Why lock screen time tracking works when timers don’t
Most people give up on time tracking within a week because they forget to press start. Asking at the moment you unlock your phone fixes that.
Read articleMany students feel they studied all day, then realise that a lot of that time went to messages, videos and “just checking” something. Tracking study time per subject gives you an honest answer — and helps you plan the weeks before exams.
Create an activity per subject
In SelfM, add one activity for each subject or course — Maths, History, Programming — plus Lectures, Homework and Revision if you want more detail. Use colours you will recognise at a glance.
Set a daily study goal
Give your most important subjects a daily goal, for example 60 minutes. SelfM shows your progress in Statistics, and streaks help you keep going on difficult days.
Limit the distractions you know about
Add activities for your usual distractions — social media, games, video — and give them a daily limit. You will not be blocked, but you will see clearly when you went over.
Let your phone ask you
Turn on lock screen tracking for your study hours only, for example weekdays from 10:00 to 20:00. When you pick up your phone, SelfM asks what you have been doing since last time. It is a small moment of honesty that keeps study sessions on track.
Review every Sunday
- Open the weekly view and compare subjects.
- Move time towards the subjects with the nearest exams.
- Export a CSV if you want to keep a semester-long record.
SelfM is free, works offline and keeps your data on your phone. Explore all features.
