Software that will nag me to track my time?

January 16, 2012 1:43 PM

Can you recommend free or very inexpensive software for Windows that will pop up at pre-determined intervals (e.g., every 20 minutes) and remind me to fill out my timesheet?

A similar question was asked before. But that was back in 2007. All I really need is something to nag me. However, I'm ideally looking for something that will allow me to choose from a list of my projects whenever the window pops up and then create a report at the end of the day or week. I've done extensive Google searches on this and haven't found anything that works for me. Ideas?

posted by zharptitsa to Work & Money (6 answers total)

I don't have insight on the linking to projects with that route, but there's a ton of reminder software for stretching that would work for the simple form of what you're looking for.

I have Big Stretch installed to remind me to stretch every 20 minutes. It comes preloaded with tips for stretching, but I didn't like them, and I've put in my own reminders, which you could easily make about your time sheet, and you can adjust the frequency of reminders, too.
posted by rosa at 2:13 PM on January 16, 2012

Are you using Firefox as your browser? Do you typically work with a browser window open? If so, maybe ReminderFox is for you.
posted by cleverevans at 2:16 PM on January 16, 2012

I just found Grindstone which is a combo time tracking and reminder tool. I like it a lot.

There's also TimeLeft. "TimeLeft is a versatile desktop utility - it can be used as a countdown clock, reminder, clock, alarm clock, tray clock, stopwatch, timer, sticker, auction watch, work days/hours countdown clock and time synchronization utility.The main feature of TimeLeft is a powerful customizable reminder, which can show a message, play music (any formats including mp3) or open a link, document, execute an application, turn off your monitor or shutdown your PC."

Both are free.
posted by elle.jeezy at 2:37 PM on January 16, 2012

Best answer: For an old-school, clunky looking thing that does exactly what you want -
see my old comment on Personal Time Manager
posted by Elysum at 2:56 PM on January 16, 2012

You can set up recurring reminders in outlook.
posted by elizeh at 8:54 PM on January 16, 2012

I know someone that does a lot of freelance work that was using Toggl, which had a desktop and mobile app that seems to do something close to what you are looking for.

I tried it for about a day and found it a bit overwhelming, perhaps because it reminded me how much time I was wasting on Metafilter instead of actually working.
posted by This_Will_Be_Good at 11:12 AM on January 17, 2012