Just about everyone I know has an issue with time, mainly, there is just not enough of it. I have assembled a collection of 6 time management tools for you to check out in hopes that you will find 1 or 2 that changes your time deficit into a more acceptable situation.
They are listed in no particular order of importance or effectiveness, as each would depend on your situation and needs. I will provide just a brief description for each but feel free to check into these if you have a need for better time management, and who doesn’t? 
You must have a Google account to use this and you are all set if you do.
Google Calendar is a nice time management tool with some decent features. If you have an iPhone or Blackberry, you can use Goosync to marry this with your phone. I suspect that this will work on other Smartphones as well, but can confirm the iphone and Blackberry.
2. Evernote
Great tool for sorting out your daily life. So much to like about this tool, like the ability to search, tag and share things. You can use it on your desktop, web or mobile device. Definitely check this out if you have not already.
I have not used this one as yet and only checked it out briefly a few weeks ago, but it comes highly recommended by quite a few of my friends who use it regularly, including @MikeCJ who first mentioned it to me. Now do not be fooled by this plain name, this thing has a powerhouse of features including access from anywhere, mobile phones included and updates to Google’s Calender and iGoogle. You can make lists, tags or organize in a number of ways. There is also a map feature that shows you where certain tasks are located.
I’ve been stuck on Evernote but plan to test drive this real soon.
4. Stickies
For visual reminders you may want to look at Stickies by Zhorn Software. Many people respond very well with this electronic version of the Post-It note, which goes back quite a ways in the computer world.
You can store text and images, snap the Stickies together and perform a host of other tasks. This package has won quite a few awards over the years.
5. Mind 42 (Mind For Two)
While poking around the net, I came across this very nice Mind Mapping tool. I know the topic is Time Management Tools but this is a two-fer. Not only can you create mind maps and add images but this also allows you to add notes and reminders. I see this as a fine tool for helping you generate some post ideas (which saves time) while incorporating some reminders as well. It is also great for collaborative projects. Hey, a free mind mapping tool and reminder rolled into one.
6. RescueTime
This service claims to recover nearly 4 hours weekly per person by monitoring how you use your time online. It tracks the active site in use only. A small application (Windows or MAC) runs in the background and monitors whichever window is active or on top. I have placed a short 1 minute video below that explains the process, which seems plain and simple enough.
This is not some “Big Brother” super-snooper type of program, as you will learn from the video. This could be a handy tool for measuring how you are spending your time online. I see this as only a temporary service to help you adjust your time resource accordingly.
RescueTime Time Tracking Overview from Tony Wright on Vimeo.
Conclusion
What’s important is that you find some means of utilizing your time more efficiently. Any time gained may be used toward other projects or the all important scheduled down time. Blogging is busy work as you know, so it is important to get in some time away and recharge your energy.
So let’s hear from you, have you used any time management tools or methods and if so, what were they and what were your results?
30 Responses to 6 Time Management Tools To Help With Your Efficiency
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6 Time Management Tools To Help With Your Efficiency | Jimi Jones Dot Com…
…a collection of 6 time management tools for you to check out in hopes that you will find 1 or 2 that changes your time deficit into a more acceptable situation….
I use most of the tools above. For me the best of all though is the daily task list I write out on paper!
Each evening I list out the jobs I want to do the next day – often taken from Remember the Milk – onto a pad, and order them by importance. I then start at the top and keep working on each task until I can cross it out. Simple, but effective.
.-= Mike CJ´s last blog ..First forays into making money from a blog =-.
Mike that writing on paper deal is so old school…
which is why I continue to do the same.
I love the technology tools but writing helps you remember. I must make time to try that RTM you mentioned some time ago. Lots of people use it and give good reviews.
.-= Jimi Jones´s last blog ..6 Time Management Tools To Help With Your Efficiency =-.
I’m like Mike, paper lists seem to be the most effective for me.
I like Stickies! I have been meaning to install them on my laptop, but keep forgetting. Thanks for the link!
My husband uses Evernote, Remember the Milk, Google Calender and Stickies on a daily basis. All very good tools!
.-= Erica Mueller´s last blog ..Win a Makeover for You, and Your Twitter Profile {CoverGirl Giveaway} =-.
I really like Evernote but also keep the old pad and paper handy. There is something about actually writing things that helps you remember. Now… where did I put that pad?
.-= Jimi Jones´s last blog ..6 Time Management Tools To Help With Your Efficiency =-.
Jimi, I use a few of those above. I have never used a mind mapping tool – in case I found mine – but I shall give that a whirl, and the stickies. I have now given up on Remember the Milk now that I can map Google Calendar and my Symbian phone using GoogaSync. Maybe iof RTM created a service for Symbian instead of some of these fringe platforms like iPhone and Blackberry I might be more forgiving
.-= Kevin Tea´s last blog ..Don’t Be Afraid Of Twitter – Tools To Beat The Bird Into Submission =-.
LOL – “fringe platforms…” Kevin, you are too funny.
I tried that mind mapping tool and I thought it was pretty good actually, rivaling some that I have seen as a paid product.
Now if I had something to map, I’d be dangerous.
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Hey Jimi,
This is a good list of how I can manage my time. I need to seriously get a handle on my time. I don’t use any of these gadgets, I’m a pen and paper gal, but as much as I’m on the web, these time management gadgets would definitely come in handy.
Take care!
.-= Evelyn´s last blog ..Time For Spring Cleaning =-.
Hi Evelyn.
Pen and paper will always be the old stand-by, I continue to use that as well, but I do love the use of a nice electronic tool as well. Between the two I tend to memorize quite a bit of what I had planned to do.
You may find that the right tool will keep you on a decent schedule and not allow too much time to be wasted, pulling you off course from what you really need to be doing.
.-= Jimi Jones´s last blog ..6 Time Management Tools To Help With Your Efficiency =-.
Thanks for this Jimi. I have read some good reviews on Evernote.
My problem is this, finding time to fill in these tools. Kinda sounds like a cop-out I know.
At the moment i use combination of Outlook and Excel
.-= Robert Bravery´s last blog ..Carnival of Blogging – February 22, 2010 edition =-.
If you have something that’s working well for you I would stay with it. Maybe check out something new if time allows just to keep pace with some of the newer approaches.
.-= Jimi Jones´s last blog ..6 Time Management Tools To Help With Your Efficiency =-.
Great list Jimi, I just found out about evernote and like it. And I have been trying to follow Mike CJ suggestion of writing 6 things down the night before and that is working well. I think it is more about getting things done then time management. Keep a small pad of paper by your phone or wallet for writing things down. I am a list maker, I could spend all day making a “New” list and not get anything done, just ask my wife. Keep writing and helping.
Hi Tad.
I knew I needed a better plan then and started mapping things out beforehand.
Having a list for the next day, even if incomplete, at least gets you rolling right away. I can remember some mornings having so much to do, I sat for hours trying to figure out where to start.
I also set quite a few reminders on my Blackberry, sort of a nudge to get it done type of thing.
.-= Jimi Jones´s last blog ..6 Time Management Tools To Help With Your Efficiency =-.
Wow Jimi so many of these I hadn’t heard of. Don’t know that I will check them all out by any means but there is a couple that I will. Thanks
.-= Lees Shizzle´s last blog ..Metamorphosis of Your Blog ~~ Butterflies Are Free to Fly =-.
Hi Lee.
Hopefully you’ll find 1 or 2 that will help you manage your time. These can be pretty handy but you have to match the right tool to your particular style and circumstance.
.-= Jimi Jones´s last blog ..Brand Building with Twitter =-.
I currently use RescueTime and discovered a ‘don’t report this time’ button, which skew he accuracy o my time waste a little bit. I am still recording my progress and plan to report on it in a few weeks.
I just enrolled in Evernotes, one because it has an elephant as a logo and they are my mascot, but also becuase it looks like a tool to keep all the great items I see online in order.
Great post Jimi!
.-= Ms. Freeman´s last blog ..New!!! Guest Blogger Create-a-Post =-.
That’s good that you are tracking your time, Ms. Freeman. Even with the toggle button for not counting some of it, you will still get an idea of time invested. I’d be interested to know how that works out for you over a period of time. Makes for a good blog post (hint, hint).
Elephant fan – They are a symbol of good luck I’m told, except when you’re under their foot. LOL
Thanks and glad you liked the post.
.-= Jimi Jones´s last blog ..Benefits of Social Media for Bloggers =-.
If you’d like a tool for managing your time and projects, you can use this application inspired by David Allen’s GTD:
http://www.Gtdagenda.com
You can use it to manage and prioritize your goals, projects and tasks, set next actions and contexts, use checklists, schedules and a calendar.
Comes with a mobile version too, and with an Android app.
Hi Dan.
Thanks for that. I’m not at all familiar with this app. As I am always interested in new tools or better methods of doing things, I will check it out.
.-= Jimi Jones´s last blog ..Elements of Branding =-.
Hi Jimi,
Useful list, thank you.
At one stage I used Remember the Milk, and I really liked it but found it frustrating not to always have it available, and reverted to good old pen-and-paper. But I recently succumbed to the lure of buying an iPhone, so I’m tempted to go back to an electronic version as I’ll likely have it with me all the time. So I’ll be checking out what iPhone offerings there are for both RtM and Evernote.
I also wanted to let you know about Qlockwork (full disclosure – I’m doing some work with the company that produce it). But if you’re PC-based and use Outlook, then Qlockwork’s a really, really easy way to automatically track all your PC activities. Finding out how long you’re spending on particular projects (or how much time you’re wasting on Facebook!) can be a real eye-opener and alert you to ways of working more efficiently.
Hello Liz.
The ole pen and paper will never be replaced. LOL
I do love automation and the many web 2.0 tools available today.
Not at all familiar with Qlockwork but will check it out to see what it has to offer and how beneficial it may be for users. Sounds similar to rescue Time in some respects, but it will be interesting to learn more about it.
Enjoy that new iPhone and thanks for visiting.
Hope to see you here again.
.-= Jimi Jones´s last blog ..Measuring the Power of the ReTweet =-.
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Hi Jimi, I started using Evernote recently, they have a Chrome extension for that one too. I'll have to investigate more of the features to see how it can help me with time management. Thanks for sharing the other resources.
Evernote is a favorite of mine. I have yet to install the Chrome extension but soon will since I've been using Chrome more these days.
Thanks for visiting!
I enjoy reading the blog 6 Time Management Tools To Help With Your Efficiency. It made me remember how I was not able to manage my time a year ago. But now, of course, I properly manage my time well with the help of evernote. Thank you evernote!
Hello Miguel.
Evernote is one powerful tool for keeping thing organized, it has certainly helped me quite a bit. Life is still a challenge with regards to time, but having tools are a necessity which makes thing much better than they otherwise may be.
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