38 Free Time Management Templates

By Kate Eby | May 8, 2017 (updated December 29, 2023)

We’ve compiled the most useful collection of free time management templates designed for project managers, project sponsors, scrum masters, shift managers, event coordinators, students, and others. These user-friendly templates will help you optimize your time and productivity, enabling you to efficiently accomplish your goals and tasks. 

Included on this page, you’ll find a time management plan template, a time management calendar template, a daily planner template, a weekly schedule template, and a homework schedule template, and more. Plus, find general tips for using time management templates to optimize your time.

24-Hour Activity Log Template

24-Hour Activity Log Template

 

Download a 24-hour Activity Log Template for

Excel | Smartsheet

An activity log provides a record of how you are spending your time on a daily and weekly basis. Similar to the time study template above, this time management spreadsheet captures all of your tasks in one place so that you can see exactly where your time is going. This Excel template is intended to record your full day, not just work hours. To use the template, keep track of all your activities over a period of time, and then assess how your time is being spent and where you’d like to make changes.

Download one of these free timesheet and time card templates to help ensure your team accurately accounts for its time.

Time Management Plan Template

Time Management Plan Template

Download a Time Management Plan Template for 
Excel | Microsoft Word | Adobe PDF 

Use this time management plan template to outline an effective strategy for managing your time and achieving your goals. The template features day-by-day columns for scheduling tasks, meetings, breaks, and other activities in half-hour increments. With its user-friendly design, this template empowers individuals and organizations to optimize their time and resources, enabling them to accomplish their objectives efficiently and maximize their productivity.

Time Management Calendar Template

Time Management Calendar Template

Download a Time Management Calendar Template for 
Excel | Microsoft Word | Adobe PDF 

In today's fast-paced world, effective schedule management is crucial for individuals and organizations. This time management calendar template offers a comprehensive solution for scheduling appointments, activities, deadlines, and other commitments, while also providing a reminder system for important tasks or events. Whether printed and filled out manually or used digitally, this versatile template is designed to help you manage your time efficiently, prevent over-scheduling or double-booking, and maximize the productivity of your valuable time resources.

Time Budget Template

 

Time Budget Template

 

Download a Time Budget Template for

Excel | Smartsheet

When you create a financial budget, you subtract expenses from income and evaluate the difference. For a time budget, subtract all the time spent on various activities (including sleep and personal time) from the 168 hours available in a week. This time budget template is a quick tool for assessing your time management and working toward a balanced schedule.

Ensure optimal time allocation and accurate tracking of hours for your team with this extensive collection of free Excel timesheets and time card templates.

Task Tracker Template

Task Tracker Template

 

Download a Task Tracker Template for

Excel | Smartsheet

This time management sheet allows you to track your time usage along with the priority, status, and due dates of each task. You can modify the spreadsheet to include any additional information, and use the “Comments” column to record notes, provide instructions, or add important reminders. This template is helpful for organizing your to-do list or for creating a log of completed and pending tasks.

Try one of these free task list and checklist templates to ensure that every task is completed by your team, leading to the success of your project.

Daily Planner Template

Daily Planner Template

Download a Daily Planner Template for
Excel | Microsoft Word | Adobe PDF| Smartsheet

Use this versatile daily planner template for comprehensive daily schedule planning. With hour-by-hour intervals broken down into 15-minute increments, you can effectively manage tasks in smaller increments. The template also provides space to list reminders, priorities, and highlight important tasks, allowing you to personalize it for personal or business use.

To explore more ways to optimize your daily scheduling, check out these comprehensive collections of free, downloadable daily task manager templates and daily work schedule templates.

Weekly Schedule Template

 

Weekly Schedule Template Word

 

Download a Weekly Schedule Template for 
Excel | Microsoft Word | Smartsheet

Customize this time management schedule template by setting the desired time interval and start date to meet your specific requirements. Choose from time intervals ranging from 10 to 120 minutes, allowing you to tailor the level of detail according to your preferences. A well-designed weekly schedule incorporates a balance of fixed and flexible activities, enabling you to create a comprehensive plan and establish a structured routine.

To discover more about ensuring that your schedules are fully optimized, see this article on project schedule templates.

Yearly Calendar Template (2024)

 

2024 Yearly Calendar Template

Download the 2024 Yearly Calendar Template for Excel 

If you need a full-year calendar template, this Excel version provides all 12 months in a simple layout that is easy to view and modify. You can use the yearly calendar template for long-term planning while tracking your weekly and monthly schedules. Set both short- and long-term goals, and use the calendar to plan your steps toward meeting those objectives.

Shift Schedule Template

 

Shift Schedule Template

 

Download a Shift Schedule Template for

Excel | Smartsheet

You can use this template to manage daily and weekly shift rotations among employees. The schedule template provides a simple grid for entering the shift type or location for a given time period. You can quickly get a broad overview of the schedule as well as precise work details for each employee. Simply edit the shift descriptions and hourly time intervals to match your business and scheduling needs.

10-Week Planner Template

 

10-Week Planner Template

 

Download a 10-Week Planner Template for

Excel | Smartsheet

Anyone can use this template to create a master 10-week schedule, but students may find it particularly useful for semester planning. The 10-week calendar provides a blank slate for adding whatever activities and due dates you need to track. Planning a schedule over a longer time frame can provide a greater sense of organization and help you work toward longer-term goals.

Four-Year Student Plan Template

 

Four-Year Student Plan Template

 

Download a Four-Year Student Plan Template for

Excel | Smartsheet

This four-year template was designed with college students in mind, and provides sections for each year of school. Plan out which classes you intend to take and the number of credits needed for graduation. With this template, you get a broad overview of your semester, yearly, and four-year plan, which gives you an idea of your course load and helps ensure that you don’t overlook any graduation requirements.

Business Time Study Template

 

Business Time Study Template

 

Download a Business Time Study Template for

Excel | Smartsheet

You can use this Excel template to conduct a workplace time study, tracking how much time is being spent on certain tasks. Record all tasks in the first column, and then add the number of minutes spent on each item for each day. Fill out this template throughout the day to ensure accuracy, and be sure to include break times or unexpected activities that arise. At the end of the week, you’ll know the frequency and duration of interruptions.

Class Schedule Template

 

Class Schedule Template

 

Download a Class Schedule Template for

Excel | Smartsheet

Whether you’re adjusting to the demands of college life and living away from home or approaching graduation with too many tasks to manage easily, a class schedule can help you establish a weekly routine and stay on top of responsibilities. Choose the start time for your day, time interval, and the week’s starting date, and then enter your daily class schedule along with any other appointments, activities, or deadlines. You may also want to dedicate certain hours to studying to make sure you have adequate time set aside.

Homework Planner Template

 

Homework Schedule Template

 

Download a Homework Planner Template for

ExcelMicrosoft Word | Smartsheet

This template lists classes for each week day so that you can create a homework schedule, manage study time, and plan for upcoming due dates. Keeping track of all your assignments in one spreadsheet can give you an idea of how much time you need to devote to homework on a given day or week. You can edit the template for your specific classes, and adjust the dates. Customize this template according to your specific classes and easily modify the dates as needed.

Time Management Templates – Word

Prioritized Task List Template

 

Prioritized Task List

Download Prioritized Task List Template - Word

Word | Smartsheet

Prioritizing tasks can help ensure that important items get done. This simple template in Word format makes it easy to create a hierarchical list, with high-priority tasks at the top and low-priority items at the bottom. If you have many high-priority items to accomplish, consider creating an "If I finish everything else" list -  items you would like to accomplish, but that can wait until you complete all necessary tasks.

Goal Setting Worksheet

 

Goal Setting Worksheet Template

Download Goal Setting Worksheet

Word | Smartsheet

This template is ideal for setting goals and determining strategies for reaching them. Individuals can use this worksheet to better understand their personal goals and what might be getting in the way of reaching them. In a business setting, use this worksheet to identify measurable goals, required resources, and action steps for success. The template can also be used for identifying Key Results Areas (KRA) - the outcomes for which an employee or department is responsible - and plans for achieving those results. Determining specific goals in this manner makes it easier to create a prioritized list of action items.

Procrastination Management Worksheet

 

Procrastination Management Worksheet Template

Download Procrastination Management Worksheet

Word | Smartsheet

Even if you have evaluated your schedule, set attainable goals, and created a long-term plan, you may still find yourself procrastinating. This worksheet can help you identify which activities you tend to put off or avoid altogether. Knowing what areas of your life are most affected by procrastination can provide insight into why you might be neglecting certain tasks and what you can do to change this.

Meeting Agenda Template

 

Meeting Agenda Template

Download Meeting Agenda Template

Word | Smartsheet

A meeting agenda may not be an obvious time management template, but it can help keep a meeting on schedule and ensure priority issues get addressed. With this template, you can set a duration for each agenda item, and assign a timekeeper (who monitors the agenda against time spent on items) to help presenters follow the predetermined schedule.

Cornell Notes Template

 

Cornell Notes Template

Download Cornell Notes Template

Word | Smartsheet

This note-taking template follows the Cornell method. The sheet is divided into two columns - the left for recording questions and the right for taking notes. This creates a condensed and organized note-taking format that makes it easier for students to record and review notes. The template is in Word format and you can print it or email it to share with study group, club or meeting participants.

Time Management Templates - PDF

Printable To-Do List Template

 

Printable To-Do List Template

Download Printable To-Do List Template

PDF | Smartsheet

Creating daily lists is a simple way to remind yourself of what needs to get done, whether you’re checking off appointments and errands, making a grocery list, or keeping track of responsibilities at work. You can also use this to-do list template to create a list of items that you are waiting for others to accomplish, such as work projects or requested services. Another creative use is to create a list of distractions that are keeping you from focusing on tasks at hand. Write down tasks or ideas that you want to tackle or remember so that you can stick to your current schedule.

Printable Bi-Weekly Timesheet

 

Printable Bi-Weekly Timesheet Template

Download Printable Bi-weekly Timesheet

PDF | Smartsheet

This timesheet is ready to print in PDF format and offers a bi-weekly record of employee hours. You can choose to include whatever info is relevant for the job (overtime hours, lunch breaks, sick leave, etc.). The template provides space for tracking the employee’s department and supervisor, as well as the pay period.

What Is a Time Studies Template?

A time studies template is a form used to collect data on the amount of time it takes to finish a specific task. The information can then be used to streamline processes while reducing production time.

10 Tips for Effective Time Management

Not planning a schedule, committing to too many tasks or events, and dealing with the many life distractions can all lead to wasted time and anxiety about how to get everything done. Here are 10 tips to keep in mind as you hone your time management skills:

  1. Determine which activities are fixed vs. flexible. 
    This will vary for each individual, but some items on your schedule are fixed, meaning that they will occur at the same time each week. Others will occur occasionally or have flexibility around when they can be scheduled. Fixed events may include work hours, classes, meetings, mealtimes, church, children’s activities, and hours spent commuting. Flexible items could include time allotted for exercise, household chores, appointments and errands, entertainment, and down time.

  2. Be realistic about how much time you need. 
    Planning out your schedule can help ensure that adequate time has been budgeted for required activities. Having a plan prevents you from having to rush, and also reminds you not to spend too much time on tasks that you can accomplish quickly.

  3. Break tasks down into manageable segments. 
    Some projects are complex and involve multiple steps. Scheduling each step separately can provide a series of manageable goals to accomplish.

  4. Establish a routine. 
    A schedule provides a helpful guide, but establishing consistent habits makes it easier to maintain productivity. Just as healthy eating habits can support wellness, effective time management habits can support a sense of confidence and ease.

  5. Reward yourself. 
    Compensation for time well spent can include scheduling weekend time to ensure that you really get time to relax. If there’s something that motivates you more, use that as an incentive to reward accomplishments.

  6. Be flexible, but don’t get derailed.
    Unexpected events will always arise, and you can adjust your schedule to accommodate them by utilizing free time. After a shift in scheduled time occurs, return to your plan in order to stay on track.

  7. Group tasks to maximize efficiency.
    You can group errands by location and priority, and arrange tasks by type. Embrace multi-tasking by combining activities that work well together. For example, complete laundry while doing other household chores or homework.

  8. Listen to your body. 
    Following the natural cycles of your body can help you create an effective schedule. If you’re a morning person, for instance, you may have more energy for certain things earlier rather than later in the day. You may have a job or school schedule that doesn’t exactly match your natural rhythms, but being aware of your energy levels throughout the day can help you anticipate how much time you may need for a given activity.

  9. Don’t be afraid to delegate. 
    In work or family life, find duties that you can delegate or share with others to help alleviate your workload. While you may give up some control by sharing tasks with others, you may also discover that you have more time to focus on high-priority items and those personal goals that matter the most to you.

  10. Keep your eyes on the prize.
    Whether you’re focusing on short-term action steps or long-term goals, use these objectives for motivation. This can help you stick to your time management schedule and foster a sense of achievement.

There are many time management tools that you can use to help schedule time, from mobile apps to calendars and multi-year plans. Below, you’ll find a variety of templates with basic formatting and a professional appearance that can help you manage your personal and professional time better. Download the templates that work for you and customize them to fit your needs.  


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