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Time management tools and tactics

C

Ctrackstar126

Senior member
A problem I have is very poor time management. I try to write down tasks and use the calendar in my phone(HTC touch) but to be honest I find the default programs to just be more of a time waster and end up not even referring back to it.

I would like some recommendations on what you use or what works for you. Does blackberry have better programs or is there a better software program for windows mobile that can sync up with my pc that you recommend. I know there out there im just looking for recommendations.

Also is there anything else that has helped someone just become more productive. I constantly jump from task to task due to ADHD like thinking and then just stress myself out because I have too much on my mind and think itll never get done.

I would like to use software for my phone but if nothing is good then ill take other suggestions so what works for you?
 
meet deadlines. no software can make you meet deadlines, you have to do it on your own. Don't stop work just because it's 5. Make deadlines for yourself and do not stop until you meet it.
 
I dont necessarily have a problem getting things done I would just like to be better organized and be able to map out what i have to do so that I can focus on a task one at a time and not worry if ill have enough time. Im just looking to maximize the time i have and clear my mind and know that my tasks are well organized
 
I HIGHLY recommend Remember the Milk. I have a super busy term right now as I try to graduate and I've found it's helped so far.

Alone it's a pretty solid web based service, but the best part is their support for other things. Email, Gmail, Google Calender, iPhone, Blackberry, Windows Mobile, Twitter, dashboard, iCal, the list goes on and on. I absolutely love the fact that I can update something from my phone in class, and when I come home open iGoogle everything is updated and is fine and dandy. Really cuts out the whole annoying manage your list part. I love it! Also gotta love iGoogle, as my default home page having the task list right there and always in your mind is important.
 
Originally posted by: speg
I HIGHLY recommend Remember the Milk. I have a super busy term right now as I try to graduate and I've found it's helped so far.

Alone it's a pretty solid web based service, but the best part is their support for other things. Email, Gmail, Google Calender, iPhone, Blackberry, Windows Mobile, Twitter, dashboard, iCal, the list goes on and on. I absolutely love the fact that I can update something from my phone in class, and when I come home open iGoogle everything is updated and is fine and dandy. Really cuts out the whole annoying manage your list part. I love it! Also gotta love iGoogle, as my default home page having the task list right there and always in your mind is important.
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Great suggestions. Looking at this program it seems perfect. I constantly througout the day have notes which can be as simple as "look up recipe for chicken" or a comparison in a google search which arent big deals but i can easily forget. Thats got a lot of the simplicity and usefulness I was looking for.
 
I use a combination of the 'Notes' program and the calender. If it's time sensitive (paying bills, following up on something, etc) I use calender. If it's not, I use notes.

I tried remember the milk and found that it was just a bit too... much. For me, anyway.
 
Originally posted by: jEnus
Look up Randy Pausch's Time Management Lecture on youtube & search for the powerpoint slides.
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I looked at that too was a good watch with great ideas. I started getting into david allen and the whole GTD stuff. The inbox idea ive implemented and actually was good for getting things off my mind because I dont have to worry about them being forgotten and I think thats my main gripe.

Suggestions are great theyve helped me a ton so far and ive hardly even cracked open most the potential in them. Anyone else who needs to come to terms with there time management and slackoffness should check out these suggestions.
 
that lifehacker is good,  The most popular is Getting Things Done (GTD) which is something you can google up quite a bit about. They have Outlook 2007 plug-ins for it, ways of working it out in notebooks, separate downloadable programs, etc.

Many still prefer to carry a notebook though, it's ALWAYS available.

There is a lot out there now for this.
 
I heard from some expert (years ago) that you should immediately (ie - NEVER) accomplish things that will take less than 15 minutes. Then plan your day around your larger tasks. I'm watching that Randy Pausch lecture now.
 
I can put things on my Blackberry tasks thing, but I never look at it. Instead, I'll send an e-mail to myself. I get it on my Blackberry and also on my desktop PC. I'll leave it marked unread until I complete the task. Maybe this will help you!

If I am sitting at my desk when I get a trouble call, I'll add it to a page that just has "to do's".. and make it a point not to put chicken scratch on it. As I complete things, I'll cross them off. When I am down to the bottom of the page, I'll start a new page of to do's and transfer over incomplete entries from the other page. I use a 5x8 inch notepad for this. It's small enough to keep on my desk without taking up too much room.
 
Originally posted by: Ctrackstar126
I would like some recommendations on what you use or what works for you.
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I tried a number of approaches throughout college, most of which didn't work out well. Software generally didn't work well because I didn't always have a computer available and didn't like carrying a PDA and keeping it charged (at that time "smartphones" were way out of my price range, although I still don't like that as a solution). I had some luck with a paper-based system: I created a template of an 8.5 x 11" sheet of paper with boxes for classes, types of things I often had to deal with, etc., and just printed a new page each week.

Currently I use lined, white 3 x 5" cards. A title/topic/whatever goes on the top line, then a description. When I am done with whatever was on the card, it either goes in a "done" box (which is a nice reinforcement thing) or gets thrown away (for grocery lists and such). This approach is simple, cheap, and flexible. Also, it lets me draw (poorly), underline, etc. It is inspired by the so-called hipster PDA, although my solution is quite different.

I have started migrating some things to a bound notebook, mostly because I needed more space to draw things and, occasionally, a record of what I've done.

At work, I use Outlook's calendar to track meetings solely because it can do automatic reminders.

Originally posted by: Auggie
I heard from some expert (years ago) that you should immediately (ie - NEVER) accomplish things that will take less than 15 minutes. Then plan your day around your larger tasks. I'm watching that Randy Pausch lecture now.
Click to expand...

One take on this.
 
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