Highly Recommended Time Management Tools

Electronic agendas and PDAs
Interactive alerts
Paper-based agendas

Electronics, PDAs, Handheld Units

Electronic Agendas offer an all-in-one package: the agenda, a To Do list, you can create a Not To Do list and a Project Task list, a Contacts section and it's interactive (reminding you with bells and whistles when it's time for a meeting or appointment). They also allow you to create repeated tasks like routine tasks that you create once then ask that they be repeated for months or years.

Planning your week would probably work best when you're sitting at your computer. You can then synchronize your palm with the computer. When you're away from your computer, you simply create new entries (appointments, To Dos, Contacts, etc) then synchronize with your computer. This also has the advantage that if ever you lose your Palm, you still have a record of your life.

While the graffiti you use to add entries into the unit itself is easy, some people might still find it difficult nonetheless to write in it. Beside using the keyboard instead, another solution for that would be to carry it in a case that includes a note pad where you can write your new entries when you're away from your computer. Then when you get to your computer you can type in each entry in your computer and simply synchronize with your Palm.

Palm Tungsten E-2

The Palm Tungsten E-2 is relatively inexpensive, compact, and has everything you need to manage your time. You need a computer to connect it. You'll find an Agenda, a To Do list, you can create a Not To Do list, a Contacts section and it's interactive (reminding you with bells and whistles when it's time for a meeting or appointment). It even comes with a wireless keyboard.

At a cost of less than $299, it's really worth it. While you may think it's more expensive than a paper-based agenda, remember that the paper-based agenda has to be replaced every year. Your Palm can last you 3 to 4 years without having to upgrade. This is our first choice as a Time Management Tool.

Palm Z22 has everything you need for a complete Time Management package

Palm Z22 has everything you need for a complete Time Management package

If you want a compact system that allows you to 1) receive email wherever you are, and expand the memory to play music on it, there's the PalmOne TX Handheld (in the mid-$300 range), the HP iPAQ, which are also expandable (in the $300 to $600 range).

Expandable means you can play music files, have pictures on these and most are wireless so that you can receive email even when you're not connected to your pc. My best advice is go see them, try them out, and don't get dazzled by the beautiful colour screens if all you want is an agenda.

Interesting Products That Interact With You Using Alerts

Digital Post-It

A really neat idea if you have trouble with inattention, distractibility or memory for small tasks is the Digital Post-It. What's really better than the paper version is the fact that you can add alerts to them that will sound as you ask it. You can try it out before you buy. If you decide to buy, they are really inexpensive at $20.

Digital Post-It by 3 M

WatchMinder

The WatchMinder allows you to set 30 alarms with sound and/or vibrations to rouse you if you have a tendency to lose focus or forget that you have things to do. On top of that, you can add a message to remind you what it is the watch is trying to remind you to do.

For more information on the WatchMinder click here.

A few places that you can check out:

Tiger Direct (they are located in Markham Ontario) and are inexpensive

Future Shop

Paper-Based Agendas

Remember that if you choose a paper-based agenda, you will also need to add a Contacts section, a To Do list, and a Not To Do list, a Project Task list and a Routine Task list all in one package so you'll need to find a case to hold everything together. In addition, consider how you will incorporate an interactive system with alerts to ensure you don't forget your commitments.

Choose your agenda based on the type of lifestyle you have, the length of activities you typically will do, and whether you travel a lot. Your system will only work if you carry it with you at all times so, take great care in your choice. A visually accurate system is best, that is if it has columns for each day and a whole week in 2 pages.

Compact paper-based agendas (All are weekly)

Blueline CBE507

Appointment schedule from 7:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m. in 1/2 hour intervals
Sewn binding and hard cover
Yearly calendar at the bottom of each spread
Shaded notes and priority boxes on each spread
English, French, Spanish
8 1/4" x 5 1/2"

Blueline CBE507 is a mid-size agenda with 7-day spread with half-hour intervals.

Blueline CBE507 is a mid-size agenda with 7-day spread with half-hour intervals.

Blueline C1510

Appointment schedule from 7:00 a.m. to 7:30 p.m., in 1/2 hour intervals
Hourly appointment schedule from 7:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. for weekend
Twin wire binding and soft cover
Telephone and address section
French, English
8" x 6 1/2"

Blueline C1510 is a mid-size agenda with 5 full-day spread with half-hour intervals and 2 half-day spread for weekend.

Blueline C1510 is a mid-size agenda with 5 full-day spread with half-hour intervals and 2 half-day spread for weekend.

Blueline CBBM2 and the Blueline CB6500

Weekday appointment schedule from 7:00 a.m. to 7:30 p.m. in 1/2 hour intervals
Saturday from 7:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. in 1/2 hour intervals, Sunday from 7:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. in 1 hour intervals
* Twin wire binding and soft vinyl cover
English, French
Blueline CBBM2 or CB6500 are mid-size agendas with Each also has a column for items to do

Blueline CBBM2 or CB6500 are mid-size agendas with Each also has a column for items to do

Quo Vadis Business

6-day week Wallet format(Sunday's in a teeny tiny section at the bottom)
Binding: stitched
Format: 4" x 6" (10 x 15 cm)
Quo Vadis Business is a wallet-size agenda

Quo Vadis Business is a wallet-size agenda

Quo Vadis Minister-Prestige

full 7-day agenda in still a reasonably compact size
Binding: stitched
Format: 6 1/4" x 9 1/2" (16 x 24 cm)
Quo Vadis Minister-Prestige is mid-size agendas

Quo Vadis Minister-Prestige is mid-size agendas

Quo Vadis Executive

6-day agenda with a small section for Sunday at the bottom
Binding: stitched
Format: 6 1/4" x 6 1/4" (16 x 16 cm)
Quo Vadis Executive is mid-size agendas

Quo Vadis Trinote

6-day agenda with a larger section than the Executive for Sunday on the side
Binding: stitched
Format: 7 1/4" x 9 1/2" (18 x 24 cm)
Quo Vadis Trinote is mid-size agendas

Not so compact paper-based agendas (All are weekly)

Blueline has several great full week agendas but they are quite large (11 X 9"): C6107, C5930, C5935, C5940, C951. If you don't mind carrying a large agenda these may be suitable.