15 Time Management Tools + 5 Techniques To Try In 2024

If you’ve worked in a corporate environment, you’re probably no stranger to the daily challenge of managing your time effectively. Between tasks, meetings, and deadlines, staying on track can be tough. But did you know that spending just 12 minutes planning your day can save you up to two hours of wasted time?

Despite this, a staggering 82% of people don’t use any formal time management system.

Time Management Statistics

Statistic	Percentage
People who don’t use a formal time management system	82%
Time saved by planning your day for 12 minutes	2 hours
Employees who feel stressed due to poor time management	70%
Organizations reporting a productivity increase with time management apps	30%

Time management apps are powerful tools designed to boost productivity and help you organize your work more efficiently. They allow individuals and teams to track time, prioritize tasks, and eliminate time-wasting activities—leading to professional growth and reduced stress.

Whether you’re looking to clear workflow bottlenecks or manage your team’s billable hours more effectively, this guide has a list of the 15 best time management tools to enhance your productivity, alongside 5 time management strategies that complement these tools.

Let’s dive into how these tools can streamline your workday and help you make the most of your time.

Why Time Management Matters in the Workplace

Effective time management is a game-changer in the workplace because it directly impacts:

• Productivity
• Job satisfaction
• Overall well-being

When employees manage their time well, they complete tasks on time, meet deadlines, and consistently deliver high-quality work. The benefits are clear—reduced stress, increased job satisfaction, and a better work-life balance.

From an organizational perspective, strong time management helps companies:

• Achieve goals
• Boost productivity
• Gain a competitive edge

By encouraging good time management practices, companies can ensure that teams are collaborating efficiently and consistently delivering results.

15 Must-Know Time Management Tools for 2024

As we move further into 2024, mastering how you manage your time is more critical than ever. Below, we’ve highlighted 15 essential tools that will streamline your operations and help you stay productive.

Task Management Tools

Task management software is vital for staying on top of your work without losing sight of long-term goals. These tools help you organize, track, and prioritize tasks efficiently. Here are some standout options:

1. Nifty

If you want to enhance your time management and productivity, Nifty is a game-changer. Its powerful features streamline task management, keeping you organized and efficient. With Nifty, you can track every detail and ensure your tasks align with your goals, whether for personal use or team coordination, helping you optimize workflows and meet deadlines effortlessly.

Nifty enhances your time management with its built-in time tracking, providing transparency and helping you allocate your time more effectively. This functionality contributes to overall productivity improvement.

Additionally, Nifty offers project management features like milestones and calendars, providing you with a visual roadmap of your progress toward both long-term and short-term goals.

Here’s a look at some of its key features:

Goal Setting: Set and track goals to align projects with broader organizational objectives.
Built-in Time Tracking: Monitor time spent on tasks right within the platform.
Task Management: Organize tasks using dependencies and detailed workload views to balance team efforts.
Calendars and Milestones: Visualize important dates and deadlines with intuitive scheduling tools.
AI-Powered Project Management: Use AI to predict timelines and allocate resources effectively.
Custom Embeds: Integrate external tools and widgets for a unified workspace.

By implementing Nifty, companies can:

• Reduce project delays by 15%
• Improve task prioritization and reduce wasted time by up to 20%
• Cut down on unnecessary meetings, saving hours every week

Nifty Pricing

• Free Plan: $0 per month
• Starter Plan: $7 per user/month (all features, with user limitations)
• Pro Plan: $10 per user/month (all features, no limitations)
• Business Plan: $16 per user/month (advanced features, with no limitations)

Nifty Pros

• All-in-one platform that replaces many other apps through it’s powerful roadmaps, tasks, documents, and communication in one place.
• The user-friendly interface makes it easy for teams to adopt, even for beginners.

Nifty Cons

• It might be overwhelming for those who only need basic task management.

Nifty Ratings

• G2: 4.7/5.0 (433 reviews)
• Capterra: 46./5.0 (425 reviews)

Nifty is your all-in-one solution for streamlining tasks, optimizing time, and keeping projects organized effortlessly.
Sign up and try for free ✨

2. ClickUp

ClickUp positions itself as “the everything app for work,” aiming to reduce the chaos of project management through an all-in-one platform. This tool simplifies time tracking, allowing users to focus more on the work itself rather than the intricacies of managing time. ClickUp integrates several features under its time management category that streamline how you track and manage time. This includes:

• Smart Time Tracking: Automatically track time spent on tasks with options to start, stop, and switch between tasks effortlessly.
• Global Time Tracking: Update your time entries from any device, enhancing flexibility and convenience.
• Manual Time Entries: Add time retroactively or create entries by date range, offering flexibility in how time is recorded.

Accurate time tracking reports are crucial for managing tasks and projects efficiently, providing a clearer view of work completed versus what is currently in progress.

ClickUp Pros

• Unified platform for various tasks and time management.
• Extensive customization and integration capabilities.
• User-friendly interface with robust support and frequent updates.

ClickUp Cons

• Some users may find the transition from simpler tools challenging.

ClickUp Pricing

• Free Forever
• Unlimited: $10/month per user
• Business: $19/month per user
• Enterprise: Custom pricing

ClickUp Ratings

• G2: 4.7/5 (9,000+ reviews)
• Capterra: 4.6/5 (4,000+ reviews)

3. Trello

Trello offers a visually intuitive way for teams to manage team projects and tasks using a simple but powerful system of boards, lists, and cards. This organizational method facilitates tracking progress and ensures all team members are informed about ongoing projects, providing a clear overview of project statuses, team responsibilities, and upcoming deadlines. Some of its prominent features are:

• Boards, Lists, and Cards: Create and customize workflows to fit any project type.
• Automation: Automate routine tasks and set rules to streamline operations, reducing manual efforts.
• Power-Ups: Integrate with a wide array of apps or use specific Power-Ups to expand functionality tailored to your team’s needs.
• Attachments and Checklists: Keep all necessary documents attached to tasks and break tasks into manageable steps.

Trello Pros

• Highly customizable and flexible to suit various project needs.
• User-friendly interface with drag-and-drop capabilities.
• Strong integration options with other tools, enhancing functionality.

Trello Cons

• Can become cluttered if not well-maintained, especially with large teams or complex projects.
• Basic features on the free plan may be too limited for larger teams.

Trello Pricing

• Free: $0/month
• Standard: $6/month per user
• Premium: $12.50/month per user
• Enterprise: $17.50/month per user

Trello Ratings

• G2: 4.4/5 (13,000+ reviews)
• Capterra: 4.5/5 (23,000+ reviews)

Workflow Management Software

Every project manager needs workflow management software to keep resources and timelines on track. It is essential for minimizing bottlenecks and improving collaboration. Workflow management software also boosts productivity by streamlining processes and enhancing teamwork.

This type of software helps to simplify processes, reduce manual task management, and increase overall operational efficiency. By automating workflows and integrating various functions, these tools ensure that projects move smoothly from start to finish. Here are some popular workflow management tools.

1. Nifty

Nifty excels as a workflow management tool by offering robust features that simplify complex project timelines and team collaboration. A key feature in workflow management is its ability to automate repetitive tasks and set up custom workflows tailored to specific project needs.

This includes setting if/then rules that automatically move tasks through different stages based on specific triggers, ensuring that projects remain on track without constant manual oversight. Some of its prominent features include:

• Automated Workflows: Set up custom automation rules that trigger specific actions within projects.
• Custom Statuses: Tailor task statuses to reflect the unique stages of your project lifecycle, providing clear visibility into each phase of a project.
• Milestone Linking: Connect tasks to specific milestones, automatically updating progress as tasks are completed, which helps in aligning project objectives and deadlines.
• Dependency Management: Define and manage dependencies between tasks, ensuring that workflows are logical and efficient and preventing tasks from starting before prerequisites are completed.

Nifty Pricing

Nifty includes these advanced workflow management features in its entire product offering, starting at $7/month per user with all core features included.

✨ Ready to try Nifty? Get Started for Free

2. Monday.com

Monday.com is a versatile work platform that streamlines workflows and provides clear visibility across teams. It lets you make strategic decisions based on comprehensive data put together in its all-in-one dashboard. With a user-friendly interface and customizable features, Monday.com adapts to a wide range of business activities, from simple tasks to complex project management.

Some of its top features include:

• Automation: Automate repetitive tasks and processes to focus on impactful work.
• Integrations: Seamlessly integrates with popular tools to enhance functionality without switching between apps.
• Dashboards: Customizable dashboards provide real-time insights into workflows, helping identify bottlenecks and track progress.
• Timeline and Gantt Views: Manage and visualize project timelines and dependencies for better planning and resource allocation.

Monday.com Pros

• Highly customizable to suit various business needs.
• Intuitive design and user experience that encourages team adoption.
• Robust support and training resources to maximize tool utilization.

Monday.com Cons

• Initial setup and customization can be time-consuming for new users

monday.com Pricing

• Free: $0/month (up to 2 seats)
• Basic: $12/seat/month (billed monthly)
• Standard: $14/seat/month (billed monthly)
• Pro: $24/seat/month (billed monthly)
• Enterprise: Contact sales for pricing

Monday.com Ratings

• G2: 4.7/5 (10,000+ reviews)
• Capterra: 4.6/5 (4,700+ reviews)

3. Jira

Jira by Atlassian is a robust platform designed to connect every team, task, and project within an organization, offering specialized tools for managing workflows in an agile environment. Jira is known for its powerful boards and comprehensive timeline views that enable teams to plan, track, and manage agile software development projects with precision and efficiency.

Let’s look at some prominent features of Jira:

• Agile Boards: Use Scrum and Kanban boards to break down and manage tasks, enhancing visibility and progression of work.
• Customizable Workflows: Tailor workflows to specific team or project needs, allowing for seamless adjustments as projects evolve.
• Timeline Views: Plan and visualize project timelines, ensuring all team members stay aligned with project goals and deadlines.
• Automation: Automate repetitive processes and tasks, reducing manual overhead and focusing on more strategic work.

Jira Pros

• Highly flexible, supporting a range of project management styles from Scrum to Kanban.
• Deep integrations with other Atlassian products and a wide array of third-party tools enhance its utility.
• Powerful reporting tools provide insights into project status, team performance, and more.

Jira Cons

• Some users find the interface cluttered, especially when handling large projects with multiple streams.

Jira Pricing

• Free
• Standard: $8.15 per user per month
• Premium: $16 per user per month
• Enterprise: Custom pricing

Jira Ratings

• G2: 4.3/5.0 (5,700+ reviews)
• Capterra: 4.5/5.0 (13,000+ reviews)

Calendar Management

Calendar management tools give you a structured overview of daily tasks, meetings, and deadlines. They help individuals and teams stay organized by syncing schedules, sending reminders, and allowing for easy adjustments to avoid conflicts and maximize productivity.

These tools are crucial for planning, ensuring that all activities are accounted for and strategically aligned with personal and professional goals. Here are the top calendar management tools you must use in 2024:

1. Nifty

Nifty’s calendar management feature integrates seamlessly with its project management tools, providing a clear and concise view of deadlines, meetings, and milestones. This holistic view helps teams synchronize their schedules, plan efficiently, and effectively meet project timelines, ensuring no task or event is overlooked.

Its key features include:

• Unified Calendars: Sync project milestones, deadlines, and meetings in one place for easy access and visibility.
• Personal and Team Calendars: Manage individual and team schedules simultaneously to ensure alignment and prevent conflicts.
• Event and Milestone Linking: Link calendar events directly to project tasks or milestones, facilitating easy updates and tracking.

Start your journey towards better time management with Nifty today!
Get Started for Free ✨

2. Google Calendar

Google Calendar is a comprehensive scheduling tool that streamlines appointment setting and meeting management, integrating seamlessly across Google Workspace. It simplifies the process of managing appointments with features like shareable booking pages, automated reminders, and the ability to collect payments for booked appointments.

Some of its key features include:

• Shareable Booking Pages: Create personalized booking pages that allow clients to book appointments directly.
• Automated Reminders: Set up email reminders to reduce no-shows and ensure all parties are prepared for upcoming appointments.
• Advanced Scheduling: Customize appointment availability, add buffer times, and manage multiple schedules to prevent conflicts.

Google Calendar Pros

• Highly integrated with other Google services, providing a seamless user experience.
• User-friendly interface with easy navigation and setup.
• Extensive customization options for managing different types of appointments and schedules.

Google Calendar Cons

• Reliant on internet connectivity for real-time updates and access.

Google Calendar Pricing

• Business Starter: $6/month per user
• Business Standard: $12/month per user
• Business Plus: $18/month per user
• Enterprise: Contact sales for pricing

Google Calendar Ratings

• G2: 4.6/5 (42,000+ reviews)
• Capterra: 4.7/5 (15,00+ reviews)

3. Calendly

Calendly is a robust scheduling platform that simplifies meeting bookings, reducing the hassle of back-and-forth communication. Designed for both individual users and large enterprises, Calendly offers powerful features to streamline appointment settings, enhance collaboration, and optimize time management across various organizational levels. Some of its key features include:

• Automated Scheduling: Set your availability and let Calendly automate the booking process to avoid conflicts and manage multiple schedules.
• Customizable Event Types: Tailor your meeting types and durations to fit different needs and preferences.
• Integrations: Sync with over 70 tools like video conferencing and CRM systems, seamlessly integrating with your existing workflow.

Calendy Pros

• User-friendly interface that simplifies complex scheduling tasks.
• Extensive customization options allow for personalized and efficient scheduling experiences.
• Robust security features ensure data protection and compliance, suitable for enterprise use.

Calendy Cons

• Some users may find the setup process for advanced features slightly complex.

Calendy Pricing

• Free Plan
• Standard: $10 per seat/month
• Teams: $16 per seat/month
• Enterprise: Custom pricing starting at $15k/year

Calendy Ratings

• G2: 4.7/5.0 (2217 reviews)
• Capterra: 4.7/5.0 (3585 reviews)

Time Tracking

Time-tracking tools help improve productivity, accountability, and resource management within organizations. They provide detailed insights into how you spend time on various tasks. It enables better project management, cost estimation, and efficiency improvements.

These tools also help individuals and teams meet deadlines and budget constraints by making visible the actual time invested in activities versus planned time.

1. Nifty

Nifty’s time-tracking capabilities integrate directly into its project management environment, providing a seamless way to monitor the duration of tasks and projects. This feature is essential for maintaining transparency with stakeholders and optimizing team productivity by identifying areas where time may be better allocated.

Features:

• Integrated Time Logs: Track time directly on tasks and projects without needing external tools, streamlining workflow and reducing tool switching.
• Billable & Non-Billable Hours: Easily categorize time as billable or non-billable, aiding in accurate invoicing and budget tracking.
• Time Reporting: Generate comprehensive reports on time spent, providing valuable data for analysis and future planning.

Get Started for Free ✨

2. Time Doctor

Time Doctor is a sophisticated time-tracking and productivity management tool designed to help businesses and teams monitor and enhance their work efficiency. Ideal for remote and in-office environments, Time Doctor offers detailed insights into work patterns, helping organizations streamline operations, ensure accountability, and increase overall productivity. Some of its key features include:

• Automatic Time Tracking: Automatically tracks time spent on tasks and projects, providing detailed reports on work activity.
• Customizable Alerts and Notifications: Set up alerts for idle time or unproductive behavior to maintain focus and productivity throughout the workday.
• Web and App Usage Reporting: Monitor and report on the apps and websites used during work hours to assess productivity and prevent time wastage.

Time Doctor Pros

• Offers deep visibility into how time is spent, which is particularly useful for managing distributed teams.
• Integrates with over 60 other tools, enhancing functionality and making it adaptable to various tech ecosystems.

Time Doctor Cons

• The extensive tracking features might raise privacy concerns among employees.

Time Doctor Pricing

• Basic Plan: $5.90/user/month
• Standard Plan: $11.70/user/month
• Premium Plan: $16.70/user/month
• Enterprise Plan: Custom pricing

Time Doctor Ratings

• G2: 4.5/5.0 (382 reviews)
• Capterra: 4.5/5.0 (529 reviews)

3. Toggl

Toggl Track is a comprehensive time-tracking tool designed to enhance productivity and make time management effortless for teams and individuals. With its user-friendly interface and robust functionality, Toggl helps businesses gain precise control over their time, enabling more informed decision-making and improving overall efficiency.

Some of its key features include:

• Automated Time Tracking: Simplifies the recording of work hours with start/stop timers and background tracking, ensuring accurate time logs without manual entry.
• Detailed Reporting: Offers customizable reports that provide insights into time spent on projects, helping identify areas for efficiency improvement.
• Flexible Billing and Payroll: Supports time billing and payroll integration, allowing for streamlined invoicing and salary calculations based on precise work hours.

Toggl Pros

• Suitable for a wide range of industries and customizable to various work styles.
• Empower teams with data to optimize workflows and increase profitability.

Toggl Cons

• While highly integrable, reliance on other apps for extended functionality could be cumbersome for users preferring an all-in-one solution.

Toggl Pricing

• Free Plan
• Starter Plan: $10/user/month
• Premium Plan: $20/user/month
• Enterprise Plan: Custom pricing

Toggl Ratings

• G2: 4.6/5.0 (1566 reviews)
• Capterra: 4.7/5.0 (2343 reviews)

To-do List

Imagine you’re juggling multiple projects at work, and you need to keep track of a wide range of tasks, from the minor to the major. A to-do list organizes everything you need to accomplish in one place. This simple tool can significantly boost your productivity by keeping you focused and minimizing time wasted on deciding what to work on next.

1. Nifty

Nifty’s to-do list feature integrates seamlessly within its project management suite, enabling users to streamline their task management effectively. It helps teams keep track of their daily tasks, ensuring nothing gets overlooked in the hustle of busy workdays. Let’s look at some specific features:

• Collaborative To-Do Lists: Share lists with team members to delegate and track task completion in real-time.
• Custom Statuses: Update and customize task statuses to reflect different stages of completion.

2. Toggl

Source

Toggl Track incorporates to-do lists into its time-tracking software, allowing users to not only list their tasks but also measure the time spent on each. This dual functionality is excellent for enhancing productivity by focusing on time efficiency. Here are some to-do list-specific features of Toggl:

• Time Tracking Per Task: Start a timer for each to-do list item to keep track of how long each task takes.
• Color-Coded Priorities: Use colors to indicate the urgency of tasks, helping to organize your day visually.
• Reminders and Alerts: Set reminders for due dates to ensure no task is forgotten or overlooked.
• Integration with Calendars: Sync your to-do list with external calendars for a comprehensive view of your deadlines and commitments.

3. Evernote

Evernote transforms the way you manage tasks and information. It combines note-taking, scheduling, and task management into one platform, making it a comprehensive solution for organizing personal and professional projects.

Evernote’s ability to synchronize across devices ensures that your to-do lists, along with notes and schedules, are always accessible and up to date. Some of its relevant features include:

• Integrated Task Lists: Combine notes with to-do lists to keep your task-related information and reminders in one place.
• Document and Image Attachments: Enhance your to-do lists with attachments such as images, PDFs, and documents directly linked to your tasks.
• Customizable Tags and Categories: Organize your tasks with tags and categories that make it easy to filter and search for specific items.

Evernote Pros

• Quickly find notes, tasks, and documents with advanced search options, even within images and PDFs.

Evernote Cons

• While there is a free version, many powerful features are locked behind a premium subscription, which may not suit all budgets.

Evernote Pricing

• Free: $0/month
• Personal: $5.38/month (billed monthly)
• Professional: $6.21/month (billed monthly)
• Teams: $8.37/user/month (billed monthly)

Evernote Ratings

• G2: 4.4/5 (2,000+ reviews)
• Capterra: 4.4/5 (8,000+ reviews)

5 Time Management Techniques to Improve Your Productivity

Effective time management techniques can significantly enhance your productivity and efficiency by helping you:

• Organize your tasks more effectively
• Prioritize what’s important
• Reduce the time spent on non-essential activities

Let’s dive into five proven methods that can streamline your workday and boost your efficiency.

1. Pomodoro Technique

The Pomodoro Technique involves breaking your workday into 25-minute chunks separated by five-minute breaks. These intervals are known as “pomodoros.”

After about four pomodoros, you take a longer break of about 15 to 20 minutes. For example, if you’re working on a report, you would work for 25 minutes straight, then rest for 5 minutes. This helps maintain your productivity by keeping your brain fresh and focused.

2. Eisenhower Matrix

The Eisenhower Matrix helps you decide on and prioritize tasks by urgency and importance, splitting them into four categories: do first, schedule, delegate, and don’t do.

Imagine you have tasks like preparing a presentation, checking emails, scheduling a meeting, and browsing industry news. You would do the presentation first, schedule a specific time for the meeting, delegate email checking to an assistant, and drop the news browsing.

3. Eat That Frog

“Eat That Frog” means tackling your most challenging and important task first thing in the morning. The idea is that doing this sets the tone for the rest of the day, boosting your morale and productivity.

For instance, if you dread making a complex client call, do it first. Once it’s out of the way, you’ll find other tasks less daunting and easier to accomplish.

4. Time Blocking

Time blocking involves dedicating specific chunks of time to different activities you intend to accomplish, allowing you to manage your tasks more systematically.

For example, you might block 9 AM to 11 AM for deep work like writing or analysis, reserve afternoons for meetings, and set the late afternoon for planning the next day and administrative tasks.

5. Rapid Planning Method (RPM)

The Rapid Planning Method (RPM) is a way of capturing all the ideas and tasks you need to do, organizing them, and then focusing on why you want to do them to create a massive action plan.

Start by writing down everything you need to do, organize these items by priority, and then note down why each task is essential.

For example, if your task is to revamp your marketing strategy, knowing that it could increase sales by 20% provides a compelling reason to prioritize this project.

6. 80/20 Rule (Pareto Analysis)

The 80/20 Rule, also known as Pareto analysis, is a time management technique that helps individuals identify the most critical tasks that generate the greatest results. This rule states that 20% of efforts produce 80% of the results. By applying this rule, individuals can focus on the most important tasks, eliminate non-essential activities, and maximize their productivity.

For example, if you’re managing a project, you might find that a small number of tasks are responsible for the majority of the project’s progress. By identifying and prioritizing these high-impact tasks, you can ensure that your efforts are directed towards activities that drive the most significant results, ultimately boosting your productivity and efficiency.

7. SMART Goal System

The SMART goal system is a time management technique that helps individuals set specific, measurable, achievable, relevant, and time-bound goals. This system enables individuals to clarify their objectives, prioritize tasks, and create a roadmap for achieving their goals.

By setting SMART goals, individuals can stay focused, motivated, and committed to achieving their objectives.

For instance, instead of setting a vague goal like “improve sales,” a SMART goal would be “increase sales by 10% over the next quarter by implementing a new marketing strategy and training the sales team.” This approach provides clear direction, measurable outcomes, and a realistic timeline, making it easier to track progress and stay motivated.

By incorporating these time management techniques and tools into your daily routine, you can enhance your productivity, achieve your goals, and maintain a healthy work-life balance.

Elevate Your Productivity Game Today

Effective time management is about getting the right things done in the right way. By utilizing the tools and techniques outlined, you can dramatically enhance your efficiency and productivity. These strategies help you prioritize tasks, reduce wasted time, and maintain focus on the goals that truly matter.

When selecting a time management tool, it’s important to consider the best software options for tracking time, scheduling tasks, and improving productivity. Whether it’s harnessing the power of a Pomodoro timer or deploying sophisticated task management software like Nifty, each tool and technique offers unique benefits. They streamline your work process, help you meet deadlines, and manage your time more effectively, ultimately leading to a more balanced and productive professional life.

Ready to take your productivity to the next level?

Try Nifty for free today and experience firsthand how it can streamline your projects and accelerate your team’s efficiency!