Based on the Emergent Task Timer worksheets from David Seah, BubbleTimer is a quick and easy to use web application for budgeting, tracking and working towards time management goals. Set up a series of activities, such as work, physical activity, entertainment and personal projects and click to fill in the bubbles representing fifteen minute periods of time. As priorities change or you end up spending time on one task instead of another, you can change a selection from one activity to another. At the end of the timeline are targets you can set, such as more reading or time at work and less time playing video games or watching television, and the goal will change from red to green (and vice-versa) as you live up or down to your personal goals. Export the data, share it with a colleague or print out a copy to carry with you throughout the day. BubbleTimer is free to try for two weeks with registration, with a subscription costing $US20 a year.

Web startup Noomii is a life coaching web site, where you pair with friends to encourage and motivate each other. Much like friends will pair up at a gym to hold each other accountable for early morning workouts, Noomii pairs you with a friend to hold you accountable for your life goals however big or small. Noomii goes beyond simply allowing a friend to see if you've checked "Sign up for Spanish class" off your list. There are support functions like the Wheel of Life, a visual representation of the time you are investing in various aspects of your life such as friends, family, career, money concerns (or any other categories you choose to customise.) Your partner can view your wheel as well as your goal lists and more in your profile, and can point out that your wheel has become unbalanced and rolls more like a brick than a well balanced touring tire. Noomii currently requires you find a partner in real life, but there are plans to begin pairing people with similar goals through the web site itself. Noomii is a free web based service.

Once you get over the idea that people who walk around with a list of personal goals in their pocket are utter self-improvement dweebs, you should make writing your own list a number one priority. There are bookshelves full of annoying self-help hype around the notion of personal goal setting, which is why we're skeptics just like you are. But the truth is, when you feel like you're drifting aimlessly, unhappy with your job, finances, location, fitness level, whatever—it's time to start writing down goals. A personal goals program is a training regimen for your mind: it makes you visualise a finish line in a better place than the one you're in now, and it helps you get there. Let's take a look at why you should shrug off all the cringe-worthy reasons not to think about goals, sit down with a piece of paper, and start writing.

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When you're good-looking, smart, hard-working, or lucky, good things just happen to you—or at least that's how it appears. The teenage entrepreneur who becomes a bazillionaire, the first-time author who sells 60 million copies of her novel, the ADD-afflicted kid who started swimming and took home eight Olympic gold medals—everywhere you turn you hear a story of someone who's achieved almost impossible goals, looking smug and untouchable in all their enviable glory. The part you don't hear, however, is about the moment those people made a decision to try to do something, got laughed at and talked about, doubted themselves because of it, but worked their arse off to get there anyway. That's what goal setting is, and that's why if you want to get anywhere you want to go, you've got to do the same thing.

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Previously mentioned goal-setting application Lifetick has added an iPhone-application which allows basic access to your list of goals and tasks. Lifetick has also incorporated iCalendar support for integration with your preferred desktop calendar. Lifetick is free to test, costs $20 for a full annual subscription.

The recent death of Dave Freeman, author of 100 Things to Do Before You Die, has prompted much discussion of the 'things to do before you die' publishing phenomenon, including this interesting overview from the BBC News site. While list-making is, unsurprisingly, popular here at Lifehacker, I've never been personally convinced of the virtues of the 'deathlist' approach, whether that's listing places to visit, extreme sports to test or even career goals. For one thing, stuff on a list of things to do 'before you die' is rather easy to defer in favour of more urgent tasks. For another, as the BBC article points out, you can easily get into micro-management, creating endless lists of films to see, books to read and places to visit at the expense of doing anything. Have you created a 'before you die' list? Do you enjoy reading the books even if you've got no intention of following up? Let us know in the comments.

Ryan Adams is one of the most prolific musicians in modern music. In the last eight years he averaged a release of one full studio album per year. In one year alone, he released three albums! Since 2000, he has contributed to dozens of other albums and movie soundtracks. One night I stumbled on one of his televised performances, which involved a question and answer session with the audience afterwards. One fan asked how he could write and release so many songs. His answer summed up his work philosophy, one we should all adopt if we want to be successful with our personal goals.

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Everyone hates the dreaded "Where do you see yourself in five years?" question, but it's a lot easier to answer when you've got written goals and a plan to achieve them. CEO Michael Hyatt blogs about how he put together his life plan, which he reviews with a coach every three months.

This process of creating and regularly reviewing my plan has been transformational. As my family, friends, career, and other interests have grown, this document has kept me on track, ensuring that I keep everything in balance (more or less). When things get chaotic, it serves as a map, telling me where I am and how to get back on the path to my intended destination.

Hyatt runs down the three key components in his plan: outcomes, priorities, and action plans. While it sounds like a lot of expensive executive coach-speak for people who wear suits to work, have a personal secretary, and a corner office, if you can get past the stiff terminology, there's something here for anyone wondering how the heck to plot out their career and life path.

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Aussie-developed Lifetick applies a shiny Web 2.0 interface to setting and managing goals, both long and short-term. Sure, it feels a bit Oprah Winfrey at times (the first stage is setting Core Values and Goals), but having an online system does make it easier to measure your progress towards long-cherished ideas. You can tinker with the site for free in a reduced functionality mode, though the full version costs US$20 a year.

You don't need to plunk down $150 for a Wii Fit to track your progress toward a healthier body—even if that downhill skiing game looks mighty fun. If you're trying to curb unnecessary calories and stick to an exercise plan, there are tons of free applications that want to see you succeed. Whether you're facing a fast-food menu or polishing off a light entree, you can log, track, and make healthy decisions from your desktop, or just as easily from a phone. Take a look at a few suggestions for accomplishing your fitness goals, after the jump. Photo by angela7dreams.

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