Normally, people look for means to manage their time, if they face some troubles and suffer from stress at the accomplishment of tasks. Another frequent cause is difficulties to reach goals. The most frequent misleading interpretation of time management tools is methods for saving time only.

However, what are the most effective time management tools to use?

The two most important are the to do list, or task list and a scheduling calendar. A third one, not mentioned in many systems, is a filing system. The specific shape of these tools depends on who is using it and what kind of work has to be done.

These 3 tools maybe appear quite self-evident. However, they are the basics comparable to natural constants like the speed of light. Every time management system builds on these fundamentals in some form.

Commonly, time management is often confused with time saving tips. Good time savers are precious tools to boost efficiency. However, applying tips is not managing.

Strictly speaking the fundamental time management tools are a question of task & time only. A task says what to do. A task with a time stamp is a schedule and tells when to do a task.

As long as a task carries no time information, the corresponding tool to manage it is commonly a to do list or a task list. This can be a simple written list on a sheet of paper or a list typed into a smart phone or desktop software.

The beneficial utilization of such a list tool is a question of suitable time management activity (prioritizing, categorizing, grouping) and finally performing the task.

Tasks carrying a time information are schedules (deadlines, appointments or event dates, for example). Countless paper and electronic tools on managing schedules are offered on the time management market.

However, simple date administration normally does not require special skills. Schedules often are administrated by an assistant. You can fix a date only at an empty space within a scheduling calendar.

Coordinating conflicting dates and other distinct schedule decisions of course yet demand some decision making skills.

One unique tool only requires very special responsibility, real managing skills and some strategic ability. This tool is the task list or to do list.

Tasks of course have a relation to time, too. As soon as they are selected for accomplishment, they change to some sort of schedule and carry a time information.

Managing and organizing tasks the common way has to deal with the duration, sequence and number of tasks. Time management tools should help to get rid of the things to do in order to save time, reach a goal fast and avoid procrastination.

An additional, however, unusual approach to time management. It’s commonly underestimated to think about the chance to minimize the number and time demand of tasks of a current or planned project. Another form of reduction of task count can go far beyond the methods of delegating and saying no.

The prime example is starting a business. This is a very time consuming project. Time management, therefore, is a vital tool to secure success. When starting a business the intelligent selection of methods, strategies and procedures that inherently save time, can be interpreted as a time management tool of the second kind (“meta time management”).

These are tools for starting a business that provide a certain amount of straightforward tasks, logically and directly leading to success without any detour. At the same time, ensure to save time by concentrating on the absolutely necessary steps with the required time demand but not more. The link below this article presents well proven and time tested tools for starting a business.

Since going into a new business is a rather complex issue, special care should be taken at the selection of the right business strategy. Tools like a proper business plan together with a deliberate decision for an individual method to establish the business lay the foundation of all subsequent efforts.

Among many other criteria, the aims of business (meta) time management tools here are to support optimal return on investment in the reasonable term and sustainability. (The realistic time frame to get a business running with black or satisfying numbers is said to be 2 to 3 years, blinding out get-rich-quick experiences).

When good task management is doing the right things in the right order to achieve the projected success, then choosing the right time optimized strategies is the first step.