Picking a Time Management System

Franklin Covey, Daytimer, Timesystem, DayMinder, Outlook, paper/electronic…What a lot of choices for time management.  And the truth?  It doesn’t matter!  Pick one that fits you.  However, there are some points to look for:

Appointments

The planning system should include a place to schedule your daily appointments and scheduled activities by hour. 

Long Range Calendar

The planner should allow you to schedule activities several months out.  For this, electronic systems are very convenient because you pick a date, write the activity, and you’re done.  No rewriting required.  Paper systems require you to place an item on a monthly calendar and then on a daily calendar. 

Things to Do

Most planners have a place for a “things to do” list.  The “things to do” should have space for three elements:  1)  The item, 2)  A spot for priority, 3)  A spot for checking it off when done.  The “things to do” section should have room for both personal and business items.

Long Range Goals

The system should provide you with space for long range goals – those goals that you want to include so you don’t forget them. 

Diary

A good planner has room for a daily diary.  The diary can include conversations, meeting proceedings, phone calls, thoughts, and your actual activities (to compare against your planned activities in the appointments section). 

Contacts Records

A place to record contact information – phone numbers, addresses, etc, is a necessity.

Frills and Extras

Some sections that might be useful:

Expenses – allows you to record dollars spent and categories, as well as mileage.

Projects – for heavy duty project management, pages that allow for project planning

Data Management – a section to index data, long range goals, diary items, and any other data for faster retrieval. 

Electronic Versus Paper

Electronic planners have the advantage of automatic reminders for appointments and no need for rewriting items.  Additionally, electronic systems make data retrieval simple with search capabilities.  However, if it’s a PC-based system, you will need a notebook computer.  And even with a notebook computer, you have to have enough battery to use it in remote areas.  Of course, you can print out information – but then you are using a paper system, right?  PDA’s help with the problems, but synchronization with your PC is a must.  The downside of PDA’s – the inconvenience of the methods of entering data. 

Overall, which system to choose for your time management system is a personal choice – try several and pick the one that suits you.  What’s important is implement time management and stick to it.

See these links:

http://www.daytimer.com/

http://www.franklincovey.com/fc/index.jsp?

http://www.timesystem.com/