Google Workspace App Metrics and Tips

IMPORTANT UPDATE: On August 15, 2024, ActivTrak will deprecate the ActivTrak for Google Workspace add-on. Learn more.

ActivTrak for Google Workspace enables employees to embed personal work insights from ActivTrak into Google apps such as Google Calendar and other Workspace apps. With visibility into their own work habits, employees are empowered to play an active role in improving engagement, satisfaction and well-being.

With ActivTrak for Google Workspace enabled, employees gain insights into their own digital work such as screen time, breaks, overutilized days and app usage from within their own Google Workspace environment. These metrics are refreshed daily and are based on the previous day as well as the last 7 days. Check out the Setup Guide to see how you can enable the Google Workspace add-on.

Below, learn about the ActivTrak metrics that are viewable in the Google Workspace app and get helpful tips on how to leverage these insights to inform better habits from our Productivity Lab experts. 

Work Wellness Metrics

By evaluating work habits, employees can recognize early on when they may need to take more breaks, better arrange their schedules or have a discussion with their managers about ways to modify their workloads. 

Days Overworked

Burnout can often be the cumulative result of multiple weeks of strenuous work habits. View the variation over the last 7 days to understand whether strain appears to be consistent or intermittent. By default, an employee is classified as overworked when their Average Productive Hours / Day is at least 30% over the Productive Hours / Day Goal,  which is set by a manager or administrator. 

Productivity Lab Tip:

• Learn the many factors that contribute to burnout. Learn more.

Daily Total Screen Time

The average number of hours spent behind the screen per day over the last 7 days and for the previous day. Screen time, whether dedicated to work or personal activities, contributes to varying degrees of energy depletion. Understanding total screen time can allow employees to make modifications to their behavior in order to improve efficiency during the day.

Productivity Lab Tip:

• Decrease total screen time while optimizing productive time (productivity efficiency) to reduce strain and fatigue behind the computer.

Daily Total Break Time

This number reveals the average total minutes of break time taken by a user on a daily basis for the last 7 days. Break duration is capped at 2 hours and break times are included for all days (including weekends) that are active workdays. Any day in which a user meets the minimum threshold for productive time (default: 2 hours) counts as an active workday.

Productivity Lab Tips:

• Consider daily work habits (i.e., start/end times, break times, focus habits) to better identify where you may need support from your team or manager.
• Work to spot anomalies in your data to reflect on what may have optimized or detracted from your ideal working habits.

Average # of Daily Breaks

This number reveals the average number of digital breaks (time away from the computer) team members are taking throughout the day. A break begins when a user's computer is inactive for more than 5 minutes.

Productivity Lab Tips:

• Use this information as a foundation for discussions with your manager when you feel you’re at risk of fatigue, strain, or burnout.
• Consider what operating agreements across your team and beyond could help with sustaining better work habits.

Digital Work Habits Metrics

Focus time is critical for problem-solving, task completion and strategic work. Employees can view how focused they are able to be on a daily basis, while also understanding common sources of distraction. 

Productive Time (Business Apps)

Understand your average productive hours per day over the last 7 days and for the previous day. Productive activities are categorized by each organization's administrator and hours are calculated based on the time spent within these websites and applications.

Productivity Lab Tip:

• Create plans at the start or end of each day to help you adhere to your objectives.

Focused Productive Time

Within business-related activities, assess the degree to which you are focused. Focus time is working time in which you are working on a single task without multitasking (interruptions or attention shifts) and collaboration activities. Focused time is key for problem-solving, task completion, innovation and more. 

Productivity Lab Tips:

• Carve out time on your calendar as “Focus Time” and communicate it with others.
• Turn off or silence notifications during specific times of the day; be sure to set expectations with others.

Average Focus Session

The average number of minutes spent without collaboration or disruptions. 

Productivity Lab Tip:

• Set a timer (start with 20 minutes) where you can see it and make it a goal to stay focused on a single task.

Top Attention Shifting Apps/Sites

Applications and sites that cause attention to shift away from a focus session.

Productivity Lab Tip:

• Work to establish a consistent workplace where you can minimize distractions and establish a routine.

Check out our Productivity Lab's other tips and tools for employees here.