As February rolls in, the enthusiasm of New Year’s resolutions often wanes. However, it’s never too late to embark on a fresh journey. A life audit offers a thoughtful way to assess your personal development, encompassing various aspects such as career, finances, hobbies, and overall well-being. By evaluating your current state and pinpointing areas for improvement, you’ll gain the insights necessary to channel your efforts toward what truly resonates with you.
In a recent excerpt from her book LifeStyled, the organizing specialist presents her annual life audit method, providing a framework to identify priorities and focus areas. This approach emphasizes reflection, prioritization, and proactive steps, while also highlighting the importance of self-kindness and realistic goal-setting. Keep reading for actionable steps and prompts to inspire meaningful change.
Featured image from our interview with Monique Volz by Suruchi Avasthi.
Performing a Life Edit with Expert Guidance
Every New Year’s Eve, I take time to evaluate each segment of my life on a scale of 1 to 5, considering my satisfaction levels. After scoring, I jot down reflections and a couple of actionable steps for improvement in each area for the upcoming year. This straightforward exercise usually takes me around thirty minutes and helps clarify where I should devote my time and energy.
Important note: aiming for a perfect score isn’t the goal. Instead, this process encourages you to make conscious decisions regarding which aspects can be deprioritized and which require more immediate attention. It’s about making clear, deliberate choices about what to temporarily set aside instead of trying to tackle everything at once, which can lead to burnout.
Career and Finances
Score: 4
- Notes: Enjoying my career, flourishing creatively, but need to handle finances better.
- Priority: Managing my bank account.
- First Little Step: Review my bank account weekly to monitor income and expenses.
Leisure and Recreation
Score: 1
- Notes: Struggling with leisure time, perpetually busy, lacking hobbies! (Honestly, my first audit had this at a 0. It’s still my most overlooked area. In a society that prizes productivity, it’s easy to forget about relaxation. I’ve realized I must schedule downtime to boost my mental health and recharge for future tasks.)
- Priority: Incorporate a relaxing pastime.
- First Little Step: Dedicate Sunday mornings to reading in bed for an hour before family breakfast.
Your Turn
Now, let’s quickly assess each sector of your life to identify what requires your attention. Just like a doctor needs a diagnosis before prescribing treatment, you should evaluate how every area in your life is functioning before planning any changes. You can use the general categories I’ll detail in later sections (health, relationships, career, home, personal growth) or create your own. Then, rank each category from 1 to 5, write down any insights that come to mind, and reflect on which area you wish to focus on improving.
Steps to Follow:
- List your main categories (consider health, relationships, career, finances, environment, personal growth, and spirituality).
- Rate each category from 1 to 5 based on your satisfaction level—be honest!
- Write down any insights or notes.
- Select ONE area to focus on improving right now.
- Outline any initial small steps you’d like to take to enhance that area of your life.
If you’re feeling uncertain, consider these prompts:
• Which aspect of my life seems most overlooked?
• What needs my immediate attention?
• Which area do I wish to enhance the most?
• What is my primary need at this moment?
• What aspects of others' lives evoke envy in me?
The key is to gain clarity on where you want to intentionally allocate your time, energy, and resources.
$29.99 at Target“LifeStyled” Copyright © 2024 by Shira Gill. Photographs copyright © 2024 by Vivian Johnson. All rights reserved. Published in the United States by Ten Speed Press, an imprint of the Crown Publishing Group, a division of Penguin Random House LLC, New York.
