Keep better track of where time is going on your Mac

If you could see at a glance where the majority of your time is being spent on your Mac, you’d probably be able to identify areas where you can save time and increase productivity.

RescueTime is a Web-based time management and analytics tool which automatically tracks the applications are taking most of your time. It sits quietly in your status bar and discreetly takes note of which windows are most active and being clicked on at any time. It also intelligently realizes when you’ve left your desk (obviously by monitoring keyboard and mouse activity) and stops recording at the right moment. You can even instruct RescueTime to prompt you how your time had just been spent.

There are a few other useful features too. One is a block mode which allows you to block certain websites for specific periods so that they don’t distract you. Another is an alert feature, which reminds you when you’ve spent more time than you planned on a certain application or website. At the end of it all is a well-presented graphical representation of where your time was spent.

The idea behind RescueTime is a good one and it could be a useful way for companies to track how employees are using their time. However, for those users who are trying to discipline themselves in time management, the frequent alerts or blockages that you impose will no doubt frustrate more than they aid.

If you’ve got no self control at all, or you simple find yourself addicted to certain applications or websites, RescueTime will help you regain control over your time.