A starting point for keeping your database management hassle-free is a good database modeling tool. A good ER diagram is not only about a pretty picture; it can actually carry a lot of secondary data. For example, it may contain all necessary column constraints or additional SQL scripts to be run at a specified time. A good database modeling tool lets you create a physical ER diagram, oversees and validates your model (including your custom data types), and also lets you generate SQL scripts to set up your database or adjust it to the changes in the model.