It’s free and used a lot.  Faster than calling 411 and let me it say it again,  FREE. You can find it at thebogles.com.

eOffice.  Recently paid the money so I could write Microsoft Word docs and Excel spreadsheets.  $30.00 Dynoplex offers this.  It is difficult to use though.  Email or Tweet me for an update on how I resolve issues in being fully mobile with office tools.

What are your favorite apps?  Just let me know.

Steve Scott is a CEO-for-Hire and CEO Confidential Advisor based in California. After 25 years improving bottom line performance as senior management (several times CEO), six acquisitions, several turnarounds and raising a few hundred million he know what he speaks about. Get Steve’s insight on critical issues for CEOs and board members at http://blog.ceocomplete.com Connect to Steve at http://linkedin.com/in/stvscott


Here are some blog posts on Blackberry Time Management:

Construction Time Management via BlackBerry Smartphones

Buckner Steel Erection uses Blackberrys and AboutTime Technologies’ mobile time management application to control all time tracking at job sites , replacing a solution that was handled completely on paper timesheets. …

Publish Date: 10/09/2010


Powerful time management with SBSH Calendar on Blackberry bold …

Turn your BlackBerry into a powerful time management system. Enjoy innovative and compelling tools far beyond the default BlackBerry tools that will help you.

Publish Date: 09/23/2010


BlackBerry Apps for Time Management

In this article we have outlined the five best BlackBerry software time management applications available on these smartphones. These applications range in price from free to $60.00 for a one-time download.

Publish Date: 09/02/2010


Blackberry – Effective Tool for Time Management | IFRS training in …

Blackberry – Effective Tool for Time Management Article written by CWA, CA, CS Rammohan N Bhave with 29 years industrial experience in India and overseas. E -mail: mohanbhave@gmail.com. BLACKBERRY AS A TOOL …

Publish Date: 09/28/2010

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Top 7 Productivity and Time Management Apps For The iPhone

Wednesday, August 18th, 2010

The iPhone and other smart phones are now pretty much the norm instead of the exception.  The reason why they took off is because of their flexibility and power in what they can accomplish.  One type of app that is taking off are productivity and time management type of apps.  The iPhone is perfect for these types of apps because if it’s ease of interfacing with other programs.  In this article, the author discusses several different task management, finance and other productivity type apps. This is a good list to start from.  I haven’t used any of these apps myself, but I know where to start in terms of checking out some good programs for my phone.  The descriptions give you enough to know if you want to follow up and get more info or not.

The iPhone is now an iconic smart phone. Even though having one doesn’t mean what it meant before (that you’re unique, smart, rich, etc.), it is still a great tool to have. Aside from the obvious functions like calling, sending and receiving messages, taking photos and listening to music, you can do a lot of other useful things like surf the Web, read your emails, watch videos, stream live footage to the Internet, edit documents and manage your tasks and projects.

All of this is possible thanks to the huge collection of applications on the iTunes marketplace. There are currently over one hundred thousand apps, all checked to comply with Apple’s strict quality standards, so you can be sure there are no cookie cutter, useless or spammy applications there.

Apple will be releasing the new, fourth generation iPhone, anytime now, and the device promises to be even better than its predecessors, with a bigger screen, faster processor, new form factor and an improved operating system that supports multi tasking, among other things. Because of this, you can be sure that the iPhone platform will continue to exist for many more years and will not fade away like others (Windows Mobile, Palm, Sony Clie and others).

The apps on the marketplace allow you to do pretty much everything you might want to do on a computing device, including managing your time and work. Here are some of the best iPhone apps that will increase your productivity and help you manage your life better:

Mint. Mint.com has always been a leading service in personal finance management tools. Their iPhone application is a great addition to the collection. It allows you to track your expenses and income, create budgets and otherwise manage your money on the go, straight from your iPhone. All you need to do is get a free Mint.com account and set up all your bank accounts information. Then you will be well on your way to a better and faster way of managing your finances, which will undoubtedly increase your productivity.

Things. Things is one of the most popular task management application for the iPhone, and for good reasons. It has a lot of useful and advanced features that will help you manage anything from your daily To Do tasks to small and medium sized projects. The interface is very nice and clean, and the whole application is easy to use right from the moment you install it. You can also use it as a note taking app, as you can take audio, image and text notes and attach them to a certain task or project, which is very useful.

ReQall. This application is basically an extension of your memory for your iPhone. You can use it to take any kind of notes, from text to video and drawings and store them for future references. There is an easy to use tagging system to help you organize and find anything you need. You can also use the application to create To Do lists and set up various reminders for all kinds of tasks. You will need a free ReQall account, as everything is tied in with it, but once you’ve set it up, you’ll also have the ability to view all of your information from any other computer, using any web browser.

eWallet. eWallet is probably the only application you’ll ever need for storing and sensitive information and files on your iPhone, safely encrypted with the best security possible. You can use it for credit card numbers, travel information and tickets, any files, personal bank accounts data, usernames and passwords and any other things. The app uses a practically unbreakable 256 bit encryption for everything and the only key is the password you set.

YouNote. YouNote is a great all around iPhone application that allows you to take any kind of notes (text, video, audio, drawings, bookmarks, pictures, etc.) and store them for later viewing or reference. You can also tag them so it is very easy to find what you need, even if you have thousands of notes saved in the memory. You also have the pretty unique ability to save bookmarks of pages, videos or pictures with your own notes attached to them (sort of like a note for a note), so you can remember why you saved that information in the first place.

PayPal Mobile. PayPal is used by over 250 million people worldwide, and over 100 million people in the US. You can’t create a site that sells anything and not have PayPal as a method of payment, as you’d be simply losing too many potential customers. PayPal is faster and safer, that’s why people use it. Their official application for the iPhone allows you to (finally) send and receive money quickly and easily on the go and manage your account, including pay lists and transactions.

E-Trade Mobile. E-Trade Mobile is the dream application for any stock market trader that needs to travel or just get outside (don’t laugh, sometimes traders stay for months in the house, staring at the monitor trying to make more money). With this application, you can trade like a Wall Street professional straight from your iPhone, wherever you are. Of course, you’ll need a very stable Internet connection, but the simple fact that you can finally get away from your computer means a lot for many traders.

Of course, the above list of applications is just the tip of the iceberg, and there are dozens, if not hundreds more application on the marketplace that can fit your needs perfectly. The above are some of the most popular and most liked iPhone apps, but maybe you need something more advanced, simple or specific. If that is the case, don’t hesitate to search the iTunes marketplace for the keywords you want (for example, “cash register application”, there is a good app for that, and it’s called Square).

“And now I would like to invite you to see more invaluable information on iPhone apps at http://bestiphone2u.com

From Craig Thornburrow – An owner and big fan of the iPhone 4″

More on Time management iphone apps:


HowStuffWorks DailyStuff –

What factors define a true recession? 5 Time Management Apps for the iPhone. Posted: Time management is considered to be both a science and art. But can a few simple iPhone time management apps really help you make better use of your …

Publish Date: 08/30/2008




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The Stephen Covey Time Management Matrix

Tuesday, August 10th, 2010

The time management matrix of Stephen Covey is from his 7 Habits of Highly Successful People.  This book has been one of the cornerstones in personal development and success strategies.  His matrix allows the individual who uses it to easily see where they are spending their time so they can make adjustments.  The matrix is the easy part, categorizing your tasks may not be as easy.  Read on for more of  Stephen Covey’s grid for the management of time.

The Time Management Matrix is from The Seven Habits of Highly Effective People by Steven Covey. This book saved my sanity. I found myself daily getting sidetracked and diverted from my To Do list by what everyone else thought was the top priority. It was their priority, of course, not mine, and I had a bad habit of wanting to please everyone. So what happens is that the last person to hand you a “priority” gets bumped to the top of the list. If you don’t set your own priorities, you will be tossed like a bottle on the sea. Stephen Covey simplified it immensely with his 4 quadrants in the Time Management Matrix.

Quadrant I Activities: URGENT + IMPORTANT

Crises

Pressing Problems

Deadline-driven projects

Quadrant II Activities: NOT URGENT but IMPORTANT

Prevention

Planning

Relationship building

Recognizing new opportunities

Values clarification

True recreation

Not Important

Quadrant III Activities: URGENT and NOT IMPORTANT

Interruptions, some calls

Some mail, some reports

Some meetings

Proximate, pressing matters

Popular Activities

Quadrant IV Activities: NOT URGENT and NOT IMPORTANT

Trivia, busy work

Some mail

Some phone calls

Time wasters

Pleasant activities

Covey says that many of us spend most of our timein Quadrant IV and almost no time in Quadrant II.

Consider the activities shown in each quadrant:

I. URGENT and IMPORTANT

Clearly, these activities should take first priority. However, your long term goal should be to reduce time spent here by prevention, preparation, etc. (see Quadrant II).

II. NOT URGENT but IMPORTANT

The key to success in gaining control of your time priorities is to focus on activities in this quadrant. If you are currently doing very little here, begin by carving out a small amount of time each day and building on it.

III. URGENT and NOT IMPORTANT

Many of us get trapped by other people’s sense of urgency telling us what is important. Allowing your priorities to fall here can result in a frenzied rush to get “things” done, followed by a sense of emptiness and lack of satisfaction.

IV. NOT URGENT and NOT IMPORTANT

Obviously, minimize time spent in activities in this quadrant.

I wish you luck with this and warn you that you have to be ever vigilant about it. There will always be someone who wants to revise your priorities

Be sure to visit my blog for more articles like this. Leadership Fundamentals. Read how I started my blog: http://homebusiness.about.com/u/sty/blogs/work-at-home-business-blogs/WordPress-Blog-on-Management.htm

More on Time Management Matrix:

Priority Matrix (Time Management) – Share the knowledge that I gain

Time management experts have developed a model called a time management matrix or Priority Matrix. This model helps us prioritize our activities and use our time more effectively. Through the model we can evaluate our activities in …

Publish Date: 05/14/2010

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Planning Your Free Time Management Tools

Thursday, July 8th, 2010

There are a lot of time management tools that can be used to really make someone more efficient with their time.  Some of these tools are free and some of them are paid, or cost money.  This article discusses some of the free time management tools that are out there and how to set them up to be effective for you.  Read on for more as you hear about Google calendar, Joe’s Goal Tracker and more.

You’re about to learn to take control of your time and really get things done. Some people would fuss around things undone because they don’t have enough time to do so. But, do they really have not enough time? Or they just don’t know how to utilize their own schedule. This is where time management butt in in order to get things done by making most out of your time.

Time management is the issue here. It is the art of planning, organizing, prioritizing, and controlling one’s time for the purpose of utilizing more effective work and productivity. Time management is not just for any particular person or for any particular position. Time management is crucial for everyone- for students, professionals and non-professionals, and for homemakers.

The very key to a successful time management is planning. You must have the commitment to change, as well as, the commitment to take that into action. Figure out exactly what you are doing, what needs to be done, and what should not be done in an orderly manner.

Before anything else, time management involves setting your goals and implement those goals into organized actions. You have to concentrate on the results rather than the feeling of being busy. Condition yourself and your environment.

As a rule of thumb, to effectively utilize what you are planning to do you should take note that your outcomes are far greater than your causes. This applies on the 80:20 Principle. the 20 percent input would result into a 4-folded output!

Just be creative in finding and introducing different ways to do things. Find efforts, to see and assess what activities are most important, which activities are urgent,and which are not. One of the best example is managing emails and phone calls. Instead of letting them manage you, check at planned times and avoid continuous notifications.

Manage your environment as a whole. Especially that there are new systems, tools and technology available for a much more convenient way to generate efficiency and effective management of your time.

There are lots of free time management tools in the Internet available to help you with your time effectively. The simplest method is the To Do Lists. Be it on a computer-based, online or not, or paper-based system, writing all the things you need to do in a daily basis and then prioritizing them, will make you much better organized and reliable.

Google has also their own calendar offered for free. It is generally a free-time management web application that can synchronize with your mobile devices and integrate with other Google services. One feature is the SMS updating that allows users to create and check new information via SMS.

Google calendar is one time management tool that Google has stored for everyone for free! Events are stored online where you can keep track anywhere you go. An offline access feature lets you view a read-only version of your calendar so that you will know where and what to do even when you don’t have an Internet access.

Another helpful web application is Joe’s Goal Tracker. It is a simple, sleek way to trace your progress on achieving positive targets, while avoiding negative ones, online. It is much like a web-based version of a personal guideline. With Joe’s Goals you get a point for every goal you achieve and lose a point for each bad habit.

Joe’s Goal Tracker is one tool that tracks your activities by adding daily notes explaining your experiences. It is use to record your thoughts, track your spending, watch your health, and track your dreams and inspirations. Kind of an online reminder and diary in one!

Remember the yellow stick-on notes in computers, desks, and boards? There is a computer-based stick-on notes called Stickies that does more likely with the Post-it notes sticking in your screens. It is your computer-base to-do-list with alarms that reminds you of the things you opt to do.

If you are the visual-type of person that works well with Post-it reminders, then Stickies is for you. It sticks on your PC which allows you to be constantly reminded of your daily tasks.

Actually, there are lots of free online time management tools available. Opting for a manual tool is up to the you whichever is convenient. It is important to find a system that is base on your liking toward a more effective use of your time.

With options available for free time management tools online, you just got to do the basics- plan, organize, prioritize, implement, and self-discipline. With just this simple routine, no paper- or software-based tool can top it all. Because it is all up to you!

Manage your life with FREE Time Management Tools and learn more on the secrets of time management.

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Top 10 Free Time Management Tools for Freelancers | Ajeva

Is it about managing yourself or your time? Whichever it is, we give you the top 10 time management tools for freelancers. The best thing is that they’re all free!

Publish Date: 06/08/2010 8:00

http://blog.ajeva.com/2010/06/top-10-free-time-management-tools-for-freelancers/


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Tracking Your Time – How to Do It

Sunday, July 4th, 2010

One of the things about time management is knowing where you spend your time.  When you know where you spend your time, you can track your time much more effectively.  There are many tools available to allow you to track your time effectively.  You should pick one that works best within your style because if you have to change a lot to use it, chances are, it won’t be permanent because you will stop using it.  So be thoughtful in picking your time tracking system.  In this article, it gives one way that you can track your time.

Time tracking is a big problem for many of the people especially for those who are in the profession of freelancing or content writers. It is important to keep a record with time to fulfill the needs of your clients. Freelancing is coming up with a great urge in these days. The demand for them is increasing day by day. A good freelancer is always that who know how to keep track with his/her time. It is not an easy task to cope with. It needs some solid effort before you can able to keep a track with your time.

Freelancing becomes more difficult when you are a mobile freelancer. Mobile freelancer means that you have to work on more than on computers or multiple computers and you can be work from anywhere, you need not to stick to one place to do your work. In that case time tracking become even more difficult. But there is no need to worry; there are many web based time trackers available on internet. But always go for simple, easy to use and rather cheap time trackers.

Hereunder are given some of the best time tracker tools, but remember they are not free and best things are often never free.

Toggl (www.toggle.com)

It has a nice and simple interface and most importantly it is free. It is an efficient time management tool. It has both a web and a downloadable for version for windows user only. It is a helpful tool for freelancers that keep the exact track of your time.

It is very simple and slick interface. It is easy and fast to use. It is a web-based interface and can be used on nay browser or operating system.

It is a professional package. Harvest is web application so can be used from anywhere. It works well for teams, it contains project estimates and also some reports. It is also a paid application and you have to become the membership of harvest first. It has package plan from free to premium.

Cashboard is not as simple as the above three applications. A bit complex but comprehensive application. It has a perfect time tracking system, and also it includes; producing and tracking invoices, keeping track of accounts and clients, producing estimates, and much more.

It is quite an old interface as compared to above interfaces. But it is capable of doing its job well. It can be more useful if it is used with invoicing software. It is also a web based application.

Ya Timer (www.nbdtech.com)

Ya timer is a downloadable desktop application which is not available on web. It is the simplest of all and has a very simple interface with lot of options. It is best for basic needs. it has a interface with zoom option to help the users.

There are many Time trackers available over Internet but you should be very careful choosing the right Time Tracker that fulfills your needs.

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Top Time Tracking Tools and Tips | Office Technology | OfficeArrow

When managing employees, it’s often helpful to have time tracking tools at your disposal. On a day-to-day level, it allows you to see who is being productive and who isn’t, and makes employees feel more accountable regarding their …

Publish Date: 04/22/2010



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What are the Benefits of Using a Time Management Planner?

Wednesday, June 9th, 2010

Time management is a big idea for business owners and entrepreneurs.  Using time management techniques will allow businesses to get a better handle on their important business tasks which will allow them to be more efficient.  In this article, the author discusses using a time management planner and the benefits it creates for the business owner.  Read on for more.


Time Management is essential for all of us as human beings. We all wish to achieve something in life and the best way to do it is to approach it in a systematic and organized manner. Using a planner is a great way of managing time and reminding you of the important tasks that are pending and need to be attended to. What are the other benefits of a time management planner? Read on to find out.

Increases your Productivity

With a planner, you find yourself working more efficiently, and your productivity increases. You are able to do a lot more without spending too much effort on it. By keeping a tab of your appointments and tasks you did in a certain day, it helps you check where you lost and where you managed to gain some time for yourself. Since it is all down in black and white in front of you, you are able to get a clear picture of exactly how your time is being utilized.

Creates a Balance in Your Life

Yet another benefit that you get with your time management planner is that you are able to make some balance in your life. Poor organization of time leaves you with inadequate time for both your personal and professional life.

Since you are unable to fulfill either commitment well, you are left feeling dissatisfied. With a planner, you are able to see exactly what you are doing on which day, and there is no danger of personal and professional events clashing with each other. This way, you are able to enjoy both in their rightful places.

Reduces Your Stress Level

When things don’t go according to plan, or work doesn’t move according to schedule, you can become stressed out. If you are forever running behind one task or the other and completing them all in one go at the last minute, your stress levels are bound to sky rocket. Increased stress can lead to other problems like insomnia, weight gain, and lack of focus.

With a time management planner, you know what you have to achieve and what the corresponding deadline is. At a glance you are able to tell what is due when. With a planner, you can reclaim control of your life, and not just watch it spinning out of control.

Look at some time management techniques.

Victor Ghebre is the editor of Settinggoals101.com where you get practical tips and information on goal setting, motivation, leadership and more.


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Time Management Tools For Getting A Handle On The Laundry

Wednesday, June 2nd, 2010

Well this is an interesting take on time management.  I guess you can find someplace to save time in just about any situation!  In this article, the author talks about how to save time doing the laundry.  Of course using all of the tips requires having a specific type of lifestyle, unless you can find some spare preschoolers around.  Anyway, read on for more on how to save time ding the laundry, as well as why it is important to not skip this aspect of your life in terms of saving time. Read on for more.


Summer is quickly approaching. Who wants to spend so much time dealing with the laundry that accumulates from all those summer activities your family will be participating in? Whether the kids go to camp or hang out with family and friends, there is lots of extra laundry. Bathing suits, towels, shirts with ice cream spilled on them, grass stains – you get the idea. Who has the time?

There are ways that you can deal with all that laundry and still have time to enjoy the summer but you need to carve out some time to do it.

First, instead of doing all the laundry over the weekend, break it down into small tasks that can be undertaken throughout the week. You can create a schedule to divide up different types of loads on certain days. For example, darks on Mondays, whites on Wednesdays, towels on Thursdays, sheets on Fridays. This way, you are doing just one load a day.

You can sort the clothes in the morning, put a load in the washer in the morning before you leave for work. When you get home from work, put that load into the dryer before dinner. After dinner, fold the load and put it away. Begin the same process the next day.

Ask your children to help you out. You’re thinking, yeah right! Well, it’s possible. Just make sure the task is age appropriate.

Preschoolers can help you sort by color and gather items off the floor. Once they enter grade school, they can take on more responsibility. Consider listing a some laundry reminders above their hamper. For example, “Turn Your clothes right-side out before throwing them in here”; “Check your pockets”. When the kids are older, you can give them a pre-treatment product like Stain Stick to keep near their hamper and ask them to treat both sides of the stained garment right away. This will save you a step when you are doing the wash, and the sooner the better when it comes to getting those stains out.

You can save time when running the washer and dryer. Try using the shorter cycle on your washer. The light setting is best when clothes are lighter in fabric and not “heavily soiled”. This cycle runs for only 6 to 8 minutes. If doing more than one load at a time, keep the dryer running from one load to another. Because the dryer is already heated up, subsequent loads will dry faster. Start with the lighter weight clothes and end with heavier items like jeans. Also, don’t overload or under load the dryer. Filling it half way is optimal for maximum efficiency.

In order to cut down on the amount of time you need to spend ironing, be sure to untangle the clothes before throwing them in the dryer. Then, remove your clothes promptly from the dryer. If they have been laying in the dryer for a while, turn the dryer onto a low setting, adding a damp cloth, just to get the wrinkles out.

In order to avoid creating large piles of clean clothes, divide them up so each member of the household has their own basket. Then, fold them, hang them and put them away, right away! If you hate folding, and you have sufficient room, hang up most of your clothes. Have empty hangers available in the front of your closet to save time.

Using these tips will help you save lots of time when dealing with your laundry. So, get out there and enjoy your Summer!

Audrey Cupo is a full time professional organizer and the owner of “A Better Space” based in Bucks County, PA. Aside from writing articles, several blogs, and a monthly newsletter, Audrey provides in-home organizing services and has a full line of “U Can Do It”products as based upon the strageties she has used for herself for over 25 years as well as her years of experience setting up personalized organizing systems for her clients. Visit her website at http://www.4abetterspace.com to learn more.


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