A stopwatch for Mac. Measure the task.

A stopwatch is useful when you want evidence for a future estimate: how long a review, export or small setup actually takes. Define the start and finish before pressing Start. Otherwise one measurement may include preparation while the next excludes it, making the apparent difference hard to interpret.

For example, time a familiar build from issuing the command to seeing its completion, or a document review from opening the draft to finishing your notes. Record the conditions separately when they matter. A single run is a sample of that session, not a promise about every future task.

1. Open the timer panel and find Stopwatch.
2. Choose Start at your defined starting point.
3. Use Lap for a meaningful intermediate stage while the timer remains running.
4. Choose Stop at the finish, record the reading if needed, then Reset before measuring a different task.

The Lap control is available while running; when stopped, that secondary control becomes Reset. Read its current label before pressing it. A display that contains an earlier session's elapsed time should be reset deliberately before you call the next reading a fresh measurement.

Repeat the same task under comparable conditions and note interruptions. Laps can distinguish a preparation stage from the actual work, but they do not decide whether an interruption should count toward a client invoice. Keep any required project records in the system your team uses; this compact stopwatch is a convenience, not a full timesheet application.

Use Scratchpad to jot down a result and the conditions that explain it. For a fixed work interval, choose a countdown; for alternating work and breaks, use Pomodoro. Choosing one clear timing method reduces confusion between elapsed time, time remaining and a recurring routine.