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I've done similar time tracking on myself back when I was freelancing. First, I found that it dropped productivity massively. One of the documented conditions
by muzani 4y ago
I've done similar time tracking on myself back when I was freelancing.
First, I found that it dropped productivity massively. One of the documented conditions for flow is "A loss of reflective self-consciousness". When time tracked, even in 30-60 hour, non-screenshot blocks, I'd be unable to get into flow. I'd also feel secure in justifying that I was getting work done, so while the monitor was showing work, the work was not in my head.
Second, screenshots doesn't stop me from procrastinating. I have two PCs at all times and a phone. 3 min build times meant that I had plenty of excuses.
Third, nobody cares, and clients think it's kinda dumb. They don't care if you're working 1 hour or 10. Most people rather pay fixed cost over time based. When untracked, I'd effectively log about half as many hours for the same amount of work. So time tracking ended up arguing that I should be paid half my hourly rates.
I mostly tracked to get more accurate estimates and log productivity (e.g. how much sleep or diet actually affects things). But the act of logging has been so detrimental to productivity that I just avoid it now.