There is not a living human that would directly refuse the claim that we don’t wish for more time. Be it while setting new attainable milestones in your careers, maintaining a healthy work-life balance, or even indulging in the much-coveted “me time,” we all yearn for effective time management. In my particular case, the endless deadlines endured during freelance work, along with parenthood and sporadic attempts at going to the gym, felt paralyzing. Let’s face it, the bear won and thrashed the hell out of me. Only when I was introduced to some exceptional time-management tools was the limitation of time won, and I began incorporating these tools during my scheduled bear fights. You, too, can take control of your time and accomplish those goals. So, let’s discuss some time management tools that may help.
1. Trello: Your Visual Goal-Tracking Buddy
If you ever dreamed of a global digital workspace in which you can place tasks, deadlines, or ideas all in a single, simple, organized screen, let me tell you something. That’s what Trello does. Not only does it allow you to post tasks on a virtual bulletin board, but it also allows you to customize color sticky notes corresponding to each task. In this way, picturing a vacation with Trello was a breeze. I put together all the things I wanted to do and places I wanted to visit and even set deadlines for them. There were also addable sections like, “to book” and “packing lists” along with “what tasks should be accomplished before the vacation.” During the smallest fragments of free time available, the urgency of meeting deadlines along with more work due helped reduce what I had to do in smaller and smaller windows, further adding to the work efficiency.
Having a personal assistant is like having an automated robot who never rests, and with Trello, you have just that. Team members can add checklists, due dates, and even team members. Its drag-and-drop feature makes shifting priorities as easy as a single click. Best of all, its basic use is free, which hits the sweet spot for my budget.
2. Controlio App: Track Time Like a Pro
Wondering where all your time disappears with no time tracking? The Controlio time tracking app has an answer for that. This clever little app even keeps track of your downtime, including the dreaded mindless scrolling through social media. I remember the first time trying Controlio and realizing that I was spending roughly an hour just checking my email. That was a shocking realization, to say the least.
Controlio helps you put a cap on the number of tasks, lets you set goals, and generates reports to analyze the productivity trends. It essentially holds up a mirror to your habits. Through identifying these time-wasters, I was able to replace a considerable amount of time with ensuring tasks like completing this article or playing Uno with my children.
3. Focus@Will: Tune In To Productivity
Ever attempt to work when your mind is doing somersaults? Focus@Will is a music tool that aims to improve concentration. It’s designed to keep your mind in the zone with scientifically curated music playlists. I found this gem during one of my neighbor’s dog’s chaotic weeks when it barked nonstop. Putting on Focus@Will’s lo-fi beats helped drown out the noise and powered me through a project proposal.
You can tailor playlists to your work style, and the app goes as far as making session length suggestions tailored to your focus objectives. This isn’t lo-fi ambiance—it is an elixir of productivity to your ears. Try it out if your focus getting shattered is a problem.
4. RescueTime: Your Time-Wasting Wake-Up Call
RescueTime is the ultimate time tracker for social media users. It tracks how much time you spend on certain apps, websites, or even specific tasks in the background. The first time I used it was to see how I managed time, and I was aghast realizing I had spent three hours that week on YouTube “research” (read: cat videos). Setting boundaries became a lot easier thanks to these reports.
You can also customize distracting websites that can be opened during work hours, making things easier when deadlines are near. If you are looking for similar tools, check out this list of 20 best employee time tracking apps & software in 2025 to help you stay productive.
Conclusion: Time is Yours to Tame
Keeping track of time efficiently doesn’t entail working harder to fit everything into a window of time, but rather, crafting additional time for your priorities. Scheduling platforms, such as Trello, Controlio, Focus@Will, and RescueTime, can turn chaotic days into smooth paths toward goals. Personally, these tools enabled me to accomplish a significant project, organize a family trip, and indulge in guilt-free Netflix marathons.
Take baby steps. Focus on one helpful tool that resonates with you and test it out. Measure your progress, celebrate, and adjust as needed. Goals are within reach, and with the right guidance, the power is truly in your hands, so what will your next step be?
