Comments on: And we’re off!

By: Beth

Beth — Tue, 12 Sep 2023 14:32:40 +0000

I like the bit about how looking back at your time logs helps you call up memories.
I just finished reading Ray Bradbury’s Dandelion Wine, and there’s a scene at the end of the book (the end of summer, coincidentally) where the grandfather is saying how all the days blur together as you get older. The ten-year-old grandson is recalling all the fun things he did each day that week and saying he’ll always remember (but we know he won’t).
I guess that’s another unexpected benefit of time tracking. It’s nice to be able to look back and remember when I had ice cream at that place on the boardwalk, or the day I noticed the leaves begin to turn. I think it makes life more meaningful and keeps the days from all blurring together.

By: Laura Vanderkam

Laura Vanderkam — Tue, 12 Sep 2023 12:22:04 +0000

In reply to Lily.

@Lily – if there are any natural break points in your day you could always make a habit of tracking then – like when you sit back down after a water/snack/bathroom break you write down what you’ve done. If you have planned out the day closely that can help with tracking – not that life always follows the plan, but you generally know that you were planning to work on X from 8:30-10:30 so most likely your log will say you worked on X. Maybe some lawyers here can check in with their strategies for making the 6-minute increment tracking work…

By: Laurence Hansen

Laurence Hansen — Mon, 11 Sep 2023 23:55:04 +0000

In reply to Lily.

Lily,
I’m not sure what level of detail you need to track for work, but I’m reminded of a banker and friend who simply kept a composition notebook with her at all times (at work).
She started each new day on a new page, and whenever she transitioned from one meeting or activity to another, noted the time, any closing remarks about what was just finished, and what was being started. For her, it had become part of muscle memory to pull out the notebook at every transition and interruption.
That didn’t work for me, but it might be helpful for you.
With this approach, at any significant break, you can eyeball the amounts of time for key categories and enter them in the time tracker sheet.
Just one perspective on making it easy so it can become a habit.

By: Lily

Lily — Mon, 11 Sep 2023 21:33:35 +0000

In reply to Laurence Hansen. Any tips on keeping up with time tracking would be most welcome! I’m supposed to track for work and it’s such a bear. I really struggle to keep up with it.

By: Laurence Hansen

Laurence Hansen — Mon, 11 Sep 2023 19:07:18 +0000

In reply to Laura Vanderkam.

Laura, Just back from my morning walk and saw your reply. Thanks.
While walking, I remembered that time tracking helps support good planning and sticking to plan. That ties directly into what I was having trouble with when I decided to be evaluated for ADHD.
The ADHD evaluation process and follow-up counselling underscored the importance of systems and tools to help me stay on track. A futile search for a useful time management/tracking tool, and dramatic improvements in “no-code” app development tools pushed me to begin building a tool that works for me.
But the reality of ADHD and some weaknesses in my app still present hurdles to staying on top of my time tracking.
I *know* that time tracking helps counteract ADHD to get more done every day, and ADHD is the primary barrier to time tracking, but this 168 hour challenge is the right thing to help me stay on track, at least for this week.
🙂

By: Laura Vanderkam

Laura Vanderkam — Mon, 11 Sep 2023 17:21:54 +0000

In reply to Laurence Benjamin Hansen. @Laurence - nice work on the 5 a.m. meditation! Yep, ADHD can make recording more difficult. But I also think knowing how time is spent can help people with ADHD make choices and adjustments, so it can be worth at least attempting. I'm glad your software is making it easier!

By: Laurence Benjamin Hansen

Laurence Benjamin Hansen — Mon, 11 Sep 2023 15:49:57 +0000

I’ve had an on and off relationship with time tracking for decades. It’s certainly not new to me, learning about the idea from Peter Drucker at an IBM project management training in c. 1975. But it’s always been a challenge (no pun intended) for me in several ways. The root of my difficulties with time tracking is ADHD (mostly attention deficit), which I finally had diagnosed very late as an adult.
My solution, which is almost reliable and certainly better than anything before, is a software tool of my own creation.
But regardless of the tool, I’m in this challenge for the whole week, beginning at 5am, when I eased into the nearest chair for my first meditation of the day. So far, so good.