Time management is a skill we all desire, isn’t it? To be able to block our time neatly, a beautiful and crisp schedule to follow perfectly. It’s a dream, really. It hardly seems like it’s possible to be able to be as productive as we can every day. It seems like a fantasy to be able to manage time wisely, and perfectly, making sure that every hour is filled with something of substance and not just doom-scrolling. Time management tools seem like a necessity, but what could possibly be the good ones?
Well, don’t you worry, because it’s not as impossible as it may seem. We’ve gone over so many productivity and time management tips, but one of the most helpful things with time management are the tools that aid you with it. These tools can help you wil aspects of time management that would be so much harder to do manually. They are curated specifically for your ease of use, and the best of those tools is what I’ll be sharing with you today.
What is Time Management?
Understanding what time management is, and the need for it, is so incredibly important to know before discussing anything else about time management, even the time management tools. Now, I know what you may be thinking, “I already know what time management is. What more is there to know?”. This question is most definitely valid. The reason you are reading this article is because you already have a perception of time management, which you want to obtain for yourself.
However, sometimes a more detailed explanation of time management might be important. It can help you understand your overall goals as a person, especially when you want to aim for better productivity. So, what exactly is time management? Time management is essentially being able to manipulate your time to optimize for the most productive and fulfilling day.
Why You Should Use Time Management Tools
The next point to note is why these time management tools are important. Of course, you would probably think that much of the stuff you do with these tools are things you can easily do manually. As you read on in my article, you will find that many of the time management tools are pomodoro timers and apps that simply give you ways of organizing tasks to specific times. These tasks seem too easy, and niche, and something you can do by yourself even if you do use your phone. So, why should you specifically use these tools?
Well, the thing with these tools is that they are designed for your time management. Unlike your clock app on your phone, they don’t just give you the appliances, not intended for anything other than what you make of it. This makes it easy for you to get carried away or confused, and eventually, you will most probably drop the whole plan soon after. These tools stay on you. They are designed by people who know our human habits, and are made to keep you using them in your daily life for as long as you can.
Essentially, the point is that these time management tools are very important and helpful, no matter how easy it seems to do it yourself. Why put yourself through all that extra labor when an easy application is right there to help you do the same? Time management is supposed to make your life easier by helping you understand when to do what. Trying to keep up with it all manually isn’t really making your life easier, especially when there are time management tools that are quite literally made for that exact purpose.
Top 5 Time Management Tools
So, let’s finally get into the meat of this article. The top best time management tools for you to use, especially as a student. Many of these apps are directed to students, and our age group in general. As you go down the line, you’ll see how some of the engagement is stuff that tend to be things younger people like. And, to be completely honest they do it really well! I’ve looked through many time management tools to find on your phone, and these are the top 5 best ones I found
#5 : DreamLauncher
Name : DreamLauncher
Availability : Apple App Store only
Rating : 8 out of 10
DreamLauncher is a great app, and it’s specifically for students. It gives you messages for you to understand how your screen-time is affecting your life. As you must know, our use of screen-time as a generation is terrible. In fact, the average screen-time for teenagers in 2025 is over 7 hours, which accounts for around 43% of our waking hours. We need to put an end to this terrible wastage of precious time, and the only way we can do this is by taking it into our own hands. These tools and applications, including DreamLauncher, are meant to help you with this.
How It Works
After you complete all the initial privacy and notification processes, DreamLauncher opens up straight to a slideshow showing how much time has been wasted on the screen. It shows you the hours you’ve spent on your phone during the day, and how much time that could translate to in an entire year. As you move along the slide show, you’ll see the screen-time data per day, derived from the screen-time data that you already find in your iPhone. It shows you which categories of applications you have used mostly, and the apps you’ve used most within each of those categories. It is also connected to your Health app, and if you track your sleep and exercise there, those parts are taken into account as well.
There is also a plus sign right at the bottom right corner of the screen. If you press it, you can set limits on distracting apps. You have three columns here. You can select the distracting apps that you are trying to reduce your time using, how much time you want to be allowed to use it before it being valued, and finally how much time you want to have to wait before this application opens when you press on it. All of these are greatly helpful in managing your screen-time. Even the delayed opening, seemingly pointless, helps greatly with screen-time. If the app opens slowly, you won’t want to open the app as much.
These are the main tools you will find in this application. Of course, there are numerous other parts to DreamLauncher, like the weekly leaderboard, but these parts are the most helpful parts of the app, as well as the parts you will most probably use the most.
Advantages
- Effective in bluntly showing screen-time usage
- Visually appealing
- Connects to other phone applications
- Designed for students and teenagers
Disadvantages
- Messages can be perceived as harsh and/or melodramatic
- No facilities other than screen-time tools
- Not fully a time-management app
- Only on the Apple app store
#4 : Timelines
Name : Timelines
Availability : Apple App Store only
Rating : 8 out of 10
Timelines are yet another amazing option for students to use. It offers you many facilities, making it more than just one of those time management tools. It gives you ways to organize your tasks, timelines, and overall screen-time management. Overall, timelines are an incredible and efficient option for your time management as a student. So finally, let’s see how we can use Timelines.
How It Works
Timelines can look like a lot at first. There are five taps on the bottom of the screen. The first one is the Tracking tab. Here, you can track the numerous tasks you have in line that you want to track. Without Premium, you can add 3 different tasks. When you press the task, an automatic timer appears. It tracks how much time you spend on the said task. In the Event tab in the second tab, it’ll track the times you spent on the tasks you just tracked. In the following tab, the Timeline tab, you will find a time line that also tracks down the time sent on each activity.
The 4th tab is the Goals tab. This tab would allow you to keep goals on how much time you spend on specific tasks. Unfortunately, this tab is only available if you get Premium, which I know most of us do not want to do. If goal-setting is one thing you’re interested in, fear not. Even if this app doesn’t have a goal setting feature, I have a method for you to easily do it yourself. It’s simple, but it’s also very helpful to you. You can use goal-setting for anything, both school and your extracurriculars, but it will always help you with finding the success you want. Here are the quick steps to follow:
- Figure out what the goal is for
- Decide on long-term or short-term
- Determine the true benefit of the goal
- Plan out reaching your goal
- Start immediately
Of course, these steps are really brief and don’t give you the sufficient information to actually set a strong goal. If you want to learn in depth about each of these steps to goals-setting, be sure to check out the article on tips to goal-setting. Here, not only will you find the full instructions to define and take action with each of the steps, but you’ll also find examples of goals you can make, and implement them in your own life!
Advantages
- Offers numerous facilities
- Visually appealing
- Connected to your other Apple applications
Disadvantages
- Some aspects require premium
- Can be difficult to understand
- Not as engaging as some of the other apps on this list
- Only on Apple app store
#3 : Focus Tomato
Name : Focus Tomato
Availability : Apple App Store only
Rating : 8.5 out of 10
Focus Tomato is one incredible app to use. The art-style within this is very charming, and any viewer would find it to be great. It gives you a simple and easy-to-use interface for you to work with, making it especially easy for students with a lot to do. It’s not just a tool for studying, as are many of the tools on this list. It is for managing your overall time, and can be used for anything you so desire. So, how exactly do you use this tool?
How It Works
Focus Tomato has a pretty simple interface for you to understand. Once you open the app, you’ll see a Pomodoro timer. Close to it a “start” text in red. Press it, and your timer for focus will begin. Once you finish the timer, you can start the timer again, let it keep going overtime, or move on to a rest timer. This you can find being the first tab at the bottom of your screen. When you open the Rest tab, you will be brought to a separate screen with a timer to keep your breaks concise and on schedule.
Both the focus and rest times will be added to your timeline, which you can find on your Timeline tab right next to the Rest tab. Here you will see all the times you have spent with focus and studying for every day that you use Focus Tomato. You will also find a plus sign in the top left corner. If you click it, you can manually add a break or focus time along with its duration, in case you forget to time it through the app. You will find the overall time spent focusing right next to the date on top of the timeline of your day.
The final tab you will find is the Setting tab. Here, you can do much of the normal things, like enabling or disabling sound effects. But, you can also change the more fun aspects of the app! There are 4 different home visuals to choose from, each with fun little sketches that you are sure to love. You can change the notification sound effects, vibrations, and even enable white noise. For the Rest page, there’s an “eyes on you” mode, where the test will change to “working hard”.
Advantages
- Charming artstyle
- Visually appealing
- Simple to use + easy-to-follow instructions
- Has everything you need with a very simple format
Disadvantages
- Some aspects limited to premium
- Not many facilities other than managing screen-time
- Limited to the Apple app store
#2 : Focus To-Do
Name : Focus To-Do
Availability : Apple App Store and Google Play Store
Rating : 9 out of 10
Down to the top 2 on our list, we have Focus To-Do. Focus To-Do is an incredible multi-faceted time management tool that anyone should have. It has the signature Pomodoro timer, like many of the other applications on this list. However, that is far from the only thing Focus To-Do has to offer. It includes strict modes for you to use when you want as much focus as possible, and even a little forest to represent your progress in time management through the app! So, let’s look in more detail on how to use Focus To-Do.
How It Works
Focus To-Do has quite a bit going on with it, so there’s quite a bit you can use it for. The first thing you’ll find is the Pomodoro timer, like many of the other apps on this list. Click the “start to focus” button and the timer will begin. You change the duration of the timer, of course. Press on the circle in which the clock is in, and a number line of sorts will appear. Just drag to whatever amount of time you want to use. You can also change the mode of the timer by clicking the Timer Mode tab at the bottom of the screen. It can either be a timer or a stopwatch.
There are numerous other tools to use for this timer as well. You can set the timer full screen for better focus. You can also enable white noise, with 3 different options you can use to automatically play when you begin the focus timer. There is also a strict mode here, and numerous versions of it. You can block apps that distract you, you can make sure the timer only plays when your phone is flipped, and you prohibit yourself from exiting the app.
The Main Menu
However, before you start the timer, you need a task to assign the focus time to. For this, press the arrow at the top of the screen, and it will bring you to a length menu. You can click Today to add tasks to today’s list, tomorrow to add some to tomorrow, and so on. If you look close to the bottom of the list, you will find the Tasks tab, which is an inbox of the tasks you have created. Another thing you can do is add a project. Here, you can add tasks related to said project that you want to focus on. On top of each of these sections you will find data on how much time you’ve spent focusing for each respective section. If you want to look at your stats, go to the top right corner of the menu page, and see the data chart icon. Click on it to view your data.
Finally, you have a small forest, which you can find at the top of your screen in the menu. A little plant icon is what you’ll find there, and just click on it to open your very own forest! Here, your achievements in the app are tracked in a fun way to continue growing a small seedling into a full blown garden!
Advantages
- Strict mode which helps greatly with screen-time management
- Visually appealing
- Numerous other facilities
- Easy to use
- Available on both Apple and Android
- Forest to grow as you use the tool!
Disadvantages
- No place for managing tasks (events are only in calendar)
- The two coming up are more engaging
#1 : Study Bunny
Name : Study Bunny
Availability : Apple App Store and Google Play Store
Rating : 9.5 out of 10
Last, but most definitely not the least, we have Study Bunny. Study Bunny has all the time management parts of all the other apps on the list, but so much more! From a timer to time block your activities, to sounds to play during your focus sessions, these tools are all found within this application. But the part about Study Bunny that puts it in the #1 spot isn’t the tools itself. It’s the interactivity, and most importantly bunny! So, let’s look into it, shall we?
How It Works
Study Bunny is one of the most fun of the time management tools! The first thing you see when you open the app is a cute bunny inside a bedroom. Click the three lines at the top right corner to open the menu. The first icon is a book, and when you click on it, you’ll find the timer. It will first be a countdown timer, like a normal Pomodoro timer. You can use the slider right below it to change the amount of time. If you click the “countdown” button, you’ll find 2 other timer modes, stopwatch and break. When you use the countdown and stopwatch modes, you will earn coins for your focusing. However, with the break mode, you won’t earn any coins. What do you do with these coins? Well, I’ll get right back to that!
The Rest of the Icons
Right next to the timer icon, you’ll find a chart icon. Here, you can see the data on your focus times. Right next to it is a shopping cart icon. When you click on it, you’ll find the shop! Here, you can buy things for the bunny using the coins you earn from focusing. It’s a very fun and engaging way to keep you focusing and improving your time management and productivity skills! The bunny is really cute, and always is something you want to take care of.
In the second row, there is a list icon, which is your To-Do list. You can add any tasks here that you want to complete during the day. Right next to it is a very unique feature, that isn’t just its engagement. The icon right next to it brings a flashcards area, where you can make flashcards to use for study. It’s a very neat tool, especially for students, to keep a lot of your materials for productivity in one place.
Next down the line is the music tool, where you can play different sounds, and also buy some, for during focus. The next few icons are just app announcements, user log-in, settings, and premium aspects for anyone who would want to buy it. Down at the very last row of icons, you will find a light bulb. This will give you a list of YouTube videos to advise you on time management, productivity, and studying. The icon right next to it would be where you check in everyday, to track your progress on the app.
Now let’s look at the bunny itself. You can buy appliances, clothes, and decorations for the bunny. You also have to feed it. This is something you can do by watching ads to gain carrots, and by leveling up. You level up by using the app for time management more and more. If you would want, you can purchase carrots, but that is not completely necessary.
Advantages
- Interactive and engaging app
- Numerous facilities and tools
- Visually appealing
- Fun and cute bunny!
Disadvantages
- Some aspects are limited to premium
- Can start to seem a little too much to some
Conclusion
So, there it is. The top best time management tools for you to use everyday. Each one of these are special in their own way, providing you with everything you need to properly manage your time. Each of these are ones I selected from my own experiences with the app, specifically to advise all of you on what would be best for you to use. Some of us like simplicity, and for that you would opt for something like Focus Tomato. If you want something specifically interactive, Study Bunny is a great choice. If you want something up front and motivating, maybe DreamLauncher is what you’re looking for. Either way each one of these tools are what you can use to better your life, for more productivity in your life. So, go on! Start downloading and time managing your life!
