For some of us, tracking our time may seem agonizingly unnecessary and tedious. I personally use time tracking quite a bit, and I like to encourage many of my clients and friends to try it out.
Time Tracking: Time Audit
Sometimes time tracking can be used for what I like to call a time audit. In this case, I will track the time I spend on a specific area of my life or business. The goal here is to collect data, which I can then use to get clear on which time investments are working and moving the needle, and which ones are essentially diverting time away from my goals and values.
Time auditing is certainly a larger commitment to time tracking, especially because I usually suggest taking at least a week to track time before evaluating anything. However, it provides an opportunity to get super honest with yourself about how you’re spending your time, and if these time expenditures are supporting your goals or slowing you down. Through this work you can hone your focus to make time for the worthwhile time investments, and cut out some of the time you spend on the superfluous things.
Time Tracking: Task Management
If you’re looking for a simpler commitment to help hone your focus, I like to use time tracking as a task management strategy.
I got serious with this strategy a few years ago when I began doing hourly contract work. Accurately tracking the time I spent working on a project was critical for getting paid correctly.
It took me a while, but I came to realize that this ongoing practice of time tracking for contracted work gave new discipline to my focus.
When I track my time on a task or project it takes a lot of tedious steps to get distracted. It sounds funny, doesn’t it, but it’s true. If I want to shift my attention when I’m time tracking, I’d need to make sure my progress is saved, click over to my online time tracker, stop the clock, and then shift to whatever caught my attention.
I could, of course, keep the time tracker going if, say, I was just responding to a quick text and then hoping back to work. But something about the conscious act of tracking my time has steered me toward a desire to avoid distractions no matter how “quick.”
Now, when I’m working on something (even if it isn’t paid client work), I am much less likely to have unneeded tabs open on my computer or loud ringtones alerting me of any new notification on my phone.
If you’re worried about in-person distractions, try the Pomodoro Technique. By tracking work time in 25 minute increments, you have a clear definition of when you are and are not available to address a non-urgent concern. Can it wait 15 minutes until you’re done with your work block? Communicate that and leave it to be addressed then.
If you’re ready to try this out, feel free to use any type of timer, you don’t need to invest in any particular software. Make it as simple as possible to get started. Use the timer on your phone, or snag the magnetic kitchen timer on your fridge.
Give yourself some time to adjust to this, but be honest when you shift focus away from your task. Try to keep accurate time.
Have any thoughts or questions? I’d love to hear them!