Working remotely can come with many distractions and procrastination can become a real issue - especially if there aren’t set deadlines in place for when a task is due. YouTube and other social media apps can become rabbit holes of procrastination, and being able to track the amount of time spent doing things other than the job at hand is important. 

We all procrastinate and get distracted at times, especially when it comes to tasks we may not be as excited about. However, what if there was an app that could help you track the time you’re spending on activities so that you can stay focused and accountable? Procrastination can easily creep up on us, making us fall behind on completing our projects and tasks, and decreasing our productivity levels substantially. 

This is why many people are now turning towards project management tools that can help them stay on top of their work by monitoring their daily activity and providing data-driven insights into their work habits.

So, what is the value of an app that can help track how much time is spent on projects and how much potential time could be wasted due to procrastination? Most of these tools have additional features such as reminders that provide added value. For example, Harvest, an industry-leading time tracking app that can help your team stay on task, foster better collaboration, improve communication, and enhance productivity is a great solution. 

In this article, we’ll explore the importance of time tracking and identify ways in which these types of project management tools can help you and your entire team stay on track. 

What is a time tracking app?

Time tracking apps are powerful digital tools that make it easy to capture time, gain insight from previous projects, and help teams spend their time wisely. By tracking time and expenses in Harvest, you are able to capture critical project data that allows you to understand how your time is being spent on a project-by-project basis, and better estimate future projects.

Utilizing a time tracking tool makes you and your team more equipped to make informed decisions about where to refocus their time, allocate resources accordingly, and adjust timelines where needed.

How does time tracking work?

Time tracking works by allowing users to record time spent on certain tasks, projects, or other deliverables. This tool provides visibility into key aspects of your projects - budget, team capacity, and costs - enabling you to keep everything on time and on budget.

Additional features such as reporting and analysis allow your team to produce visual reports to help you understand costs, visualize team capacity, keep budgets on target, analyze time spent, dig into the details, and do more with your data.

Benefits of using a time tracking app

Using time tracking software like Harvest helps you identify better time management strategies so that you can find balance in your daily work routine. With this software, you’ll be better at avoiding overworking yourself, but also accomplishing more throughout the day by focusing on the most important tasks.

Additionally, since Harvest is cloud-based, it allows you to view your progress from anywhere at any time without needing access from a computer or laptop, which makes it even easier for on-the-go freelancers and consultants.

Once you have a time tracking app set up and ready to go, it’s time to take advantage of its time-saving features. For example, you will be able to create custom schedules and identify specific milestones to help you stay on top of each project or task. Plus, you can set reminders and notifications, to help avoid missing any project deadlines. You can also use the reports and analytics functionality to better understand how you are spending your time and make adjustments so that you can be more productive.

Your time tracking software should include the following:

  • A streamlined user interface that makes it easy to start tracking time
  • Reminders and notifications to help you stick to your goals
  • Reports and analytics to help you optimize your time
  • The ability to set custom schedules and milestones for better planning

Overall, tracking time provides a visual way of managing your day-to-day activities so you can focus more effectively on the tasks that matter most. By eliminating distractions using  time tracking tools you can be more productive, which in turn can lead to reduced stress because you are confident in your ability to stay on track with your projects. 

Time tracking that's easy, powerful, and frictionless

Time tracking apps make it easy to keep track of the hours worked on each project so that you'll get powerful insights into your team's performance and take concrete steps to improve efficiency. From automated online, custom invoicing, to real-time insights into how your projects are pacing - Harvest takes the guesswork out of the equation allowing you to increase profitability and improve your team’s productivity levels.

If your team is looking for intuitive project management software that makes time tracking painless, look no further than Harvest. This robust tool offers automatic time tracking capabilities so that hours worked are accurately accounted for without any extra effort.. Plus, it's easy to use and integrates seamlessly with other software solutions like QuickBooks Online, Stripe, PayPal, and more allowing your team to stay connected and up-to-date.

Time management features

 Time tracking is a valuable tool used by professionals, freelancers, and consultants, across any industry. By utilizing a time tracking tool, you can easily identify where there are gaps in resource allocation, track project status, and ensure everyone is getting paid on time.

If you or your team is feeling like they’re falling behind on projects, utilizing a time tracking app will not only highlight areas of peak performance but will also show areas where performance may be suffering from procrastinating or just being overwhelmed with work. From here, you can analyze the information to create better operations and systems to enhance your workflows, stay focused and organized, and ensure that your precious hours are spent performing the right tasks. 

Time tracking apps also allow you to easily monitor the duration of each project or task. By using a time tracking tool, you’re freeing up time from tedious tasks like manually entering data into a timesheet every day — plus, your data is automatically captured in an easy-to-use dashboard, which helps eliminate data input errors.

Now that you know the benefits of using a powerful time tracking app, let’s take a look at some essential elements of successful timekeeping. 

  • Finding an app that allows you to customize your data and reporting is important. This way, you can view data in the format that makes the most sense for your needs.
  • Make sure your app offers features like reminders and progress tracking so that you can stay on top of your goals. 
  • Ensure that the app provides accurate and reliable data for analysis.

With a quality time tracking app like Harvest, you can easily monitor your progress and make sure that you and your team are staying focused and productive.  

Time Tracking Setup

Prior to implementing a time tracking tool, set yourself up for success by following the steps below: 

  • Create a plan and set realistic goals
  • When planning tasks, break them down into small steps to make them less overwhelming 
  • Utilize reminders to help you stay on track
  • Review your data consistently so you can identify areas of improvement and existing gaps

You can easily avoid potential distractions by deploying a time tracking tool.  Here's how it works:

1. Download a time tracking app


A time tracking app like Harvest is an easy-to-use online tool that helps you stay on track and remain productive. Harvest has an intuitive, easy-to-use app available on Android and iOS along with desktop versions for Mac and Windows.

2. Set up your projects


Once you've downloaded the app, it's time to identify which projects or tasks you want to track.  To do this, simply go into the app, go over to the projects tab, and add a new project or task to start tracking. Harvest allows you to input the projected budget, actual spend, remaining budget, and any additional costs associated with each project.

3. Track time


Once you’ve set up your projects, you’re ready to start tracking time. Scroll over in the top nav to the time tab and click the green button that says “track time”. Your timer will start and track time according to the project you’ve identified that you’re working on at the moment. 

4. Analyze results and create a plan


Once enough data has been gathered from tracking various progress metrics across different projects, you can quickly generate insightful reports outlining current progress or reflect back on previous projects.

These insights allow you to create concrete action plans that could inform your overall strategy about where time is being spent, where resources need to be allocated, and where you’re pacing on budget. In today’s world, it’s easy to get distracted by phones, social media, TV, and more. However, these things can end up costing your team valuable hours, making projects lag, and potentially wasting money. 

By using a time tracking tool, you can gain better insights into how your teams are using their time and resources, identify potential distractions, and uncover areas where you can implement changes to improve your team’s overall performance. 

With Harvest’s unmatched time tracking features, robust analysis and invoicing tools, and on-the-go access you and your team can successfully avoid potential distractions. Try Harvest for free today.