How to Choose an Activity Type in Time2Track

One of the questions that we hear most often from Time2Track users is, “Which activity type do I choose?” It can be stressful trying to choose just one activity type from a long list, especially if your experience could fit more than one.

In this article, I’ll provide some helpful tips and guidelines for tackling the task of choosing the right activity type, including how to add custom activity types. I’ll also include descriptions for some of the activity types you might see in Time2Track.

Tips for Choosing an Activity Type

1. Choose the activity type that best fits your experience.

Although your experience could fit multiple activity types, always use this rule of thumb: Choose the activity type that fits best. You can also use the activity type descriptions and category descriptions in the second part of this article as guidelines.

2. Use Custom Activity Types.

Using custom activity types is a great way to add more detail to your Time2Track activity records. You can create custom activity types for each specific type of experience you need to log, then map that activity type to one of the standard activity types in your list (for reporting purposes). When you run reports, you can choose to include your custom activity types as separate lines on the report, or consolidate them into the standard activity types they belong to.

To add your own custom activity types, go to the Activities tab in your Time2Track account, then click Custom Activity Types.

Your custom activity types will show up under their respective “standard” activity types in your Activity Type list.

3. Double check with your supervisor and/or training director.

If you’re stumped, don’t hesitate to ask your program’s Training Director or your supervisor for input. Some programs have specific ways that they like you to categorize your hours, so make sure to also check your practicum handbook if you’re a student.

4. Narrow down the list.

If you’re having trouble choosing just one activity type, it’s always helpful to narrow down the list to your top two or three choices, then go from there. Time2Track’s activity type lists are broken down into categories, which also help you narrow down your choices. For example, if you had face-to-face interaction with a client, then your activity will most likely fit a Direct, Intervention, or Assessment activity type. If a client was not present during your activity, you will probably want to choose a Support or Indirect activity type.

5. Split up your activity.

If you did several different things during one stretch of time, it might make sense to break the activity up into smaller activities. That way, you can specifically categorize each type of activity that you did instead of lumping them together. For example, if you spent an hour scoring an assessment and writing a report on that assessment, split up that hour into two half-hour activities and categorize them separately.

6. You can always change it later.

Choosing an activity type is not set in stone. If you categorize an activity one way in Time2Track, you can always go back and change it at a later date. If you change an activity that has already been approved, just make sure to resubmit it for approval (if your program is using Time2Track Online Approval) or print out a new report to have your supervisor sign.

Are there any other tips you’d like to share with the Time2Track community? Let us know in the comments below!