Keeping track of time can be a sticky proposition, especially for those of us who get caught up in our work. Whether it’s tracking freelance hours worked or time spent on your own projects, keeping track of how long you’ve been working is important. My solution for keeping the hours from slipping away is simple: An old fashioned kitchen timer.
Most of the time, when I take on a project, I set a flat rate for it and forget about hourly rates. However, occasionally a project will require me to keep track of hours worked, and what it was I worked on during those hours. I’ve tried dozens of methods for keeping track, everything from time tracking programs to elaborate time sheets, but the method that has worked best has been the kitchen timer.
I keep two digital timers in my office, including one that has two separate counters on it. When I start on a project, I set the timer for one hour (unless I think I’m likely to work less than that) and get into what I’m doing. When the timer rings, I write a tally mark down on a simple time sheet, and reset it for another hour. The process continues for as long as I’m working on that project. If I switch projects, I stop the timer, record what portion of an hour has elapsed, then start it back at an hour for the new project. When the time comes to prepare billing statements, I check the time sheet, count up the tally marks, and input it into my billing program.
I’ve found that since I started using the timers to track projects, I also use them for non-work projects. If I know I have an hour to kill, I’ll set my timer and sit down with a book or to watch a little television. If I want to get a certain amount of time in exercising, I set my timer so I know when I’ve finished. I’m constantly coming up with something new that my timer can help me keep on track. I’ve even used the timer with separate counters to have one keep track of work on a quick project while the other tracked dinner in the oven!
If you find that you have trouble keeping track of your time, consider getting yourself a reliable digital timer. If you use it