# Time Estimates: Finally Finish on Time **The #1 reason projects run late?** We dramatically underestimate how long things take. Research shows we're off by 2-4x on unfamiliar tasks. MaketimeFlow makes this invisible enemy visible. ## Why This Matters > *"I thought this would take an hour. Three hours later..."* Sound familiar? When you can see realistic time estimates at a glance, you: - **Stop overcommitting** - See your actual workload before saying yes - **Hit deadlines** - Plans based on reality, not wishful thinking - **Reduce stress** - No more surprise all-nighters - **Build trust** - Deliver when you say you will ## The X-Factor: Your Uncertainty Multiplier Be honest about what you *don't* know: | Your Experience | X-Factor | Example | |-----------------|----------|---------| | Done it before | x2 | "I've written this report type 10 times" | | Learned about it | x4 | "I watched tutorials, but never did it myself" | | Totally new | x8+ | "I've never touched this technology" | **Pro tip:** If you're tempted to use x8, break the task down first. You'll learn more and estimate better. ## How It Works in Practice ### Scenario 1: Quick Task You estimate "Write email" at 15 minutes. That's your best guess, no multiplier needed. The outliner shows `15m`. ### Scenario 2: Familiar but Complex "Build dashboard" - you've done similar work. Estimate 2 hours with x2 uncertainty. The outliner shows `~4h` - your realistic window. ### Scenario 3: Breaking Down a Project You create "Launch feature" with subtasks: - Design mockups: 2h - Build frontend: 4h - Write tests: 2h - Deploy: 1h The parent automatically shows `(9h)` - the sum of its children. No manual math. ### Scenario 4: Top-Down Planning You *know* the whole project is 8 hours based on experience. Set that on the parent. Your children show individual estimates for tracking, but the parent's `8h` is what counts. ## Powered by Intentional Timers This is where time estimates become *real*. When you start a timer from the outliner: 1. **Your estimate exists** → Timer starts with that duration (with x-factor applied) 2. **Children have estimates** → Timer uses their rollup total 3. **You just finished a timer** → Matches your working rhythm 4. **Nothing set** → 25 minutes (one focused session) You click "Start" and immediately enter **Focus Mode** with the right duration. No setup friction. No guessing. Just flow. Every completed timer builds your history - creating a feedback loop between planning and reality. ## High Performers Use This To... **Plan realistic sprints** - "I have 6 hours of deep work time this week. These tasks total 5h 30m. Perfect fit." **Negotiate deadlines** - "This looks like 12 hours of work. With my other commitments, I can deliver by Thursday." **Protect their energy** - Seeing `(4h)` on a task prevents the "just one more thing" trap at 5pm. **Stay in flow** - Start working in seconds, not minutes of configuration. --- ## Advanced: Learn From Your Patterns Over time, your timer history becomes a powerful teacher. MaketimeFlow tracks: - **Actual vs. estimated time** - See where your planning assumptions break down - **Focus patterns** - When you do your best deep work - **Completion rates** - Which types of tasks you consistently underestimate Use the **Analytics** view to spot trends. Many users discover they underestimate creative work by 50% but nail administrative tasks. That insight alone can transform your planning. The goal isn't perfect estimation - it's *calibrated* estimation. Each week, you get a little more accurate. Projects that once felt chaotic become predictable. --- *Time estimation isn't about being perfect. It's about being less wrong - and that small improvement compounds into projects that actually finish on time.*