I recently finished listening to the audiobook Atomic Habits by James Clear, and it is such a brilliant book! Have you read or listened to it yet? It shares tons of useful tips that helped me clarify my thinking and habit process. (Spoiler alert! It focuses on establishing systems.) It is a book that I already want to read again. The last non-fiction book to resonate that much was this one, also fantastic. The book got me thinking about what systems I already have in place and which ones I can improve. With all of our incredible technology out there, I want to share practical apps that have helped me set up time management systems, and I would love to hear what works for you too!

1 – Make lists to stay organized, then execute. For digital lists and organization, (I have tried a ton!) the two digital options I keep coming back to are Todoist and TeuxDeux. Sometimes good old fashion post-its help make things happen, or paper systems work too, pick what works for you. This customizable paper looks impressive, and here is another beautiful one if you are tactile and the type to want to hold it in your hand.

2 – Timed tasking. A method that my husband and I use all the time and love is the Pomodoro Technique. It is breaking down your workday into 25-minute chunks (or whatever time increment works for you), and then you take a 5-minute break (to stand up, stretch, etc.) in between. An app we have liked for this method is Focus Keeper.

3 – Track where the time goes. The app Toggl is a simple one that helps track where the time goes while on the computer, which you can also use on your phone. If you have different projects, it is easy to switch back and forth, and it is helpful to see where your time is going for various projects and clients on the screen. It tallies the time up to see where you have been spending time all day or even all week.

4 – Build and maintain good habits. The Streaks app is a rad to-do list that encourages you to form great habits. Let’s say you want to meditate or drink eight glasses of water, or workout; this app helps you track those goals individually and has a daily running streak to help you accomplish them. It is motivating because it challenges you to keep that digital chain alive consecutively or it will reset back to zero, and you don’t want that!

What apps and time management systems do you use?

( Planner Notepad | Clocks )