Time Management Tools

Time is always running out and we always seem to have too much to do. As a busy mom of three girls, my calendar stays full with school functions, soccer practice, church events... The list goes on and on...

Here are a list of five tools I have found that can assist with better time management: 

Google Calendar: 

I have enjoyed having this one. As I add events to my calendar on my iphone, it also creates a Google calendar event. Not only can I set an alarm to go off on my phone to remind me of the event, I can also have a reminder emailed to me!

Outlook Calendar reminders: 

Currently, my school system uses Outlook as its email platform. Although they are getting ready to make the switch to Google, using Outlook calendar reminders have been useful. I am able to create a meeting and send out a calendar reminder to all those involved. I can also view the information by the month, week or day. Meeting invitees can accept or decline the meeting online. Right now, our entire school's activity calendar is contained in Outlook Calendar. (Which is informative, but can make things a bit cluttered.)

Remember the Milk: 

If you are struggling to manage everything you have to do and you work with many different devices, this app is for you. It is a great free tool which is compatible with your mobile, computer, Gmail, outlook, etc. It helps you to manage your tasks easily and reminds you of them wherever you are.

Evernote: 

According to their website, "From short lists to lengthy research, no matter what form your writing takes, Evernote keeps you focused on moving those ideas from inspiration to completion." 

Evernote is a free productivity tool that allows you to capture all your ideas, thoughts and images in many different ways, eg with voice, notes or images.  You can even record your meetings, interviews, speeches and ideas, create lists, add voice or text attachments and share your files with friends. Now you can also sync Remember The Milk with Evernote to really optimize your time.

Toggl: 

This is a great alternative to time-sheets if you need to track how much time you spend on different projects. Effective time management starts with being clear on exactly how much time you actually spend on your projects and tasks, and then analyze how you can manage them more effectively. The website touts its program stating, "Insanely simple time tracking. Toggle kills timesheets." The catch is, unlike these other programs, Toggl isn't free. The regular subscription is $5/month.