The Effective Use of an Electronic Planner

Home Lifestyle Organization Time Management The Effective Use of an Electronic Planner

Keeping track of daily appointments and activities is essential. Trying to juggle business meetings, doctor's appointments, project due dates and your son's soccer practice can frazzle anyone. Using an electronic scheduling or planning device can help keep everything organized and, if used correctly, can be a great time and mind-saver.

What is an electronic planner and how can it benefit you? An electronic planner does exactly what you might expect it to do. It is an electronic device that helps you keep track of your daily activities. Many have features that include prioritizing tasks and goal setting, as well as allowing you to input appointments and scheduling information. Some even allow you to keep track of your e-mails.

Which type of electronic planner is best suited to your needs and lifestyle? There are many different choices available on the market today. Some planners are small and compact electronic devices that can easily fit into your purse or briefcase. Others come in the form of a computer program for your PC. Some electronic schedulers have the ability to utilize both a smaller portable unit that can then be attached to your desktop computer and is able to transfer any data input from the hand-held unit. Some units are also able to be attached to your telephone and may have the ability to be an audible announcer and have over-the-phone voice response.

How will you use it? If you are away from your computer often, it might be beneficial to use both types that integrate together. In your mind, go through a typical day. Do you make most of your appointments while away from your desk or are most of your activities planned while sitting in front of your computer? Do you need a planner that can set meetings, can receive appointments set by another source (such as a co-worker or secretary), or do you plan all your activities on the "fly"? Shop around on the Internet at various office supplies stores or browse through brochures, and you will be sure to find one that will meet your needs.

Here are a few tips to consider so you can use your planner to your best advantage:

• When you first get your electronic planner, sit down and input all the dates that you need to remember, such as family birthdays, holidays, anniversary, or any other days that need special consideration. And, don't forget to include your boss's birthday!
  
  
• Also input any reoccurring appointments. Go through the entire year and input this information into your planner for every week.
  
  
• Input the any new appointments as soon as you can.
  
  
• When you are inputting your appointment, include vital information along with what the appointment is for. This could include the address of the meeting, what you need to bring with you, or perhaps even a contact phone number for the person you are meeting. That way, all you need to do is look at your planner to find all the relevant information for that particular meeting without having to search for it later. This step will not only help you organize yourself for that particular meeting, but you will be able to refer back to your notes if you need to in the future.
  
  
• Electronic planners also allow you to flag special entries. It is a good idea to use this feature for appointments (past and future) that are extremely important.
  
  
• Although you may not consider it important, input days in your planner that you are away from the office because you are sick or on vacation. You may need to refer back to those days in the future.
  
  
• Be consistent in the use of your planner. Use it every single time for every event you need to attend.
  
  
• Refer to your planner often. If your portable planner hooks to your computer, make sure that they agree.

One last note on planners: It is also a good idea to teach your children to use an organizational planner. Like you, they can keep track of everything they need to remember, such as birthdays, soccer practice, etc. They can include homework, project due dates, parent-teacher days and other notes. Teaching them to use a planner correctly early in life will help them keep organized now and will prepare them for the future, thus giving them a huge advantage.

Take the Next Step: With life a little crazy at times, maybe it's time to consider an electronic planner. First, you need to determine which type of electronic planner is best suited to your needs and lifestyle. Finally, once you have the ideal planner for you, remember that it's only as useful as the information you put into it, so take the time to input all necessary dates and appointments. Then, don't forget to use it!

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