The Best Time Management Tools

Some of the best time management tools are simple and inexpensive. There's even a really great online FREE time management tool that I love!

Although time management is pretty much a product of how effectively you plan and balance the activities in your life, there are plenty of tools and resources that can help you do it better.

Below are a few of the tools that can help you save time and become more focused:

Planner or date book. Getting focused is often just a matter of creating a clear step-by-step system to organize the tasks you need to do each day. Planners are great tools, but even a dollar-store notebook can help you stay organized. Just keep a to do list of your daily chores and obligations and then check them off as you finish them.

Dry erase calendar. This is one of my favorite tools. It gives you the big picture of what you need to accomplish over a week or a month. You need to hang it in a location that you frequently pass such as the kitchen or a hallway. Mark down all family members important activities and tasks from your children's extracurricular activities to your own plans, as well as doctor and dentist's appointments, your dog's vet visit and any special events, etc. There's no paper wasted here as you just erase each function from the calendar once it has passed.

Software programs with reminders and alarms. There are tons of email programs and organizational software out there today. Most of them have settings that will remind you of any important events you have coming up. You can set up a schedule that will remind you of birthdays and anniversaries as well as program them to send you notes of encouragement from yourself.

Use a reminder service. Here's another one of my favorites especially since it's free! You create a free account, set dates and tasks you want to remember and they send you notification by email on the dates and times that you indicate. It's a real handy tool, especially if you tend to overbook yourself. You can search the Internet for "reminder services" or use the one I use at www.memotome.com. This is one of the best time management tools that I have come across.

Mini-recorder. A good habit to get into is to carry a mini digital recorder with you or a small notepad and pen. Use it to record any ideas or plans you might come up with to save yourself some time later. It's perfect for when you find yourself stuck in a line-up, when you wake up in the middle of the night with that perfect idea to make some extra cash or just when you're in the middle of a traffic jam. You can also use it to remind yourself to pick up the dry cleaning, what you need to pick up from the store on your way home or any ideas that just hit you from out of the blue.

Outsourcing services. There are so many services that you can outsource these days and they are not as expensive as you may think. Housecleaning, yard work, dog walking, grocery shopping are but a few of the services that you can outsource. By allowing others to do some of the chores and obligations that take up too much time you will gain increased time for other more important and profitable tasks as well as gift yourself with some peace of mind.

As simple as some of the best time management tools may seem, they can go a long way in helping to balance your life. When you take the time to simplify your daily schedule you are creating a life that leads to less stress and more peace of mind!

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