TimerPlanHow much have I actually studied?
Everyone overestimates a study week by about a third. A log settles it in the only way that works, which is by being written at the time.
One thing a month worth timing
MonthlyOne thing a month worth measuring or capping with a clock — a payroll trap, a nap length, a meeting that never gets added up. Two sentences and the tool.
Free to use — Pro is for keeping it
This tool, like every other one here, is free and needs no account. A free account keeps three setups and three email alerts. Pro takes the ads off every site we run and lifts that to 200 setups and 50 alerts, adds a public page for any result and lets you embed the tool without our badge.
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How this works
Session lengths and what they suit
The block sizes people actually keep to, and the work each one fits.
| Length | Suits | Why |
|---|---|---|
| 15 min | Vocabulary, flashcards | Short enough to start without negotiation |
| 25 min | Task lists, problem sets | One pomodoro; the round is the unit of planning |
| 50 min | Reading, writing | Long texts take ten minutes to enter |
| 90 min | Past papers, exam practice | Matches the length of the thing being practised |
Three to four hours of genuinely focused study is a full day; a log that regularly shows six is measuring presence at a desk.
Frequently asked questions
Does logging actually help?
It makes the estimate honest, which is the part that changes behaviour. The gap between intended and actual study time is large and consistent, and it closes when the actual number is written down rather than recalled — not because the log motivates, but because an estimate corrected by a record stops being wishful.
Should breaks be logged?
No — log the working minutes only. A session logged with its breaks included flatters the total and makes the average session length useless for planning, since the next session will be planned as though the break were work.
What is a realistic daily total?
Three to four hours of genuinely focused study is a full day for most people, and beyond that the added hours mostly displace sleep rather than add learning. A log that regularly shows six is usually measuring presence at a desk rather than attention.