# Planned vs. Actual Times Track both your time estimates and actual time spent to build better planning habits and prevent overcommitting to single days. TickUp's visual progress system helps you maintain realistic daily workloads while improving your time estimation skills. > [!quote] The Path to Accurate Planning > The difference between planned and actual time reveals the gap between ==intention and reality==—bridging this gap is the key to realistic scheduling. ## Understanding Time Types TickUp tracks two types of time for each task: **Planned Time**: Your estimate for how long a task should take **Actual Time**: The time you actually spend working on the task ## Setting Planned Time > [!success] Adding Planned Time > **Click the clock icon**: On any task to set planned time > **Visual indicator**: Planned time appears next to the priority flag The most important principle: **Don't overcommit to a single day**. Think of each day as having limited capacity and plan accordingly. ## Tracking Actual Time > [!success] Recording Actual Time > **Manual entry**: Click the clock icon and enter actual time spent > **Task Timer**: Open a task and press **spacebar** or click the play button > **Timer control**: Start/stop from the indicator beside your profile icon ### Task Timer Features - **Single active timer**: Only one task can be tracked at a time - **Visual indicator**: Currently tracked task shows beside your profile icon - **Focus mode**: Automatically activates when timer starts (optional) ## Visual Progress System ### Today's Progress Shows real-time progress with dynamic colors and moving arrow: - **Purple**: Starting your day (0-33% of capacity) - **Pink**: Mid-day progress (33-66% of capacity) - **Orange**: Approaching capacity (66-100% of capacity) - **Red**: Exceeding capacity (over 100%) ### Future Days Shows static colors based on planned workload to prevent overcommitment: - **Purple**: Light planning (0-33% of capacity) - **Pink**: Moderate planning (33-66% of capacity) - **Orange**: Full planning (66-100% of capacity) - **Red**: Overplanning - move tasks to other days! ## Setting Your Capacity Configure in **Settings → Advanced → Daily Routines**: > [!tip] Total Capacity Setting > **Default**: 8 hours per day > **Purpose**: Prevents overcommitting and provides visual feedback > **Visual feedback**: Progress bar colors change based on your capacity ## Best Practices - **Plan within capacity**: Keep planned time below your daily limit - **Add small buffer**: Include about 5% extra for realistic estimates - **Watch for red**: Red progress bars signal overcommitted days - **Redistribute tasks**: Move work to lighter days when needed - **Review weekly**: Compare planned vs. actual to improve estimates ## Integration with Other Features - **[[Projects & Labels]]**: Time tracking works with your matrix system - **[[Time Allocation Visibility]]**: Foundation for broader time insights - **Work vs. Personal**: Separate tracking maintains healthy boundaries The visual progress system transforms time management from guesswork into clear, actionable feedback that prevents overcommitment and builds sustainable productivity habits. --- **Next:** Organize your workflow efficiently with [[Task Organization]].