RescueTime

I'm one of those people who loves data. My first favorite job was as a database Administrator at Guardian Life Insurance in New York in my late twenties. I loved being able to manipulate data to find actionable information.

I'm no different in my own life. Who doesn't have a Fitbit or other health device strapped on some part of the body? The thing is, how do we make that information actionable?

I've been using RescueTime for 2 years now. I KNOW when I'm most productive, I KNOW where I really spend my time.

During the pandemic I was diagnosed with bipolar 1 disorder. I've also lived with chronic insomnia since I was a kid. So between manic incidents with bipolar disorder and being awake with chronic insomnia at times, I wanted to know exactly what it was I was doing when I'm "thinking" I'm busy.

Well, I have the receipts, as Wendy Williams would say!

I was stressing to get my website content into play and now when I say, I spent DAYS working on it, I know I did. You can't argue with the data.

Having RescueTime has helped me navigate my most productive hours, and it halts me when I am being distracted by sites like... well, social media platforms that I shouldn't be on when I'm focusing.

I consider RescueTime a cost of living application. I can't see not using it at any point any time soon. It's valuable information for me to be my most productive professional self. #EAHWP

Pros: Quick to sign up. Easy to get essential stats/reports. Free service (with an option to upgrade)

Cons: Limited service with free option. It requires you to download software to your computer.

I've been on a search for a system that analyzes my productivity, so I can eliminate time-sucking activities and improve my peak performance. There are other websites that help with this, but I've found them to be clunky and difficult to use.

Rescuetime feels smart. It's intuitive and fast to set up. I downloaded the program to my desktop and my cell phone (supports android and ios), categorized a few websites to track, and it was off and running.

It quietly works in the background, tracking the total time I spend on each website and program. I don't have to stop production to log time; no more taking time to track time. What a waste. The software works efficiently, in the background, so I can focus on my work – that was a revelation!

Rescuetime sends you weekly emails with clear stats and visualizes your progress. The website interface contains a dashboard for each user containing daily records, all in a nice visual package.
Let me address the "elephant in the room" question I know you must be wondering about: no, it will not track ALL of your internet searches. You can shut down the tracking or program it to ignore certain sites.

Lastly, the control you gain from the reports is a game changer. You can make workflow changes that positively affect your productivity. This is an essential tool for anyone who cares about optimal productivity.