There\u2019s no big trick to managing time when the instructions are, \u201cShow up at 9, stay until 5 and do what I say in between.\u201d It\u2019s a different matter when you\u2019re running the show.<\/p>\n
The first book I ever read on the subject was Alan Lakein\u2019s How to Get Control of Your Time and Your Life<\/em><\/strong>. My favorite idea in his book was to assign an A, B or C to every item on your To Do List and organize your work by starting on the A items, and so forth. If you’re doing it right, Lakein suggests, you’ll never get around to the C items.<\/p>\n Other books on time management seemed to assume that the reader was a corporate employee. Somewhere along the way, I realized that the self-employed don\u2019t think about managing time, but are more inclined to think about it as investing time\u2014their<\/em> time.<\/p>\n I asked my Facebook friends to share their favorite time tools and they were kind enough to let me pass them along here. See if there\u2019s a new tip or two you can borrow.<\/p>\n Lisa Allen<\/strong> I’d have to say it’s my watch. Honestly.<\/span><\/strong><\/p>\n Sandra Lee Schubert<\/strong> My brain, next my Dayrunner<\/p>\n Nelson Freytes<\/strong> Google calendar in sync with my iPhone<\/p>\n LeeAnn Gibbs<\/strong> a kitchen aid timer<\/p>\n Pam Donald<\/strong> MS Outlook, followed by my planner. Though I confess that I’m always setting reminders and then hitting ‘Remind Me Later’ over and over. Sort of a time-management snooze button.<\/p>\n Kimberly Stewart<\/strong> my internal clock; but keeping my work schedule full helps a lot because then I don’t get too much opportunity to be lazy. In other words, a full schedule keeps me efficient.\u00a0<\/p>\n Vicky Jo Varner<\/strong> kitchen timers! Especially my Ecko, which gives a ten and five minute chirp warning before the final alert.\u00a0<\/p>\n Jen Vondenbrink<\/strong> My weekly calendar with my Levenger notebook.<\/p>\n Annie Woodall<\/strong> I find to-do lists to be extremely helpful — just having the visual of what needs to be accomplished within a given amount of time is motivating (plus, I love crossing things off). I also regularly use Google calendar (with emailed reminders), the kitchen timer, accountability to others and breaking tasks into small components to keep me on track.<\/p>\n Rebecca Quinn<\/strong> Most important: Outlook (calendar, tasks, reminders) synced with my phone. And having everything on phone – Email, text messaging, twitter. Extras: A cool little cube timer with different sides for 5-15-30-60 minutes – great for focusing on tasks for a set time (from TameTheChaos.com). Dave Lakhani calls it “fearsome focus”. Plus a Franklin Covey paper planner with lots of room for annual, monthly & two-pages a day. And to-do lists. Everything in writing whether paper or digital!<\/p>\n Janit Calvo<\/strong> My conscience. I also use an online stopwatch to get myself moving if I want to get through a boring chore fast – like inventory!! (I got that from you, Barbara – to do the mundane chores quickly to have more time for the fun things!)<\/p>\n Loletta Lloyd<\/strong> I use my Outlook calendar and good old fashioned to-do lists. Writing things down helps me focus on the specific task and visualize how much time I will need to delegate to it and what other little steps I need to do to finish the big picture.<\/p>\n Sandy Dempsey<\/strong> My to-do lists and idea notebook – both help me manage what projects I need to and want to work on, books I want to read, topics I want to write about and fun things I want to do.<\/p>\n Lisa Cotter Metwaly<\/strong> I love the kitchen timer to keep me on task. 30 minutes gives me enough time to make a dent in most things and I usually keep going once I start. If I feel like quitting after the timer goes off I know I can be happy about accomplishing my goal of 30 minutes.<\/p>\n Linda Locke<\/strong> Mine is setting deadlines. As a former newspaper reporter I respect the power of the deadline and the adrenaline rush it gives me. If I absolutely, positively have to get something done, this is my go to method!<\/p>\n Paul Browning<\/strong>\u00a0\u00a0The software OneNote by Microsoft Office. I can put what I want in it, it gives complete unadulterated freedom in how I design my goals and note taking.<\/p>\n