Time Management is an important subject, not only for us as students, but in our everyday career life. It is so important that for many jobs, it is a prerequisite necessary in order to get the job. As our lives get more and more hectic, Time Management is necessary just so we can organize all the various tasks that must be done on a day to day basis. In one aspect, this may not only apply to our job, but to our personal lives as well.
Many people have a system for Time Management that works for them. Some use the paper planner method that has been the old standby for years, and would never think of using anything else. Some use the sticky pad method, which is just as it sounds, sticky notes stuck wherever they are at the time and need to make a note. Then they hope the note is in the right place when they need it. Can’t see how it works, but it’s what some people use. Some use nothing at all except their minds, if they’re fortunate to have one of those minds that absorb and regurgitate the correct information anytime they wish. I’m not one of those fortunate people. I have used the paper planner method and to some extent the sticky pad method (which is why I don’t understand how it works). The method that I now use is what might be called the PDA method. PDAs have been around for a number of years, and there have been a plethora of brands, shapes, and sizes. I have had a Palm device for about 5 years now, and it is my operating system of choice. The first was a Palm IIIxe, a basic, non-connected device that was basically a device created as a PIM, a personal information manager. The second was a Handera 330, similar to the previous device, but with added features. The third was a Tungsten C, adding WiFi capabilities that allow the use of network connections. The current device is a Treo 650, which adds the convenience of always being connected. With the advance in devices has come the advance in software. Devices are now able to receive and display Excel spreadsheets, PDFs, Word documents, and PowerPoint presentations, all very important applications that can be used for information and Time Management.
Technology has improved our ability to manage our time. With the advent of the convergence devices (combination PDA and phone), the ability to manage our time has reached a new level of ease. Devices such as the Treo allow the user to manage their time through various built-in and third party applications. These applications allow the user to customize the device to optimally manage their schedules. Another benefit of a device such as this is that the device can be synchronized with such popular applications as Outlook. This allows one to work with their schedule in different locations as well as keep backups. The portability of the Treo allows the user to have their schedule with them at all times which is very beneficial for the businessman on the road. There are even applications that allow the Treo user to synchronize their calendar, task list, and email wirelessly, so that they are connected and up-to-date wherever they are. Changes made to the users calendar quickly show up on their devices, to notify them of a rescheduled meeting, a change in a contract, or even an emergency that needs their immediate attention. In our busy, ever-changing lives this has become increasingly important. The applications that are available for the Treo allow the user to prioritize tasks, make lists of steps that must be taken in order to complete a project, and allow the user to receive and answer important emails.
