Time Management Tips and Apps

As a student, you have a busy schedule to manage! Please reference these pages for more information on how to help manage your time.

• Time Management Tips from Dartmouth College
• Time Management Tips from Purdue Global University
• 26 Time Management Tricks I Wish I’d Known at 20 from Duke University
• Principles of Effective Time Management for Balance, Well-being, and Success from Princeton University
• How to Spend Your 168 Hours a Week Wisely from Genesee College

Cold Turkey

• Features: Block distracting websites; Set the websites you want blocked and for how long and go “cold turkey” from them; If the timer is still going, you won’t be able to access your blocked websites; Pro version provides blocking of Applications, White Listing, Break Intervals, and Frozen Turkey features
• More Information: https://getcoldturkey.com/
• Cost: Free
• Compatibility: Windows; Mac

SelfControl

• Features: Block your own access to distracting websites, mail servers, or anything on the internet using this downloadable program to your computer; Set a timer for the amount of time to block websites; If the timer is still going, you won’t be able to view or access these websites
• More Information: https://selfcontrolapp.com/
• Cost: Free
• Compatibility: Mac OS

Time Timer

• Features: Visual timer great for people of any age; Visually structure your time or break time up into segments using this timer program; Easy to use app interface with up to four visual timers; Time seconds, minutes or hours with this timer
• More Information: http://www.timetimer.com/
• Cost: $0.99-$4.99
• Compatibility: iOS: iPad, iPhone, iPod touch; Android

30/30

• Features: Create a task list and add a length of time to each task; Start the timer and when it’s time to move on to the next task it will alert you; Customize with colors, icons and labels
• More Information: http://3030.binaryhammer.com/
• Cost: Free
• Compatibility: iOS: iPad, iPhone, iPod touch

focusboster

• Features: Pomodoro Timer to help you stay on task when completing work; Using the Pomodoro Method of 25 minutes of work and 5-minute break, maximize your work session; Track your time more efficiently within your account; Productivity reports on your dashboard; Different visual themes for your flexibility
• More Information: https://www.focusboosterapp.com/
• Cost: Trial: free; Individual: $3/month; Professional: $5/month
• Compatibility: Online Resource; Windows; Mac

StayFocusd

• Features: Increase your productivity by limiting the amount of time you spend on websites that waste your time; Pre-program distracting and time-wasting websites; When your time limit is up, these sites will be inaccessible for the rest of the day
• More Information: http://goo.gl/I5OBeq
• Cost: Free
• Compatibility: Chrome Extension

MyTomatoes

• Features: Use MyTomato to time and track your progress using the Pomodoro technique; Start the timer and work for 25 minutes and then take a 5-minute break; At the end of each work sitting, write what you did to track your progress
• More Information: http://mytomatoes.com/
• Cost: Free
• Compatibility: Online Resource

Tomato Timer

• Features: Using the Pomodoro Time method, break up your work or school tasks into manageable work times; Use the 25 minutes of work time and 5 minutes of break time pattern to maximize workflow; After a set number of short Pomodoros, take a longer Pomodoro break
• More Information: http://tomato-timer.com/
• Cost: Free
• Compatibility: Online Resource

Fokus

• Features: Highlight only the text you want to read while Fokus dims and darkens the rest of your Chrome or Firefox window with an overlay; Highlights the paragraph you’re reading with the ability to change the opacity of the background overlay; Easy to install extension with the ability to turn the feature on or off
• Cost: Free
• Compatibility: Chrome and Firefox Add-On

Adapted from:

Augsburg College – https://www.augsburg.edu/class/groves/assistive-technology/everyone/

Study Strategies

Here are some helpful tips to get you started…

• Study Guides and Strategies from A Guide to Managing Your Studies

Organization and Task Management Apps

Isn’t it hard to stay on task and get organized? Here are some apps to help you do that!

MyStudyLife

• Features: Create an account to keep track of your school work, assignments, course, schedule and exams; Use the dashboard to schedule all your school related work; Cross platform allows for access to your organizer wherever, whenever; Set Reminders to help ensure all your work is done on time;
• More Information: https://www.mystudylife.com/
• Cost: Free
• Compatibility: iOS; Android, Online Resource

Tile App

• Features: Never lose your items with tile; Connect your tile to your keys, bike, computer, or anything; If you misplace your item, use the app to help you track the item down; Tile will ring you to guide you to its location; If tile is out of range, the app will guide you to its last known location
• More Information: https://www.thetileapp.com/
• Cost: ~$25 per tile, less per tile when buying in multipacks
• Compatibility: Standalone device with app compatibility; iOS; Android

Google Keep

• Features: A visual bulletin board of post-it notes with reminders and tasks lists; Ability to color code your notes, add reminders, and add photos and pictures to your notes; Use your Google account to sync this on your computer, tablet and phone;
• More Information: https://keep.google.com
• Cost: Free
• Compatibility: Online Resource, Android

Priority Matrix

• Features: Simple interface task management app using methods of time management to help manage priorities; Divide your tasks into one of four categories: Critical – Do Now; Critical but Not Urgent; Urgent but Can Be Delegated; Uncategorized; App includes visual icons, email reports, master list of daily or weekly action items and more; Ability to sync between devices and track your progress
• More Information: http://www.appfluence.com/
• Cost: Free – basic; Pro App: $10/month
• Compatibility: Windows; Mac; iOS: iPad, iPhone, iPod touch; Android

Remember the Milk

• Features: Never forget the milk, or any other task using this task/to-do-list; Organize your tasks with priorities, due date, time estimates, tags, repeating tasks and more; Sync tasks on multiple devices and with calendars such as Gmail, Google Calendar, Outlook, iCal, and more! Get email, text or Instant Message Reminders to yourself using their website reminder feature
• More Information: http://www.rememberthemilk.com/
• Cost: Free
• Compatibility: Online Resource; iOS: iPhone, iPad, iPod touch; Android

Any.do

• Features: Manage your life in a simple, clever, and fun way using this to-do list app; Synch your tasks on your mobile device and computer or use the Chrome extension to sync with Gmail; Use the reminder feature so you never forget what you need to do or where you need to be
• More Information: https://www.any.do/anydo
• Cost: Free
• Compatibility: iOS: iPad, iPhone, iPod touch; Android; Chrome Extension; Chrome App

myHomework

• Features: Track your homework, tests, projects, and lessons; Set and receive reminders when assignments are due or tests are coming up; Set up your class schedule within the app; Synch your information with any of the available devices; Integrates and works with Teachers.io
• More Information: https://myhomeworkapp.com/
• Cost: Free
• Compatibility: Windows; Chrome Extension; iOS: iPad, iPhone; Android; Kindle

iStudiez Pro

• Features: Stay organized and on top of all your school work and your schedule with this app; Using the built-in planner with alerts and reminders, track tasks, homework, deadlines, meetings, and your grades; Sync on all your devices so you’re never without this tool
• More Information: http://istudentpro.com/
• Cost: $2.99; Windows: $9.99
• Compatibility: Windows; Mac; iOS: iPad, iPhone, iPod touch

Workflowy

• Features: Organizational tool used to help manage to-do lists, collaborate on projects, take notes, write research papers, journal, even plan and more! Free version allows for 500 items per month; Nested layouts, lists, bullets, ability to add dates and other format and layout options; Sync between phone, tablet, and computer
• More Information: https://workflowy.com/
• Cost: Free
• Compatibility: Chrome Extension; iOS: iPad, iPhone, iPod touch

Adapted from:

Augsburg College – https://www.augsburg.edu/class/groves/assistive-technology/everyone/

Transition to College

Heightened Independence & Progress (HIP)

• HIP Talk on College and Academic Strategies