Why You Need a Time Audit Now
From Audit to Action: Creating Lasting Change
Last week we explored getting clear on what you want. Why? Because without clarity, we often end up with what I call “unintentional results” – life happening to us rather than for us. If you are anything like me these last two weeks, life certainly seems to be handing it to me…
But today, let’s dive into how to change that through the first step of the ALIGN Method: AUDIT.
So, what exactly does Audit your time with purpose mean?
Audit your time with purpose means examining your time use through three key lenses:
1. Quantitative: Tracking where your time actually goes
– I.e. Screen time metrics
– Activity logging
– Time blocks used vs. intended
2. Qualitative: Assessing the impact of activities
– Energy levels before/after
– Emotional state changes
– Alignment with current priorities and over-arching values
3. Intentional: Evaluating against your goals
– Does this activity move you toward your desired goals/ lifestyle?
– Is it supporting or hindering your commitments?
– What patterns emerge when you track both time and impact?
WHY THE AUDIT MATTERS
Again, if you are anything like me, you may have gotten particularly swept up in a social media doom scroll this past week. I love seeing travel pics, my besties’ kids, furry dogs and hairless cats, inspirational quotes… but over time, social media has been intentionally crafted to capture our attention. And boy does it!
But lately? I’m closing my phone feeling angry. Frustrated. Seething. Disappointed.
Sound familiar?
And this is the reason for the time audit and why tracking both time AND impact is crucial.
It really allows us to step back and see how much time we are spending on certain activities and how those activities make us feel. A Time Audit isn’t just about where your time goes – it’s about how those hours shape your energy, mood, and life.
Because sometimes how something started isn’t how it has evolved… and you’re left dealing with the unintentional results.
Hard truth
Sometimes we think of certain activities as fun or “a break,” but they actually drain our energy and well-being.
For example, a purposeful audit on my social media use recently revealed
– Actual time spent: sometimes 2 hours/day!
– What started as: Connection and inspiration
– Evolved into: Anger and frustration
– Cost me: self-care, family connection, mood
And the opposite can be true, too. Sometimes we think of activities like working out as “hard” but once they are done, it’s good for our mind and body and we actually feel productive, accomplished, and good.
But unless we examine it, we don’t often have a true sense of how our day-to-day activities impact us.
Again, this is why tracking both time AND impact is crucial.
This is exactly why my first step in TIME FREEDOM always includes a Time Audit. It’s not just about where your time is going, but also about how you feel (i.e. overwhelmed, doomed, lonely, disappointed vs confident, content, calm, joyful).
Because if you remember the coaching model: how you FEEL dictates your actions.
Circumstances→ Thoughts→ Feeling→ Actions→ Results
And how you create change starts with an idea.
I saw this picture recently and love it!
Notice the correlation to the coaching model.
Next up: I’ll share exactly how to do your audit and start creating lasting change.
Ready to take control of your time now?
Send me an email @empoweredcoachingha and I’ll send you the tracking template to start your transformation today.
Or setup a free consult call below and I’ll walk you through exactly what the TIME FREEDOM course looks like.
