[mpnetwork]

I've been using PlanPlus for Windows XP (by FranklinCovey) for a little while now, and this program is just brilliant. I have a few clients that use their paper planning tools, but the software is great.

The goal is that you plan your week ahead of time, so you have a game plan for what is important to get accomplished.

I've always tried to do that, but this software makes it so much easier.

It runs all the time in my laptop, and when Im out and about it syncs with my Palm Pilot. It manages all my contacts. I can also print anything into my digital Notebook (like a PDF file), so they can be easily sorted and searched (notes from meetings, travel itineraries, e-mails, articles, etc.)

I had become overwhelmed with task lists, post-it notes, and just trying to remember all the little details. Now I can sort everything into Master Tasks, Goals (with sub-steps that allow me to manage the projects im working on), and Daily Tasks.

At the start of each week, you take your tasks & goals, and schedule out your week onto the calendar.

You also have your 'big rocks', things that are important in different areas of your life (personal & professional). So say a 'big rock' to help you 'sharpen the saw' might be going to the gym 3 times, and at work you might want to close a certain account. When you do your weekly planning you will schedule these in too.

And then after your weekly planning, you go to a more daily view, and work through all of the goals you have set out.

For those that prefer printed planning solutions, there are paper versions that carry over the same concepts. Or you can use both, the forms from PlanPlus for Windows XP print out to easily fit in FranklinCovey's paper organizers.

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There is a free demo through their web site, so you can play around with the software before you buy it:

USA Site (AND FREE DEMO) - $75 US
http://shopping.franklincovey.com/sh....jsp?id=cat128

CA Site - $145 CAD (Boxed Copy, w Taxes/Shipping)
http://www.franklincovey.ca/shop_Sub...age=Technology

[JimiHendrix]

Cool... Personally I don't tend to like setting up my schedule rigidly (although admittedly I have less commitments than many of the people on this forum). Of course, that may be why I tend to procrastinate and whatnot. I suppose that the issue for me wouldn't be scheduling time to do things, it would be actually doing them. Anyway, that's my opinion and I'm glad you like your time management software.

[mxer210]

Wow thanks for this site. I find myself pretty unproductive especially in the summer with no school. I tried using outlook's to-do list but that was inconvient.

[mpnetwork]

Yeah, I was using the to-do lists that came with my Palm Pilot, but I outgrew it pretty quickly.

[ravispeaks]

Hey i find the MS Outlook calender pretty helpful, and yeah u always have Post Its to always remind u of ur important engaements ( Remember the last time u forgot ur girlfriend's birthday? )

[Jvesti123]

Yeah i've got a pretty solid system that I've developed using a journal diary.

Will i go totally electronic?

I've been contemplating it. hmm I shall check out this program.

What I need is some kind of prioritizing mechanism.

I categorize my tasks in

A1, A2, A3 etc - Important/Urgent
B1, B2 - Important/not urgent
C - unimportant/ urgent
D unimportant / not urgent

I use Steven Covey and Brian Tracy hybrid system goin on then synced it with some things i do.

Does this program do anything that would achieve this means?

[ppanwar]

Currently, I use MS outlook 2003, but wouldn't mind trying other programs. I will try planplus out!!!!

[mpnetwork]

You can easily prioritize your tasks (A1, B2, D, etc). You can also print everything if you're used to a paper planner, or sync it with a Palm Pilot.

They have a 30 day trial through their web site (see the link from my original post).

[mxer210]

I'm using the trial and i'm probably going to buy it. it's helped me structure my days more which is what i have been needing. the notes is really cool too and the pen/high light feature. I uploaded a screenshot of a site i was designing and handwrote notes on what needed changes/work.