Time tracking tools. Task trackers. There are tons of them out there.
But I've never found one that truly clicked for me.
Why? Because every tool assumes you'll input something. And that input is exactly what I hate.
Why You Should Care
If you've ever:
- Tried TaskChute or similar methods and gave up
- Wished for "automatic" time tracking
- Wondered why no tool just knows what you're working on
...then this post is for you. I went down the rabbit hole so you don't have to.
The Promise of Automatic Tracking
Tools like RescueTime, Timely, and Timing (Mac) promise automatic tracking. No timers, no manual input.
Sounds perfect, right?
Well, I found 4 limitations that made me rethink everything.
Limitation 1: "Which App" ≠ "What For"
Automatic trackers record traces. Which app you used. Which site you visited.
But here's the thing: I use Chrome for research, for social media, and for work docs. The tool can't tell the difference.
The "why" behind your actions? Only you know that.
Limitation 2: Idle Detection Doesn't Catch Everything
RescueTime detects when you stop typing or moving your mouse. Smart.
But what about:
- Waiting for a build to finish
- Reading logs
- Just... thinking
You're working, but not "doing" anything. The tool marks you as idle.
Limitation 3: Only the Active Window Gets Tracked
Multiple monitors? Multiple browser windows? Too bad.
Only the window you're actively interacting with gets logged. If you're reading docs on the left and coding on the right, only the coding side counts.
Your multitasking reality? Invisible.
Limitation 4: iPhone Doesn't Play Nice
My setup: Windows + iPhone.
Windows? RescueTime works great.
iPhone? Apple doesn't allow background app monitoring. So RescueTime barely functions. You're stuck with Screen Time, which doesn't export or integrate with anything.
Two separate worlds. No unified view.
So What Does Everyone Else Do?
I wondered: surely someone has solved this?
Turns out... not really.
- Most people don't bother tracking in detail
- TaskChute enthusiasts power through with willpower (rare)
- Managers have assistants do it for them
- Engineers use Git history as a proxy
Zero-input, perfect tracking? I couldn't find anyone doing it.
My Realistic Compromise
Okay, perfect is impossible. So what can I accept?
My non-negotiable: zero input.
My goal: understand trends in how I spend time.
My setup: Windows + iPhone.
Solution: RescueTime (free) + check the dashboard once a week.
What I'm giving up:
| Compromise | How I'm Dealing With It |
|---|---|
| iPhone integration | Just ignore it. PC is my main workspace. |
| "What for" context | "Which app" is good enough. |
| Perfect accuracy | Trends are enough. |
| Task-level tracking | Category-level is fine. |
Expected outcome: "This week, I spent X hours on productive stuff, Y hours drifting." That's it.
The Takeaway
If you want perfect time tracking, you have to accept some manual input.
If you want zero input, you have to let go of perfection.
I'm trying RescueTime for a week. If it's not enough, I'll figure something else out.
That's where I landed. Maybe it helps you too.
I write about decisions and reflections like this on my blog.
If you're interested: https://tielec.blog/
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