Time Tracking Made Easy: How to Simplify Your Time Logging

Making time tracking easy and accessible — that’s our goal. Keeping was developed with this intention in mind. But if you’re new to time tracking, it might seem like a big step. Let’s explore different ways to track your hours and find what works best for you.

Tracking Your Hours in Excel

Excel has long been a popular tool for time tracking, with countless templates available online. Many businesses, from small enterprises to large corporations, already use office suites, and Excel or its equivalents are available for both Windows and Apple devices. With a template, it’s easy to log your hours in the right places, creating a neat overview. However, since anyone can upload a template, you might encounter unreliable options. And we all know how unpredictable Excel can be! One wrong entry can cause the whole template to collapse.

It’s also essential to keep in mind that work hours need to be verifiable for tax purposes. If something’s off in your Excel file, you could run into issues. So, while Excel has its advantages, it’s not without downsides.

Tracking Your Time on Paper

Surprisingly, many people still prefer tracking their hours on paper. They create or print a table and fill it in manually. It’s foolproof — until you lose the sheet! Without a backup, your hours are gone, with no record or proof. Many people also use paper planners for time logging, which are harder to lose but still risky. Going a bit more “digital” by using a calendar in Outlook or on your phone might be a more secure option.

All these methods, however, involve double the work. Employers often need a digital record of hours for easy submission to accounting. If you eventually have to manually transfer your paper logs to a program, that’s a lot of extra time spent.

Apps for Time Tracking

At Keeping, we believe in the product we’ve developed. Our app allows you to track your hours with ease. While several time-tracking apps are available (both free and paid), we’ve found that free options often lack essential features or have an unclear interface. Our time tracking app is linked with our website and Chrome extension, so you’ll always have your hours on hand. The benefits of this online system are immense: nothing gets lost, there’s no need to duplicate entries, and it’s incredibly user-friendly. Using our platform is one of the simplest ways to track your time effectively.

We understand that people might be hesitant to switch systems once they’re used to one. That’s why our free trial is so helpful! It lets you try the Keeping Plus plan for 14 days at no cost.