You’re sitting there, laptop open, determined to write your essay and finally get ahead on your to-do list. Five minutes later, you’re “just checking” Instagram, and next thing you know, you’re Googling if it’s too late to switch majors.
Sound familiar? You’re not alone. 80% of students admit to procrastinating regularly, and for many, that means pulling all-nighters, missing deadlines, or feeling like there’s no room to breathe.
Tools like time management tracking tools and scheduling apps can make all the difference. They help you sort the chaos, stick to deadlines, and avoid pulling another late-night cram session.
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What Is Time Management and How to Get Better
Time management is a crucial skill for shaping your student experience and future success. But what is it, and can you improve it with tips?
Time management means using your time efficiently to achieve your goals and priorities. It helps balance academics, extracurriculars, personal life, and downtime, enabling you to tackle challenges and seize opportunities.
According to Macan, Shahani, Dipboye, and Phillips (1990), the key aspect of time management is "Perceived Control of Time." Their research found that students who felt in control of their time reported better work-life balance, less work overload, and less tension than their peers.
Effective time management also fosters personal growth and new experiences, enriching your life and broadening your horizons. Baothman (2018) notes that without developing effective habits like motivation, metacognition, and self-regulation, students are likely to perform poorly and struggle to improve in the future.
Effective time management offers a host of benefits beyond improved grades. When you master this skill, you'll find yourself:
EssayPro Productivity Template
Once you have the basics of your time management tracking tools sorted, it’s time to level up. A simple app or planner is great, but if you’re juggling classes, assignments, personal goals, and maybe even a part-time job, you need something that can keep up.
EssayPro experts have designed a Notion-based template to help you track everything: daily habits, yearly goals, tasks, projects, and even different parts of your life like studying, travel, work, or fitness. It’s all in one place, neatly organized, and easy to use. No more flipping between ten different apps or forgetting what’s due when.
Click here for the template and feel free to use it!
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List of Time Management Tools
Managing time can feel impossible some days, especially with the endless distractions. That’s why the right tools matter, whether it’s for planning deadlines, tackling procrastination, or even ADHD time management tools that keep you focused.
From simple apps to advanced planners, this list has something for everyone. And for extra help, check out these time management tips for students to stay on track.
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Toggl Track
Toggl Track is a lifesaver for keeping tabs on where your time goes while working on essays, group projects, or part-time jobs. It’s one of those time management tracking tools that’s easy to use and helps you see exactly how productive (or distracted) you’ve been.
It’s perfect for students who want to stay on top of their schedule and make better use of their study hours.
Features:
- Simple one-click time tracking.
- Detailed reports to analyze your productivity.
- Integrations with apps like Google Calendar and Trello.
- Works offline and syncs across devices.
Todoist
Todoist is like that super-organized friend who always knows what’s due and when, but in app form. It’s perfect for keeping track of assignments, planning projects, and even remembering non-school stuff like buying groceries or texting your friends back. Whether you’re trying to stay ahead on deadlines or just keep your life in order, Todoist makes it easy.
Features:
- Add tasks quickly with due dates, priorities, and labels.
- Organize everything into projects (like “Classwork” or “Side Hustle”).
- Share tasks and collaborate on group projects.
- Works on your phone, laptop, tablet — wherever you are.
- Syncs with apps like Google Calendar for smooth scheduling.
SimpleMind
SimpleMind is one of the time management tools for students who think better when they can see everything laid out in front of them. If you’re brainstorming for an essay, planning a project, or organizing notes for an exam, this tool helps you break it all down visually. It’s easy to use, works across devices, and makes even the messiest ideas look neat.
Features:
- Drag-and-drop layouts for easy mind mapping.
- Add images, videos, and voice notes to keep everything in one place.
- Sync across devices with Dropbox or Google Drive.
- Customize your maps with colors, styles, and lines to fit your vibe.
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RescueTime
RescueTime is the app you didn’t know you needed to figure out where all your time goes. It runs quietly in the background, tracking what you’re doing on your laptop or phone — no manual input required. By the end of the day, you’ll get a clear breakdown of how much time you spent studying, scrolling Instagram, or binge-watching Netflix (no judgment!).
Features:
- Tracks your time on websites and apps automatically.
- Shows detailed reports to help you spot time-wasting habits.
- Lets you set goals and get alerts when you’re off track.
- Focus Sessions block distracting sites while you work.
ProofHub
ProofHub is among those super handy time management tracking tools for group projects, solo assignments, and personal deadlines. It’s basically an all-in-one app that helps you stay on top of tasks and keeps your team in sync. Whether it’s tracking what you’ve finished or figuring out what’s next, ProofHub makes managing your workload way less stressful.
Features:
- Assign and track tasks with deadlines to keep everything organized.
- View tasks your way — Calendar, Gantt charts, or simple lists.
- Built-in time tracking to see where your hours go.
- Chat, file sharing, and discussion tools for easy group collaboration.
- Proofing tools for reviewing and approving files without messy email threads.
Google Calendar
Google Calendar is one of the easiest tools to keep your schedule under control. It’s simple, works on every device, and keeps everything you need in one place — classes, assignment deadlines, and even study sessions with friends. With color-coded events and automatic reminders, you’ll never lose track of what’s next.
Features:
- Add events, tasks, and reminders with a few clicks.
- Sync across devices so your schedule is always up to date.
- Color-code different types of events (class, personal, work) to keep things organized.
- Integrates with other apps like Gmail, Zoom, and Notion for smooth workflows.
- Set recurring events for regular classes or weekly study sessions.
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Trello
Trello is a visually simple and highly effective tool for organizing tasks and projects. It works like a digital bulletin board where you can create lists, add cards for tasks, and move them around as you make progress. Whether you’re managing your study schedule, a group project, or personal goals, Trello makes it easy to see everything at a glance.
Features:
- Create task boards with lists and cards to track progress.
- Add checklists, deadlines, and attachments to individual cards.
- Collaborate with classmates by sharing boards and assigning tasks.
- Integrates with apps like Google Drive, Slack, and Evernote.
- Sync across devices so you can update your tasks anywhere.
Forest App
Forest App makes staying focused surprisingly fun. When you start a task, you “plant” a virtual tree. As you stay on track, the tree grows, but if you leave the app to scroll or text, the tree dies. Over time, you’ll build an entire forest that shows how productive you’ve been. It’s simple, effective, and even helps you feel good about your focus.
Features:
- Plant trees as you focus and watch your forest grow.
- Earn coins to plant real trees through their partnership with Trees for the Future.
- Use Deep Focus Mode to block app-switching and avoid distractions.
- Tag your tasks to track where your time is going.
- Team up with friends to stay accountable during group study sessions.
It’s one of the most engaging ADHD time management tools out there!
Pomodoro
The Pomodoro technique is a simple but powerful way to stay productive without burning out. You work in focused chunks (usually 25 minutes), then take a short break. It’s great for getting through essays, studying, or any task that feels a little overwhelming. And the best part is that there are tons of free time management tools out there that make using this method so easy.
Features:
- Break tasks into manageable sessions with built-in timers.
- Customize session lengths and break times.
- Track your completed “Pomodoros” to see how much you’ve accomplished.
- Works well for both solo work and group study sessions.
Evernote
Evernote is a digital notebook for everything: class notes, to-do lists, research, and even brainstorming for essays. It keeps all your ideas in one place and syncs across devices, so you’re always organized no matter where you are. Whether you’re prepping for finals or drafting an illustration essay, it’s a tool that simplifies your study life.
Features:
- Create notes with text, images, audio, and even attachments.
- Organize notes into notebooks and tag them for quick searching.
- Use templates for assignments, project planning, or daily to-do lists.
- Sync across devices to access your notes anytime.
- Share notes for group work or peer feedback.
Clockify
Clockify is one of the best free time management tools out there, especially for students who want to keep track of where their time is going. It helps you track time for study sessions, assignments, and even group projects. With its clean design and simple features, it makes staying productive easier and more effective.
Features:
- Track your time with one click or manually log hours for tasks.
- Use a calendar view to see your week at a glance and adjust as needed.
- Stay focused with a built-in Pomodoro timer.
- Generate reports to see how productive you’ve been.
- Sync across all your devices for easy access.
Cold Turkey
Cold Turkey is a must-have if distractions are your biggest obstacle. It’s a productivity app that blocks distracting websites, apps, and even your entire device if needed. Perfect for those moments when TikTok or gaming sounds way more fun than writing an essay. With Cold Turkey, you can lock in focus time and actually get stuff done.
Features:
- Block specific websites, apps, or even the whole internet.
- Schedule blocks during peak study hours or use it on the fly.
- “Frozen Turkey” mode locks your device entirely for ultimate focus.
- Set customizable breaks to recharge without falling into procrastination.
- Works across multiple platforms, including Windows, Mac, and Android.
Monday.com is one of those time management tools for students that makes staying organized feel less overwhelming. It’s super flexible. You can customize it to track assignments, manage group projects, or even plan out your week. Everything you need is right there, and it’s easy to see what’s coming up next.
Features:
- Create boards to track tasks, deadlines, and priorities.
- Switch between calendar, timeline, or list views depending on how you like to work.
- Share boards with your group, assign tasks, and chat without leaving the platform.
- Connect with tools like Google Drive, Zoom, or Slack for a smoother workflow.
- Automate reminders and task updates so nothing falls through the cracks.
How to Choose the Right Tools for Time Management
A good time management tool can save you from a lot of stress. It helps you keep track of deadlines, break big projects into smaller tasks, and actually get things done without the last-minute panic. But not every tool works for everyone.
And if deadlines still feel impossible, teaming up with an essay writing service can give you the breathing room to focus on what matters most.
Time to Take Control
With tools like Todoist, Clockify, and Forest, you can stay on top of things without losing your mind. Find what works for you, keep it simple, and stick with it. You have everything you need to get organized, stay focused, and crush your goals. Go make it happen!
FAQ
What Are the 7 New Management Tools?
The 7 new management tools include Kanban boards, Gantt charts, OKRs (Objectives and Key Results), mind maps, time-tracking software, collaborative platforms like Monday.com, and task prioritization matrices (e.g., Eisenhower Matrix). These tools help break down big goals, track progress, and focus on what matters most.
What Does Elon Musk Use for Time Management?
Elon Musk swears by time-blocking, a method where you schedule every part of your day in blocks of 5 or 10 minutes. It helps him juggle multiple businesses and personal tasks without losing track. By assigning specific times to activities, he minimizes wasted moments and stays laser-focused.
What Is the 6-12-6 Rule for Time Management?
The 6-12-6 rule divides your day into three key chunks: 6 hours of focused work, 12 hours for personal tasks and relaxation, and 6 hours for sleep. It’s a balanced approach that ensures productivity while leaving room for rest and self-care. Perfect for students, it keeps stress in check while helping you deal with assignments, social life, and much-needed downtime.
Annie Lambert
specializes in creating authoritative content on marketing, business, and finance, with a versatile ability to handle any essay type and dissertations. With a Master’s degree in Business Administration and a passion for social issues, her writing not only educates but also inspires action. On EssayPro blog, Annie delivers detailed guides and thought-provoking discussions on pressing economic and social topics. When not writing, she’s a guest speaker at various business seminars.
Jones, S. (2021, October 11). Elon Musk’s Productivity Hack: How He Schedules His Day in 5-Minute Slots. Business Insider. https://www.businessinsider.com/elon-musk-productivity-hack-daily-routine-5-minute-slots-2021-10
Novotney, A. (2010, January). Procrastination or 'Intentional Delay'?. American Psychological Association. https://www.apa.org/gradpsych/2010/01/procrastination
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