Unfortunate as it may sometimes appear - unfair even - there's really quite a small limit on how much any of us can do at a time. But that doesn't mean no-one's going to expect us to do more than we can handle, it doesn't mean we won't be expected to be in two places at once or to have anything other than the standard issue single pair of hands. And if we can't stop these demands on our time, then at least we can try and sort them into some kind of order.

A diary, then. Now, I'll be the first to admit that this isn't a revolutionary idea, that you've probably come across diaries from time to time, that there's a good chance you've used a diary at some point or another. This article isn't about a shocking new discovery that having times and dates arranged on a piece of paper will transform your working life, because - as helpful as a diary can be - you probably know that already. You don't need anyone to explain what a diary is for, I know. But perhaps, just perhaps, you're not diarising in the best possible way. Or perhaps not at all, the whole scribbling-down-in-a-leather-bound-book-that-you-got-for-Christmas thing being less appealing than it might be. Or perhaps it's that word diarising, a rather ugly verb. Whatever the reason, it's worth reconsidering the good old diary.

Go digital

Good old diary? No. Traditional paper diaries do still have a place, but it's their newer electronic equivalent that we'll be looking at, for its versatility and dependability. By keeping a diary digitally, using software such as Microsoft Outlook, Google Calendar or Apple iCal, you'll find a number of advantages over a paper diary.

First amongst these is the neatness of it all. No more trying to fit too much information into too small a space, or filling it up with corrections, as any diary software will give you as much space as you need. You'll also be able to see whatever level of detail you require, days, weeks or months (rather than being stuck with however the paper diary has been laid out). You'll also be able to search through your diaries instantly, and have easy access to appointments and events from previous years - or years to come, for the especially well organised amongst us.

All this is very much as you'd expect. A less familiar benefit, however, is in sharing: you can share as much (or as little) of your diary as you'd like, so a colleague who needs to know when you're available can check your schedule automatically, arrange a meeting or task for a time that suits you both and notify you immediately. Rather than one person having to call another and thrash out suitable times between them, it can all be done instantly, making for a much smoother schedule with no risk of clashes or double-bookings.

Of course, set against this, you have the portability of a paper diary, something you can pick up and take with you wherever you go. Computers don't quite fulfil the same function. Fortunately, they don't have to. Most digital diaries - including the three mentioned above - can be accessed from all manner of mobile devices, including phones and tablet computers, ensuring you can always have access to your schedules, appointments and reminders anywhere you happen to be.

Why?

Okay, so it's pretty clear that keeping your diary digitally gives you advantages that are available everywhere. But what if you're still not certain of why having a diary is important for you? Well, as we said right back at the beginning, we can't do everything at once. By clearly portioning out the time we have available between different tasks, a well-kept diary allows us to focus on the task in hand, to prioritise effectively, and to make the best use of available resources. Also, on a personal level, it helps to reduce the stress that can come from feeling overwhelmed by different demands, through knowing clearly what needs to be done (and what doesn't need to be done) at any given time - and, vitally, it makes it easier for us to say no to extra demands being loaded onto our schedule.

You might be surprised by just how much improvement you'll see from setting yourself to keep a thorough and up-to-date diary - particularly if you choose to do so digitally, with all the advantages that brings - and by how much better you'll be able to manage your time and any other resources you have control over. Of many techniques to help you develop better organisation in your work and personal life (and a short training course in organisational skills can have a significant all-round benefit), diary-keeping is one of the simplest and most helpful - organise your time now, and you'll keep profiting from the results over and again.