Time Management Tech Tools: For You and Your Students

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Brought to you by Dr. Alisa Beyer, Psychology Faculty
It is that time of the semester when students and faculty have their eyes set on the prize to successfully finish the semester. This is also the time of the year that we all feel our limits on time and should be mindful of stretching ourselves too thin. A common saying in my household is tempus fugit (Latin for "Time Flies"). We can all feel overwhelmed about time flying by, so I have a few time management options to share with you.

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Option 1: Tasks, Lists, and Checklists in Google 

There are a few Google options, but Google Tasks for time or task management work well. It's got the little shortcut on the right side menu in Gmail/Drive/Calendar so you can make multiple lists, add dates to the tasks so they show up directly on your calendar, and more.  ​

Google Tasks: For task management and to-do lists for projects or jobs. You can keep track of your daily tasks, organize multiple lists, and track important deadlines.

​ Google Tasks

Google Keep: There are simple checklists and notes, where it's easy to search and add images.

Create a Checklist with Google Keep

Todoist: This is a more complex checklist that has multiple sections. You can set up the project as a "Board" so it has multiple easy-to-view columns.

​Todoist Organizing Tasks Projects
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Option 2: Online Time Awareness

RescueTime is an online tracker that is a web extension for your browser. It can be eye-opening for students who are really struggling because they don't realize how they are using their time. Make a note to check the privacy settings on this because it does track usage.
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The RescueTime free version includes:
Automatic time-tracking software to track time on sites and apps
See your progress in a weekly email report
Works across platforms (desktop, mobile, browser)

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Option 3: Set a Timer and Focus

Forest App (App, Extension)
Set a timer and create Allow/Block lists. When you complete your timer you grow a tree!  

​Forest App for Productivity​

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Option 4: Help to Get Off the Phone

What about those students who have a hard time managing social media checking? Of course, there are phone options for checking usage and adding limits. But maybe adjusting settings could be helpful. Have you tried adjusting your Android or Apple phone to view social media in black and white? Research shows that it is not as appealing and can diminish time spend on social media. 

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EXTRA! EXTRA!

Read all about it! Here are 6 productivity tips for college students. 
I hope you find something listed here helpful!
- Alisa

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Share your Ideas
If you have other creative ways to manage time better with technology, please let us know at: [email protected].
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Your Faculty Liaisons, Jen & Vanessa