Firstly, I wanted to make sure this planner would be suitable for my own needs if I were to use it. In which case, I wanted it to be fairly simple and easy to use without the need for relations and rollups. This was my first challenge.

First, I planned the database’s properties

The fundamental properties:

• Type: Choose between session and break.

• Task: Write the task at hand for this session or break.

• Project: Choose what project this task is associated with.

• Start and End Time: Two properties to track the start and end time of the task session or break.

The Archive Database View

• Archive: There is a checkbox to archive sessions at. the end of the day. All archived sessions disappear to its own list database view.

  • shows end date property, project property, and hours spent

  • sorted by date: descending

  • filtered by archive: true

Second, I made Two Formulas To Calculate Time Spent On Tasks

Hours: Total hours spent ONLY if the type of entry is a session.

if(prop("Type") == "Session", round(100 * dateBetween(prop("End Time"), prop("Start Time"), "minutes") / 60) / 100, toNumber(""))

Tip: return an empty numerical cell (not 0) with toNumber(““)

Minutes: Total minutes spent on both sessions and breaks.

dateBetween(prop("End Time"), prop("Start Time"), "minutes")

Lastly, I Linked A Boardview To View Total Hours Spent Per Project

I arranged my linked database to the original (trigger: /linked database) to be grouped by the project tag. This is to collect total hours spent on each project.

How To Find Total Hours Spent Per Project

• Navigate to the gray number next to a select tag.

• Find Sum and Hours.

Step-By-Step Guide And Connect To An Existing Tasks Database

Extra: Bulk uncheck or check a column of checkboxes by selecting the entire column and pressing ENTER.

Copy Template In Notion

Further Reading