Episode Summary
In this episode, Niamh Moynihan explores the essentials of time tracking—what it is, why it matters, and how to use it effectively.
Whether it’s required as part of your job or something you choose to do on your own, time tracking can provide valuable insights and guide better decision-making about your workday.
Done poorly, it can cause unnecessary stress and admin overhead; done well, it can help you focus on meaningful tasks, maintain balance, and continuously improve how you spend your time.
Key Points Discussed
Understanding Time Tracking:
- Time tracking involves categorising and recording your work hours by project, client, or task type.
- It’s often required in some roles, but can also be done voluntarily to inform personal productivity and priorities.
Benefits of Time Tracking:
- Provides clarity on where your time goes, helping you determine if you’re focusing on high-value activities.
- Data from time tracking can guide better decisions about workload, scheduling, and how to achieve quarterly or yearly goals.
- For independent workers or small business owners, it can reveal if you’re working too many or too few hours to meet your objectives.
Avoiding Common Pitfalls:
- Don’t let time tracking become a micromanagement tool or a source of blame.
- Focus on using the data to understand patterns and make positive changes, rather than dwelling on minor deviations or mistakes.
Practical Approaches:
- Update your time logs daily or in real-time to maintain accuracy.
- Start simple: use a spreadsheet, software, or pen and paper—whatever’s easiest to maintain.
- If it’s required by your job, input data directly into the system once to avoid duplicating effort.
Iterative Improvement:
- Time tracking is most effective when used to continuously tweak your approach—adjusting how you allocate hours and refining your process as patterns emerge.
- Over time, it can help you gain control over your schedule, reduce wasted effort, and move steadily toward your targets.
Practical Tips from the Episode:
- Track as You Go: Update logs regularly, at least once a day, to ensure accuracy.
- Focus on Value: Review time logs weekly to identify where you add the most value and where you can cut back.
- Keep It Simple: Start with basic categories and refine as you learn more about your patterns.
- Use the Data for Good: Approach the results as a guide for improvement, not as ammo for criticism.
If you found this episode helpful, please share it with a friend or colleague who might benefit from a better approach to time management.
Until next time, stay well and have a better workday.
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