Do electronic organizers save time-or waste it?

There are many types of computerized organizing products that claim to save us time. We can choose between Outlook, Act!, Goldmine, Day-Timer, InfoSelect, Now, and many more. Some people call it contact management software; some call it information management software-- PIM for short. And then there are the PDAs, such as the popular Palm Pilot and the various copycat handhelds. But when I see how people use these products, it seems that many are just scratching the surface. They're getting only a fraction of the potential time-saving benefits because they don't know how to choose and use the products.

Importance of Having Realistic Expectations
Stephen Covey observed that many people seek a "Magic Tool" which they hope will magically, effortlessly, get them organized. But in reality it's not that simple: In addition to choosing the right tool and using it properly, we must manage paper and phone calls, set priorities, deal with crises, juggle multiple projects, and plan for the future. Many people have a To-Do list dozens of items long, including tasks that have been waiting for months. Is such a list more effective just because it's "in the computer"? Obviously, no.

Choose Carefully, Then Learn to Use It
Don't get me wrong -- I'm no Luddite. I love computers. I'm totally dependent on my contact management and scheduling software -- it literally saves me hours each week. (In case you're curious, I use Goldmine). Yet few people seem to get the full benefit of ACT!, Outlook, Goldmine, Pilot, or whatever they're using. For some users, these products even waste as much time as they save -- although the victim is too close to the situation to see it. Perhaps they never really learned to use it, so they're only using a fraction of its potential. Or they're using the wrong software for their needs. Many people even use two or three software packages that do basically the same thing -- so the time wasted switching back and forth (not to mention the confusion that results!) outweighs any benefits.

It's Still Up To You
Truth is, calling such software or handheld computers "organizers" is a misnomer. They're really just places to store information. In themselves, they do not organize anything. WE do --through a comprehensive system of time, paper, task, and information management. So, if you're tempted to buy an electronic "Magic Tool," choose very carefully. Then, once you've bought it, take the time to find out all it can do -- and then use it to the max!