Getting Started with RescueTime

Welcome to RescueTime! Let's get started!

1. Download and install the RescueTime app. Once installed, open your Assistant by clicking on the RescueTime icon in your menu bar or system tray.

2. Premium accounts send data to our servers every 5 minutes. Tracking begins once the RescueTime app is installed and running. RescueTime only records the app or website currently in the foreground, and your activity is reported on the web app as long as the app is active. The RescueTime icon is visible in your menu bar or system tray whenever the app is active.

3. Connect your Calendar to your account on the RescueTime website by going to Account Settings > Calendar Integration

When you open the Assistant, you'll see reminders of your upcoming meetings, and five minutes before each meeting, a "Join Meeting" button appears so you may join your meetings directly from the app.

4.  Make sure your work schedule is set up, as this determines when your work time is tracked and reported. During these hours, your Assistant will help you stay on track to reach your Focus Work goal. You can find more details about work schedules here. 

5. Categorize your activities as Focus Work, Other Work, or Personal/Distracting. Open the Activities page to see your daily activities and time spent on them. Hover over an activity and use the arrows to assign it to one of the three categories.

  • Focus Work: Your most important tasks that require deep concentration.
  • Other Work: Administrative tasks, email, and similar activities.
  • Personal or Distracting Activities: Non-work activities.

6. Block distractions with Focus Sessions. Whether you need uninterrupted time for deep work, creative projects, or complex tasks, Focus Sessions help you stay on track by blocking websites and desktop apps categorized as Personal Activities. You can start a Focus Session in multiple ways, giving you the flexibility to focus when you need it most.

8. Create goals and alerts to stay on track with your time. Premium users can create as many goals and alerts as they'd like, whether it's to limit time on certain activities or to reach a set amount of time on a productive activity. You'll receive a notification when you hit your goal, helping you stay aware of your progress.

9. Add work done away from the computer with Offline Time. Whether you're in meetings, brainstorming on paper, or working on hands-on tasks, you can track it all by adding offline work. Use the + Add offline work button in the Assistant to log your time manually, or set up automatic offline time prompts to remind you. This way, every part of your workday is accounted for.

10. Download and install the RescueTime iOS app, a powerful companion to your RescueTime desktop app.

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