Simply put, you can’t manage your time without a means to do so.  We all know that there never seem to be enough hours in any given day, but we aren’t going to get any more, so we have to work with what we’ve got.

Besides knowing what’s important to you, you have to have a tool to assist in managing your time and a system to support it.  Not only is it important to have a tool, but it’s important to have one that fits your time management personality.  Yes, when it comes to time management, we each have a personality.  If the tool you choose is going to properly serve you, it’s got to fit your personality.

Once you know your time management personality, choosing a tool is quite easy.  When you have the tool, set it up and  make complete use of it.  Tools have the features that they do for a reason: to serve you, so maximize your knowledge and your use of the tool that you choose.  Doing so will maximize your productivity.  Once you have the tool and understand its features, begin to put it to use and create a system to support it.  That system includes knowing what I call your “Prime Time”, regular planning,  prioritizing your tasks and other supportive habits.

If you have a tool that you are using to manage your time, but things just don’t seem to be working, it’s time to ask a few questions: “Do I have the right tool?”  If so, “Am I maximizing its use?”  If not, “What’s the right tool for my time management personality?”  The sooner you ask yourself these questions and take the steps to implement the proper tool for you along with a system to support it, the sooner you can increase your productivity.