You'd think that to manage your time better, all you need to do is focus, retrain yourself and how you use your time, and set yourself different goals with a new awareness of how time is eaten up or saved during your working day. This is somewhat true, but it's also worth pointing out that you need some tools to help you - thankfully, most are inexpensive and some of them you'll already own. What are they?

A to-do list for that purpose only

Far too many of us use sticky notes, the backs of envelopes, or scrap paper to write our to-do lists on. While that might be useful for something like a shopping list, it sometimes isn't the best idea for planning your time at work.

Some stationers now produce real "to do list" books designed solely for the purpose. If you have a notepad dedicated to your upcoming work, don't fill it with anything else (including for doodling in!). Make sure that your list is updatable and within easy reach at all times - that note you taped to the fridge this morning won't be much use to you in the office later...

Software, gadgets and technology

You probably already own a Smartphone or at least a mobile with an alarm and calendar feature, so why not incorporate it into your time management by setting yourself deadline reminders and memos too? You don't need to spend money - although there are probably some cheap time management apps around by now - but it's about making the best use of something you've already got.

Software is another good example - most email programs also have a diary or calendar feature that you could learn how to use to better your time management. On top of this, you can update it and synchronise it with any software you have at home, plus the programs on your phone. How organised is that!

Your working environment

If your desk is cluttered, it's likely you waste a lot of time trying to find letters, information, reference points and so on - looking for them only eats into your productive time. Keep a clean workspace with everything you need to hand. If you process a lot of documents, get an in and out tray. If you shred things a lot, have it nearby. If you constantly refer to a book, then bookmark the pages you use most often instead of flicking through. What saves seconds can add up to hours at the end of the year.

Don't forget...

Time management doesn't begin and end at work - it also needs to be incorporated into your home life, too. If you find that home and work are crossing over a lot and you're taking time out of one to serve the other, then you need to apply your time management skills to better managing your time out of work, too.

All the tools listed here can be used at home as well as at work - and if you take them with you at the end of each day and bring them in every morning, then you'll retain the organisation and planning that you'll get better at every day.