Time Management Isn’t a Myth—You Just Need the Right Apps

Time management? It sounds like such a foreign concept when you have a million things to do and not enough time. Or when you have a wedding to attend in Ibadan on Saturday, a friend’s housewarming in Lekki the same day, and somehow, you promised your boss you’d submit that report by midnight. Life can feel like a madness, but the truth is, managing time in today’s world is no joke. And for many of us, the issue isn’t even that we don’t have enough time. It’s that we don’t know how to organize it. That’s where technology comes in. Time management apps can help simplify your life and give you the structure you’ve been craving. What Are the 4 Types of Time Management? Let’s talk about the foundation of good time management: the 4 Ds—delete, delegate, defer, and do. This framework makes it easier to discern what tasks truly matter. Delete: Eliminate tasks that don’t add value. For example, if that weekly team meeting always ends up being an unproductive gist session, maybe it’s time to delete it.Delegate: Assign tasks to others when possible. If you’re planning a family party, delegate some responsibilities (e.g., ask someone else to handle drinks or music). You don’t have to do everything yourself.Defer: Postpone tasks that aren’t urgent. Not every item on your to-do list needs immediate attention.Do: Focus on completing tasks that are both urgent and important. This is where you direct most of your energy.The 4 Ds of time management can streamline the decision-making process and increase productivity by allocating resources strategically. Let’s get into some of the best time management apps, but I’ll keep it real—tools that can work in Nigeria, with our unique chaos. Google Calendar Let’s start with the basics. If you have a Gmail account (and who doesn’t?), then you already have access to Google Calendar. It’s straightforward, free, and integrates seamlessly with your email. This app can save your life if you’re the type who forgets birthdays, meetings, and even the time for your evening Jumia delivery. You can color-code events (e.g., blue for work, green for personal plans, red for deadlines), set reminders, and even share schedules with others. For example, if your family is always planning owambe parties, just create a shared calendar so everyone can update it. No more “I didn’t know it was this Saturday” excuses! You’re managing an event in Abuja, but you’re also supervising your cousin’s bridal shower in Lagos. Google Calendar lets you coordinate both without losing your mind. Plus, you can add meeting links if you’re working remotely—something that’s become increasingly normal these days.Find on Google Play and Apple App Store Todoist Todoist is that reliable friend who helps you break down big tasks into smaller, bite-sized pieces. It’s a to-do list app, but with upgrades. You can prioritize tasks, set deadlines, and even add recurring reminders. Let’s say you’re planning for Valentine’s Day (because we all know it’s coming). Todoist can help you organize your spending budget, RSVP for concerts, and set up reminders for when to book flights—before ticket prices skyrocket. Talk about foresight!Find on Google Play and Apple App Store Notion Now, Notion is for those of us who want to feel like we have everything under control. It’s not just a time management app; it’s an all-in-one workspace where you can plan, write, track goals, and even store recipes (Sunday jollof experiments?). What makes Notion special is its flexibility. You can design your dashboard however you like. Want to create a weekly planner? Easy. Need a content calendar for your social media hustle? Done. It’s perfect for creatives, freelancers, and anyone juggling multiple roles. Imagine you’re working with three clients at the same time. Notion helps you organize deadlines, client feedback, and payment schedules. You’ll look professional and won’t accidentally send Client A’s design to Client B (we’ve all been there).Find on Google Play and Apple App Store Trello If you’re a visual person, Trello might be your jam. It uses a board-and-card system to help you organize tasks. Think of it like sticky notes on a whiteboard, but digital. You can move tasks from “To-Do” to “In Progress” to “Done” with a simple drag-and-drop. It’s especially great for team projects or wedding planning. Yes, wedding planning. Nigerian weddings are not for the faint of heart, and Trello can help you keep track of everything from vendors to guest lists to aso ebi contributions. Picture this: You’re organizing a friend’s surprise 30th birthday. With Trello, you can create a board for tasks (e.g., cake, DJ, venue) and assign them to different friends. You can even track who hasn’t sent their contribution to the party. No more excuses like, “Ah, I forgot”—the receipts are there.Find on Google Play and Apple App Store RescueTime Do you ever wonder where all your time goes? One minute you’re checking texts on WhatsApp, the next you’ve fallen into a TikTok hole watching skits. RescueTime is here to humble you.This app tracks how you spend your time on your devices. It categorizes activities into productive and unproductive time (e.g., time spent on Word documents versus time spent on Instagram). You’ll get weekly reports and insights that might shock you into changing your habits. Timestream After Focus Booster went defunct this app was introduced as a replacement. Focus booster aided those who struggled with staying focused. It’s based on the Pomodoro Technique—work for 25 minutes, take a 5-minute break, and repeat. The idea is to work in short, intense bursts rather than trying (and failing) to focus for hours straight. This app is especially useful if you’re studying for exams or working from home where distractions are plenty. Microsoft To Do Evernote