Summary

This chapter covers the process of planning, remembering, executing, and evaluating three kinds of activities—tasks, meetings, and deadlines—using tools such as task lists, planners/organizers, and journals.

It is important to note that the tools merely serve to implement and support the process, that is, to focus on the tool is to wag the dog. In other words, the process may be followed without tools. However, the process is much easier to follow when we use the tools.

Time managements systems are not only about planning to execute; they are also about remembering to do so. To plan tasks is simply to decide when we want to perform tasks and to describe them beforehand. Time management is about the will and awareness to execute tasks based on a plan, and this chapter provides the tools and ideas for both planning and performing tasks.