With the speed of business accelerating and expectations about what can be done in a day/week/month, tracking time becomes more important to everyone from the CEO and sales team member to an entrepreneur and freelancer.
In looking beyond the typical time tracking tools, one company has developed an innovative approach for time management. TimeQube is a device aimed at helping a user become more aware of how they spend their time. Here’s my review of this time awareness tool.
What is TimeQube?
TimeQube helps you be more aware of the time you have spent on a meeting or another activity. You use your hands to control this small device that focuses on sensory interaction rather than technology interaction.
It is not an Internet of Things (IoT) device, nor does it work with your smartphone. Instead, it’s a standalone device designed to remove your reliance on technology.
Different color lights help you understand the amount of time you have left, including a blinking red light that alerts you to the fact that the time you set for whatever activity you are doing. It uses green to indicate you have plenty of time and changes to orange as your set time starts to near its end. The use of color versus alarms and alerts is believed to be more calming and produces less anxiety. Plus, it doesn’t seem as distracting.
TimeQube Specs
There are six universal presets, including two minutes, five minutes, 15 minutes, 30 minutes, 45 minutes, and 60 minutes. It remains bright and easy to read under all types of conditions, including well-lit meeting spaces.
The TimeQube uses USB-C charging for ease of use to charge just about anywhere.
What I Like About TimeQube?
What drew me to the TimeQube is the subtlety and simplicity of it. It allows us to cut the meeting short without someone having to speak up or watch the clock. It’s also easy to use. All you need to do is press to start and press again to restart. There is nothing to assemble before using it.
Beyond meetings, it has helped me with other activities, including exercise. The compact size makes it convenient to set up anywhere to use it rather than having to look for a large space. It seems like the TimeQube can be used for just about any activity where you need to manage your time effectively. The color is incredible, and it transitions nicely from one to another, so it’s easy to see.
There are about ten hours of battery life before you need to recharge it, providing the team and me with plenty of time to get the most out of this productivity solution.
The Cons of Using TimeQube
When you compare it to free or low-cost time tracking apps, the cost could be an issue for some people. For myself, I thought it was more expensive than I thought it should be but did get considerable value and time savings after using it.
What’s in the Box?
In addition to the TimeQube, you also get a pouch to keep it in when not in use, a certificate, a user’s manual, and stickers.
Where to Buy TimeQube
TimeQube is only available through the company’s website. Although the company is headquartered in Poland, they do ship worldwide. You can order online and have TimeQube sent to the U.S. The checkout price is in euros, which roughly converts to $110, using recent currency rates. Shipping costs approximately $18.
You can use their order form to pay by Visa, MasterCard, or Apple Pay. There is also an option to checkout through PayPal. The company does provide you with a tracking number to track your international order.
The company does give you 100 days to return it with a full refund if you are not pleased with it.
Overall Thoughts
TimeQube is a unique and beneficial device that helps anyone use it better understand how to use their time. This attractive, unobtrusive devices also makes you more accountable and helps stop those meetings that run over no matter what people try to say to end the meeting.
The light-driven device just seems to work more effectively for that, so the fact that it has shortened our meetings makes it a worthwhile investment.
