# How do I track my deep work hours?

URL: https://gocutline.com/answers/track-deep-work-hours/

Plan your deep work as time blocks in a calendar, tick each block off only if the work was actually deep, and read your finished hours by category each week. In Cutline that happens automatically: a "Deep work" category totals its finished hours per day, week and year, and your record shows the trend.

## The method
1. Give deep work its own category (Cutline has Work; you can add "Deep work").
2. Book one to three blocks a day, 90 minutes or more, at fixed times.
3. Tick a block off only if you worked without switching. Leave it unticked if not.
4. Every Friday or Sunday, read the finished deep hours and compare with what you planned.

## What good looks like
Cal Newport suggests about four hours a day is near the limit of deep work for most people. Many start with 90 minutes a day and build up. What matters most is the trend over weeks, not one heroic day.

## Numbers to watch
| Number | Why |
|---|---|
| Deep hours per week | The output of most knowledge jobs follows it |
| Planned vs finished | Shows planning errors (the [planning fallacy](https://gocutline.com/glossary/planning-fallacy/)) |
| Longest uninterrupted block | Hard problems need long blocks |

## Questions

**Should meetings count as deep work?**
No. Keep them in their own category so the deep work number stays honest.

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Cutline: Cutline is a weekly calendar and planner that turns time blocks into XP, levels and streaks. You plan your week in blocks, tick each one off when it is done, and see your progress on a social feed (the Floor) and a weekly leaderboard (the Arena). Planning and budgeting are free; paid plans add a badge, posting, messaging, shared calendars and lower selling fees, from $9 a month. Pro is free to try for 7 days.
Facts: https://gocutline.com/facts/ · Updated 2026-10-24