The Never Late Call – Set alarms for appointments

Anyone who has stayed in a hotel is familiar with the “wake up” call that can be requested in the event that you cannot tell or trust your room alarm clock. This additional alarm ensures that the meeting or out-of-town event planned for the next day is not missed or late entry. Being on time for meetings and other appointments should be a constant practice. For those who want to be on time all the time, get a personal alarm. To put your personal alarm to use whenever and wherever, consider many of the alternatives below, find one that fits, and learn how to use it. For those who are always on the go or out of the office, choose to use a phone alarm or personal clock. If you’re mostly at the office, when you need to go out for appointments, consider using the computer or getting a clock or timer to keep on your desk.

The telephones they work well for alarms because almost every adult carries a cell phone now. Most cell phones come with an appointment or alarm function. It’s just a matter of finding it in the many menu options or consulting the user guide. For those with a smartphone, if the built-in alarm that may come with the phone doesn’t meet your alarm preferences, search online for the iPhone or Droid apps to find something that better suits your personal needs. Look for an alarm that can be set based on a calendar date and time, as well as set a daily alarm, if you like, for the wake-up call.

watches They are not as “in” as they used to be, but many still love the ease of wear, fashion statement, or status symbol this piece of jewelry can provide. Clocks mainly indicate the current time, but can also display the date or indicate the time in other places. If the clock is digital, it may have an alarm function that can be set. Read the instructions that came with the watch or ask the jeweler where you bought it. Most clock alarms only have a single time setting, which becomes a daily alarm if it is not turned off or reset to another time.

computers they typically have access to an email tool and within most email tools there is a calendar tool to keep track of appointments. The best calendar tools also include an alarm or reminder feature that can be set for appointments. Please refer to the “help” function to find out how to create an appointment and set an alarm reminder that goes off 10 minutes or more before the scheduled appointment.

desk accessories It may not be as high-tech as the options above, but it’s okay to go low-tech if it works. Consider placing a digital alarm clock, small travel clock, or simple kitchen timer on your desk. Then use it to set and reset alarms so you can be on time for meetings or leave for other appointments. A timer or alarm can also be used to limit the amount of time spent individually working on a particular project or to keep track of group time spent on meeting agenda items. Using a timer as a simple alarm is one way to signal when it’s time to move on to something new.

Highly mobile people do better with a phone or alarm clock; however, those in the office may find their computer, desk clock, or a simple timer just as effective. Consider the work style and review the alarm alternatives to find a setting and learn how to use it well. An alarm clock as a standard time management practice helps you get to meetings and appointments on time. This practice can show trustworthiness and indicate concern for others, as people no longer wait for someone who is late.