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• Home Organization • Paper/Filing Systems • Time Management | ||||||||||
ARTICLE Keeping Track of Time: Paper or PDA? Besides organizing our ‘stuff,’ it is equally as important to organize our time. It is a known fact that managing your time effectively permits you to do more of the things you want to do and enjoy a better quality of life. But, how do we overcome the challenge of managing our time? One of the keys to managing your time is the use of a time management tool. The time management tool used most often is a calendar. This is the 21st century—when I say calendar, I don’t just mean the thing on the refrigerator with all of the boxes and scribbles on it. Modern times has fashioned a ‘calendar revolution.’ Not only are there wall-hanging calendars and paper calendars also known as ‘planners,’ there are calendar programs for your computer and Personal Digital Assistants (PDAs) also known as ‘handhelds.’ With all of the choices available today, how does one figure out which time management tool will be best for their needs? Below are three main issues to consider when purchasing a planner or PDA: Cost • Paper planners are very reasonably priced. They can cost anywhere from FREE to over $100 depending on their size and features. Of course this is a purchase you will have to make year after year. • PDA's come as cheap as under $100 and can cost in excess of $600 depending on what bells and whistles you want or need. *What is your budget for keeping track of time? Size/Portability • Paper planners come in several different sizes from tiny to “forklift is required” for a very busy multi-tasker. • PDA’s are small--they fit in the palm of your hand, the pocket of your jacket, and the tiniest of purses. *How important to you is the size and portability of your time management tool? Functionality Paper Pros • A paper-based organizer won’t become technologically obsolete after a year or two. • Writing is a snap (as long as you have a pen handyÉ) • You’ll never have to recharge a battery! Paper - Cons • No back-up feature or alarm to alert you to an upcoming appointment • Corrections or rescheduling can cause messy-looking pages • Every year, it is necessary to transfer all birthdays, anniversaries, etc. into your new planner PDA - Pros • A PDA has an alarm that can alert you to an appointment or event. • Corrections are easy to make. You don't have to erase or scratch out mistakes or reschedules. • Hot Sync, in my opinion, is one of the best features of the PDA. “Hot Sync” allows you to transfer information from the handheld to a computer in order to make a backup of all events and appointments. • Important dates only need to be entered once using a “repeat” function. PDA - Cons • Grafitti is the ‘written language of a handheld. It has to be mastered with some proficiency to be able to write quickly and legibly on the PDA. • Must keep recharging battery for optimal usage. *What functions will help you to best keep track of your time? Other tools for managing time are items like contact management software (good for someone who works at a desk all day) or a wall calendar (great for a family to see but not very portable). Whether it's paper and pen or handheld and stylus, it is most important to find what works best for you. So figure out which type of calendar is best for you and make an appointment with yourself to start organizing your time!
*Browse the Article Archive for Organized Artistry's time, money, and sanity-saving tips and ideas...
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Editors/Publishers:You are granted permission to publish the above article in its entirety provided that the following 'footer' is included after each article: Article by Stacey Agin Murray, professional organizer and owner of Organized Artistry, LLC. Visit http://www.organizedartistry.com for your FREE e-list of 'Top Ten Tips for Organized Living.' A courtesy copy e-mailed or snail mailed to the address below is appreciated. | ||||||||||
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WHAT AREA OF YOUR LIFE NEEDS ORGANIZING? | ||||||||||
Organized Artistry LLC • PO Box 2682 Fair Lawn, NJ 07410 • 201.703.8438 stacey@organizedartistry.com | ||||||||||
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