I stopped tracking my time. Now I can't focus • Hacker News Board

Re: I stopped tracking my time. Now I can't focus

#31

Post by joemasilotti » Thu, Jun 11, 2026, 9:43 PM UTC

niyazpk wrote: post #29

I don't understand the problem here. If you cannot focus, just focus more? More structure/checklist to force you to focus will have other side-effects like you found out. When you get rid of the structure, you still need to have a rough map in your mind of where you want to go. To me, this is similar to being honest. You don't want to depend on a system or checklist for being honest. It is something you always need,…

> If you cannot focus, just focus more?

I'm guessing you don't have ADHD, right?

Re: I stopped tracking my time. Now I can't focus

#32

Post by joemasilotti » Thu, Jun 11, 2026, 9:44 PM UTC

ziofill wrote: post #30

Good for you to have figured this out! This is how I always work, and I am as productive as I can be because I only do what's on top of my mind. I've also learned that if something is never on top of my mind it's because it's not worth doing, so it gets filtered away automatically. I probably am in a privileged position to be able to do this (greenfield research in the private sector), but I just love it.

> I've also learned that if something is never on top of my mind it's because it's not worth doing, so it gets filtered away automatically.

I wish I could work that way! Sadly, I have client obligations that aren't always the most exciting thing I want to be working on. But they pay the bills.

Re: I stopped tracking my time. Now I can't focus

#33

Post by dodu_ » Thu, Jun 11, 2026, 9:46 PM UTC

niyazpk wrote: post #29

I don't understand the problem here. If you cannot focus, just focus more? More structure/checklist to force you to focus will have other side-effects like you found out. When you get rid of the structure, you still need to have a rough map in your mind of where you want to go. To me, this is similar to being honest. You don't want to depend on a system or checklist for being honest. It is something you always need,…

Least out of touch HN user

Re: I stopped tracking my time. Now I can't focus

#34

Post by niyazpk » Thu, Jun 11, 2026, 9:46 PM UTC

joemasilotti wrote: post #31

niyazpk wrote: post #29

I don't understand the problem here. If you cannot focus, just focus more? More structure/checklist to force you to focus will have other side-effects like you found out. When you get rid of the structure, you still need to have a rough map in your mind of where you want to go. To me, this is similar to being honest. You don't want to depend on a system or checklist for being honest. It is something you always need,…

> If you cannot focus, just focus more? I'm guessing you don't have ADHD, right?

You are right, so I am probably completely on the wrong here. :D

A question to advance the discussion. What I am wondering is, if you can remember to go back to your time tracking system, why can you not remember to go back to your main goals?

Re: I stopped tracking my time. Now I can't focus

#35

Post by flexagoon » Thu, Jun 11, 2026, 9:47 PM UTC

niyazpk wrote: post #29

I don't understand the problem here. If you cannot focus, just focus more? More structure/checklist to force you to focus will have other side-effects like you found out. When you get rid of the structure, you still need to have a rough map in your mind of where you want to go. To me, this is similar to being honest. You don't want to depend on a system or checklist for being honest. It is something you always need,…

> If you cannot focus, just focus more?

Why don't homeless people just get a house?

Re: I stopped tracking my time. Now I can't focus

#36

Post by jimbokun » Thu, Jun 11, 2026, 9:48 PM UTC

What focuses me is remembering this mantra attributed to Steve Jobs:

Real Artists Ship

The idea that nothing you’re working on is real until you ship it to customers, users, or whoever the stakeholders are.

Helps a lot against bouncing between lots of projects and not making much progress on any of them.

Re: I stopped tracking my time. Now I can't focus

#37

Post by joemasilotti » Thu, Jun 11, 2026, 9:49 PM UTC

niyazpk wrote: post #34

joemasilotti wrote: post #31

Earlier quoted context omitted.

> If you cannot focus, just focus more? I'm guessing you don't have ADHD, right?

You are right, so I am probably completely on the wrong here. :D A question to advance the discussion. What I am wondering is, if you can remember to go back to your time tracking system, why can you not remember to go back to your main goals?

Here's the thing: sometimes I forget the timer is running and I wake up to "You've been working on [project X] for 28 hours".

Re: I stopped tracking my time. Now I can't focus

#38

Post by jimbokun » Thu, Jun 11, 2026, 9:51 PM UTC

banderson623 wrote: post #28

zem wrote: post #17

the solution might be checklisting in lieu of time tracking - rather than note what you spend each moment on, define tasks and subtasks, and work on one set of subtasks at a time. the checklist helps maintain focus because if you think of something random you can note it down for later rather than jump straight into it.

I live by checklists and timers since i am so easily distracted. I set up a ton of small items to-do and the use a timer to stay on track. I did this enough that I eventually made a tiny Mac OS desktop app to help me. It’s so basic, but my productivity is meaningfully higher. I hate promoting my stuff, but this might be helpful for others too: https://pomododo-app.com/

That’s a great design.

Re: I stopped tracking my time. Now I can't focus

#39

Post by hamdingers » Thu, Jun 11, 2026, 9:51 PM UTC

flexagoon wrote: post #35

niyazpk wrote: post #29

I don't understand the problem here. If you cannot focus, just focus more? More structure/checklist to force you to focus will have other side-effects like you found out. When you get rid of the structure, you still need to have a rough map in your mind of where you want to go. To me, this is similar to being honest. You don't want to depend on a system or checklist for being honest. It is something you always need,…

> If you cannot focus, just focus more? Why don't homeless people just get a house?

If you have a problem, don't.

Re: I stopped tracking my time. Now I can't focus

#40

Post by sublinear » Thu, Jun 11, 2026, 9:52 PM UTC

dgunay wrote: post #14

I spent a few months doing some coarse time tracking at work - basically I'd retroactively add and edit events on my calendar to reflect what I had actually done during the workday, down to 15 minute increments. I binned them into IC work, meetings, interruptions, and non-work stuff. While I did get some insights about where my time was going, it mostly just made me really anxious and input-oriented about my producti…

Raw throughput and time efficiency should be treated as separate metrics. They should not be conflated with productivity, nor are they all that correlated to begin with. I define productivity as an abstract goal. The time tracking is information to satisfy my curiosity and gain insight. There's no place for quotas in my approach. There are only ever relative comparisons for me.

Time efficiency is just percent of the time range you arbitrarily defined filled by the tasks you explicitly defined. If it seems low it doesn't necessarily mean you aren't tracking enough things, but that your subtask definitions are too narrow.

Raw throughput is either the number of tasks completed or "points" redeemed, but often your subtask estimates are too "lumpy" or just flat out wrong.

I get that it's not for everyone, but there's nothing wrong with time tracking in itself. It's its own skill. Discomfort is usually a sign you need to try new techniques. Don't give up.