Time Management Part 3
Many people start with the tool, but I believe the tool should be an extension of your habit of managing your time. It should not be a starting point. Even if you have a tool you love, it’s always good to periodically look at new tools since technology is always evolving. I’m still using a FranklinCovey planner and this year I’m transitioning to an electronic planner. My iPhone fits in my purse and it’s always with me. My planner is not. I’m going through the pains of forming new habits and breaking old ones.
Start Cheap
Don’t buy anything fancy. Use the free note app on your smartphone to make notes regarding appointments and tasks. Use the calendar as well. I use Evernote, which is a free app on the iPhone. They also have a desktop version.
If you don’t have a smartphone, you can buy a cheap Mead notebook or calendar. I had a college professor that used Hallmark’s free calendar as a planner. It fit perfectly in his shirt pockets. Yeah, he had tiny writing.
Graduate to something more sophisticated
You can stay cheap and download some free apps. Or you can buy a planner that suits your needs. I’ve been in a FranklinCovey Planner for about 10 years, before that I was into Day Runner (it fit my budget better). Before Day Runner, during the college years, I used At-A-Glace planner (weekly) you can get at any college bookstore or office supply store. For 18 years regardless of the brand, I always viewed a week at a time. 2 years ago, my life got so full that I switched to Franklin’s daily pages inserts. That was a huge adjustment.
And now online calendars or other apps have color-coding; that lack of using different colors is what prevented me from using an electronic planner years ago.
If time management is not your forte do not spend any money until you have developed habits discussed in part 1 and part 2.
Some Cool Tools
- Google Calendar
- Calendars – Google calendar iPhone app;
- g-Cal – iPhone App
- Evernote
- Nozbe (To-do list)
- Remember the Milk (To-Do List)
Planners:
- At A Glance – got me through college (grad and undergrad)
- Day Runner
- FranklinCovey Planner
- FranklinCovey Apps – for iPhone