Four Electronic Tools For Better Time Management

We live in a society that's now filled to the brim with electronic gadgets, being improved and added to all the time. However we very rarely harness their many utilities and functions to help our time management.

Losing track of time (or losing track of what you are meant to be doing in an allocated time slot) is a common feature of bad time management. Ever found yourself slapping your forehead in dismay as you mutter "oh sorry, I just completely forgot!". We need constant reminders to keep us on track (unless you happen to be blessed with an excellent memory AND time management skills).

Here are four electronic devices that can help you do just that.

1. Alarm Clock

Before you laugh, think about it...most of us have one, so we know we need them to be on time. Yet how many of us reach for the snooze button or even forget to set it once in a while, resulting in that classic awakening panic of I-overslept-oh-no-what-time-is-it? We've all done it at least once.

Invest in an alarm clock that will actually wake you in the morning. Some people have radio alarms, and find that the song is so good that they listen to it before getting up (not always a good idea). The same is for ones with snooze buttons - get rid of them. Finally, put the clock where you have to get out of bed to reach it. You'd be amazed how many people just want to reach over, turn it off, and risk being late.

2. PDA, Mobile, Blackberry or iPhone

Let's face it, we're mobile creatures and if you have your to-do list in the office where you can't see it, then go out, you're likely to forget exactly what's on it and what the deadlines are.

The same goes for having a calendar near your work area and then getting home not knowing which building in the office complex your meeting is going to be held in first thing in the morning.

One thing the vast majority of us have with us all the time is our mobile device - whatever form it takes, from an iPhone to a Blackberry. Almost all these devices have a synchronising function, so you can keep your schedule, calendar and contacts with you at work and at home.

3. Electronic Notes and Reminders

Pen and paper is traditional, quick, but easily lost. You'd never dream of creating a document without backing it up or saving it, yet this is what we do when we scribble down one list, and only keep it on one sheet of paper in one place. If you lose it, it's going to be hard to recall the details.

Move your reminders, notes and lists to electronic form, and they can be synchronised with your other devices as in the example above. Even better, you have more than one copy to refer to wherever you are.

4. Laptops, PC or iPad

Like our mobile devices, almost all of us have one or more computers at home and at work. Again, synchronising can work well for your time management planning, but don't forget the more advanced features you can use with a PC that you can't with a mobile, for example. You could buy project management software to help with your work tasks, have a more advanced calendar and contacts system in Outlook, use databases of information to manage your work, or any other number of software designed to streamline and make your tasks easier.

Overall, it's not difficult to turn your time-management over to the electronic world. It may take some time to set up, input the initial data and get used to synchronising up your work, but once started and practised, you'll find these four groups of electronic devices invaluable to your time management portfolio.