Deadlines, Appointments, Meetings, Everyday errands and the list goes on and on. These are just some of the daily tasks most of us have to deal with. If you’re like us then you know that sometimes it all can get over whelming. This is for anyone whether you are working in comics or not. There are so many things that need to be done and at the same time so many distractions. Here are Work In Comics we are always on a quest to find new ways to work efficiently, however you still have to make time to relax and grab a cold one with friends every now and then. There are different methods out there to help with Time Management for individuals and teams. Some people create “TO DO” lists on paper, others use their email/calendars to keep on track. A lot of people have now resorted to their mobile phones with several apps to help them get organized. One question that we’ve had, and we know many of you might be thinking the same thing is: What program, app, or method should I use that will best work for me or my team? In an article written by Meryl K Evans http://webworkerdaily.com/author/meryldotnet/  she reaches out to the community experts to ask just that, “What’s their favourite time management app and why they chose them?”

 

Applications For Individuals

@wordpost — Andrew Swenson

Google Calendar + Tasks because it’s free, easy to use, and syncs up everywhere (including on my iPhone).

@maryshaw — Mary Shaw

I use iCal for time management because it syncs with my iPhone and I set reminders to beep me at all hours. It’s a lot of beeping.

@nickf — Nick Finck

I have iCal running on Google Calendar with Teux Deux for task level stuff. It just works well. Simple, easy to use.

iCal comes with Macs and lets you keep separate calendars; you could have one for work, one for each client, one for home and another for school.

To read more on Time Management Applications for individuals, visit: http://webworkerdaily.com/2010/02/11/tips-from-the-trenches-time-management-apps/

Applications For Teams

@gregmcqueen — Greg McQueen

I use Backpack from 37Signals for just about everything — writing included. It’s simple. 37Signals designed it so you don’t need to read a manual on how to use it. They succeeded.

Backpack is another popular web app.

@stenoknight — Mirabai Knight

I like www.ididwork.com (Twitter-style task logger) and ManicTime. I use it because of the efficiency of Twitter, plus privacy and weekly reports, without having to set my actual Twitter feed to private. Accountability is key.

To read more on Time Management Applications for teams, visit: http://webworkerdaily.com/2010/02/11/tips-from-the-trenches-time-management-apps/

There are many Time Management methods that work. At Work In Comics we first started experimenting with some smaller programs, then we tried Yahoo calendar and Yahoo groups. At first they seemed like the right choice for us, but as deadlines and schedules became more difficult to manage we decided to switch over to Google Docs/Calendar. Google Docs has been working well for us since the switch, plus it’s a lot more organized and easier to sync and collaborate with different team members. Another plus is that it’s FREE. Ultimately it all comes down to experimenting, and choosing a program that best suits your needs.
What programs are you using to help you manage your time effectively? What programs do you recommend?

Photo by Flickr user Tchotchkes