Personal information management can help you organize every aspect of your personal and professional life, from this week's appointments to your company's annual report.

Personal info management, also called PIM, involves more than making a to-do list; PIM systems also help you prioritize projects, estimate how long is needed, and collaborate with colleagues. PIM planners can range from simple event calendars or personal organizers to more complex software or web-based systems.

With personal information management, you can:

1. Have email reminders sent to you about deadlines or appointments.
2. Collaborate with colleagues on projects.
3. Import tasks from other personal organizers, for storing in a central location.
4. Categorize tasks based on context.
5. Set short-term and long-term goals.
   

Action Steps
The best contacts and resources to help you get it done

For greater access, consider web-based personal information management

Some of the most popular PIM systems are free, and, because they're web-based, you can access them from any computer--so you can update your information from home or work, or even while you're on a business trip. In addition to standard features like to-do lists, custom calendars, and printable calendars, many of these personal organizers include advanced features for more efficient short- and long-term planning.

I recommend: RememberTheMilk includes a map for plotting tasks, so you can track what errands are near each other, or what's on your way to and from work. Toodledo has a goal-setting feature, where you can set goals for the week, month, even year, and assign specific tasks to these goals, helping you stay focused on the tasks that contribute to your long-term plans.

Use a PC-based personal information management system to better manage your time

Time management software can help you not only track all of your projects and appointments, but also determine the best way to allocate time and resources to these tasks.

I recommend: Achieve Planner is designed for tracking multiple tasks, and includes a multi-level outlining function, so you can break larger tasks down into their smaller components. It also includes the Task Chooser, which uses an algorithm to create a strategic list of tasks to work on. With Actual Planner, you can not only keep track of tasks and appointments, but also save contact information for friends and associates, take notes, and even keep a blog.

Choose a personal information manager that handles other business-related tasks

For the ultimate in productivity, find personal organizers that not only help you manage your daily to-do list, but also assist in creating documents, presentations and databases. Using one program, you can handle all of your most important business tasks.

I recommend: The TreePad Business Edition is a personal information manager, database, word processor, organizer, presentation tool and website generator. It also includes password protection and encryption for secure storage of sensitive information like PINs, passwords and serial numbers. TreePad also comes with a tool for the creation and distribution of eBooks. BackPack's personal and professional personal info management systems provide a central storage location for company-related information like press mentions, frequently used forms, lunch menus, even a section for listing job candidates and notes on their interviews.

Tips & Tactics

Helpful advice for making the most of this Guide

• •  With the increasing interest in the study of personal information management, there's a wealth of PIM information in print and online about the most effective ways to manage time and organize tasks and information. To make the most of the PIM system you choose, combine your new tool with research into the latest PIM information.