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🎨 Time Tracking for the Rest of Us: Why Artists, Entrepreneurs, and Freelancers Should Use ManicTime

Quietly and efficiently record the time you spend on projects to better understand your bandwidth.

Jocelyn Hittle's avatar
Jocelyn Hittle
Oct 16, 2025
∙ Paid
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TopTracker: Time Tracking & Productivity Software for Agencies | Sugggest

Let’s be honest — most of us didn’t start our creative business or freelance career because we love spreadsheets (I mean, I do, but I have a feeling I am in the minority here).

But time? It’s the one resource we can’t get enough of. Whether you’re running a small business, managing multiple clients, or balancing creative projects with admin work, keeping track of where your hours actually go can be a game-changer.

That’s where ManicTime comes in.

When our Team member Aaron tried it, he summed up his experience in one sentence:

Oh My God. I love it.

Unlike most time trackers, ManicTime works in the background. It quietly records what apps you’re using, what documents you’re editing, and how long you’re on each project — without you needing to start and stop timers. It’s time tracking for people who forget to time track.

Aaron had tried everything before — manual timers, planners, you name it. But ManicTime simplified the whole process:

“It’s so, so easy. It tracks everything you’re doing on your laptop, but then it also gives you the option of, let’s say I went out in the field and did something — I can go back to that day and block out that time and still tag it with whatever task I was doing, charge it as billable, and then at the end of the day you can sort all of your tasks by billable or non-billable.”

For artists, it means finally being able to show clients how long that “simple” design tweak really took.
For freelancers, it means you can price your projects with confidence.
For entrepreneurs, it’s insight into your daily workflow — where your focus thrives and where it leaks away.

Here’s why we like it for startWorks users:

  • Automatic Tracking: No more interruptions to hit “start” and “stop.”

  • Offline Capability: Keeps tracking even when you’re working in remote areas or sketching offline.

  • Privacy-Focused: All data stays on your device unless you choose to sync it — perfect for those who value digital independence.

  • Insightful Reports: Visual timelines help you see your productivity patterns (and procrastination moments).

In short: if you’ve ever looked up from your workday wondering, “Where did my time go?” — ManicTime can tell you.

🔒 Ready to Go Deeper?

👀 Want to know how we use that data to actually make more time — not just track it?
That’s what the next part’s all about.

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