Life management software

[Josip]

Hi,

is there any good (and not much expensive) software for management of different areas of life, like personal time management, ideas, thoughts, projects, personal contacts, events, motivation etc.?

There are very much self improvement books, articles, forums etc., but is there any good self improvement software?

Josip

[Trustme]

The only little gadget that comes to my mind is sciral consistency. That's only a small tool but you might like it: Sciral - Home

I don't use it and although I use various task and project managers I don't have a life management application. I use Excel and paper for this.

Anyway - if someone has a life management application for macro goal management I'd like to see it

[DmitryDavydov]

Originally Posted by Josip

There are very much self improvement books, articles, forums etc., but is there any good self improvement software?

Josip

I SERIOUSLY DOUBT that it's even possible to create wokring self-improvement software.

You see, the whole irony is that self improvement takes REAL WORK, and many people who are really into SE don't want to do any work. They want quick and easy SE - buy a book, read this article, attend a seminar, get some software. Sorry, bud. Ain't gonna work.

[Josip]

Originally Posted by DmitryDavydov

They want quick and easy SE - buy a book, read this article, attend a seminar, get some software. Sorry, bud. Ain't gonna work.

But, the fact is, there IS really a lot of self improvement seminars, articles, books etc. Why there is no much software of that kind?

Anyway, "work" is not enough particular term. You can work on smart or stupid way, no? I did not mean to avoid work, but to work smarter.

[Ilya]

Originally Posted by Josip

Hi,
is there any good (and not much expensive) software for management of different areas of life, like personal time management, ideas, thoughts, projects, personal contacts, events, motivation etc.?

If I understood you correctly, yes there is. There is a lot of time-management software, mindmap software (this is good for ideas, thoughts), there is some project management software, some contact management software.
If it is good for you, it's for you to decide. You may have to look through some, before choosing.

[Ilya]

Originally Posted by DmitryDavydov

I SERIOUSLY DOUBT that it's even possible to create wokring self-improvement software.

I'd say a crazy thing, but I think that videogames have the greatest potential.
Not the current mainstream games, of course. And not all of the skills can be excersised. Play is the best and the most natural way to aquire skills. And if game developers took care and created some games on time management, goal setting, productivity, this could be very interesting. Not as good as real-life, but much better then reading a book.
Alas, the investors don't seem to be interested.

[Vanessa]

I would check out 43 Folder's software recommendations. It's generally one of the best kept directories of software for self improvement.

I'm personally chomping at the bit to use Scrybe.

I also use 37 Signals's Backpack for personal projects and Basecamp for larger work projects.

[Blaiz]

here is a software for home finance and time and stuff
I havent tried it but it might be what your looking for
Smart Home Manager

[Beautiful Future]

As a software junkie/ stats geek, I've become way more productive since I started using the free version of Timesheet Xpress - the amount of useful work I could actually record having done seemed so pitiful in the begining that I could only be motivated to do more Furthermore, it shows me how I've divided my time, breaking it down as much or as little as I want to, and allows me to see when something last had my attention, thus feeding several neglected projects that might otherwise have died of starvation

For events, calendar, contacts and virtually everything else you've mentioned, I use The Journal - (I also use it for journaling too. Radical, huh? ) It's not free, but is very cheap considering what you can do with it, and has quite a long trial period. I think I found this one after it got a mention on here somewhere.

Lots of people on the forums use PowerPoint to create vision boards, but I use MS Publisher. I just have a big landscape orientated page covered in a 'cork-board' type background, and paste any inspiring images I come across onto it as I go, resizing as necessary. I also use Word Art on it for the odd motivational word or snippet of phrase.

Even as geeky as I am, that lot's enough for me

[lou0207]

Originally Posted by Josip

Hi,

is there any good (and not much expensive) software for management of different areas of life, like personal time management, ideas, thoughts, projects, personal contacts, events, motivation etc.?

There are very much self improvement books, articles, forums etc., but is there any good self improvement software?

Josip

Hi, I have spent some time researching software and here is a real brief overview because I feel this a very personal thing and if you join some blogs on this subject you will find that many people are customizing generic software.
Heres what I've found,
Franklin- Covey has made a good effort to go from paper to Electronic but I was dissapointed with the latest version of Plan Plus for windows. I am a long time "7 Habits" follower and I though the software follows the concept well it felt very combersome and chunky. has good relationship with digital paper and decent journaling features all for around $70.
On the other end (for free) please try Thinking Rock. It is a real value for the price. Basically a simple way to organize your thoughts and structure them into projects.
I am switching to MY Life Organized. This is simpilar to Thinking Rock but much more powerful and well worth the $55? MLO comes with templates for GTD and 7 Habits styles of oranizing and has PPC sister software.
I gave up on finding an all in one software that did all of the fore mentioned plus email. It comes back to customizing my tools in each area.
for email and calendar based events and task I am using Mozzilla Thunderbird with the Lightning plug-in. I am pulling out of the MS Office stuff in support of Open Source, so Outlook only serves as a link to my employers office and related projects.
Visit Life Hacker along with 43 folders for GTD info, good stuff there!
hope this helps!
Lou

[shmalphy]

I thought I invented such an idea and then googled it. I was thinking along the lines of business intelligence but life intelligence. I just downloaded Timesheet free so I think that is what I was looking for. Thanks for the tip!

[dannielo]

Originally Posted by Josip

Hi,

is there any good (and not much expensive) software for management of different areas of life, like personal time management, ideas, thoughts, projects, personal contacts, events, motivation etc.?

There are very much self improvement books, articles, forums etc., but is there any good self improvement software?

Josip

You may try http://www.Gtadgenda.com

[gblunt99]

I'm trying to find a simple Progress Tracker. There are quite a few for weight loss and fitness, and lots for business. But the business ones are way too detailed for what I want. I'm writing a book, and I want a simple chart that shows the page number I'm at in a graph. Each day I would add the new page number, and would have the pleasure of seeing the bars on the graph get bigger. (Of course I could just print out the paper and have the pleasure of watching the stack grow, but it doesn't give quite the same instant feedback that can help fuel productivity.) I know Excel can do this sort of thing, but I've never used it and I don't want to wast tons of time learning a complex interface just to make such a simple chart. Any suggestions much appreciated.

[magi13]

Freemind is a nice software, it's a free version of mindmap software. Give it a go, it's free.

[jaydeschizo]

Well, if you're looking for software that can also help track your time, check out the link in my signature. (no it's not an affiliate link since the software is free)

[Peek]

I tried a lot of those fast blitsy software stuff. The point is, you still have to DO something.

So for 2 years, I'm cozy and comfy with the Journal, like Mr Steve recommended.
It might take a while before you have put it in your favorable use, but everything I like and want are in one sight.

I have a category for my goals, daily journal, weekly planning, lists, and every day I see and do something there in those area's.
When I open my journal, automatically I see my goals. ( I have only 2 major ones at a time. )
Put it on a cute USB and off you go.

Hope it is helpful.

[gblunt99]

Thanks for the replies, everybody. Checked out the various software briefly. All of them are far too complicated for what I want, which would actually be more like a widget than a program: just a simply x/y graph, or two-variable table maker. The trouble is, it's far too simple for anyone to bother making it.

[magi13]

^^ what about hardware. I journal is fun and handy. Although you need a pen and a paper to use this.

I use a small journal around the size of an index card and I've used it as a storehouse of my good ideas. ^,^

Try it.