Activity
An activity is a single time entry representing work performed during a specific time period. Activities are the building blocks of timesheets and reports, capturing what work was done, when, and for how long.
Key Characteristics
- Time-bounded: Each activity has a start time, end time, or duration.
- Project-linked: Activities are typically assigned to a project.
- Categorizable: Can be marked as billable or non-billable.
Activity Components
Required Elements
- Duration or start/end times
- Date of the work
- Associated project
Optional Elements
- Description or notes
- Billable status
- Tags or categories
- Client reference
How Activities Are Created
Timer-Based
Start and stop a timer to automatically capture duration.
Manual Entry
Enter time after the fact by specifying hours and minutes.
Calendar Import
Pull activities from calendar events (in supported integrations).
Impact on Workforce Planning
For businesses using time tracking software like Sandtime.io:
- Granular visibility: See exactly how time is spent across projects.
- Accurate billing: Generate invoices based on recorded activities.
- Capacity analysis: Understand workload distribution.
- Audit trail: Maintain records for compliance.
Best Practices
- Add notes while the work is fresh in memory.
- Categorize activities consistently for better reporting.
- Review activities daily before submitting timesheets.
- Use project codes to organize activities logically.
Activity vs. Task
| Activity | Task |
|---|---|
| Time entry (what was done) | Work item (what needs to be done) |
| Historical record | Future commitment |
| Duration-focused | Completion-focused |
Related Terms
Activities populate timesheets, belong to projects, and are the foundation of time tracking. They may be subject to time rounding and approval workflows.