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A time log is a form that monitors our use of time and helps us determine when we are wasting it. This is done by writing down what we are doing every fifteen minutes of the day, for at least a week. Because it generally takes people several days to a week to get into the habit of logging their time, it may take two weeks to get an accurate log of all seven days. The fifteen minute intervals are kept with a portable timer (many cell-phones have a timer function, but a kitchen timer works as well.) Whenever it goes off, we record on the form exactly what we were doing at that precise moment: talking on the phone to a customer, doing our taxes, or surfing the internet.

A time log does not allow us to gloss over at the end of the day and it will show us clearly where we were obviously off-task. It can also point out the areas where we consistently underestimate the time it takes to do something, or the areas where we think we are being productive, but are actually falling prey to distractions. After a week, with a reasonably well filled out log, you should have a very good idea of how you are using your time and what you need to adjust if you want to become more productive.

→ Related articles: Working With a Time Log
→ Related term at Wikipedia: Time Management
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