A time audit is a process in which you write down how you spend your time during the day and analyze it later to find activities that waste your time. It can help you find time for things that are important to you but it’s also a great tool for your mental health as it prevents burnout and helps you be more productive. Here are our tips if you want to try it.
Decide Which Time You’ll Track
You can track your whole day or you can focus on your personal/professional time. Tracking everything makes sense for people with flexible work hours, but you can also choose to only track one part of your day. Pretty soon, you’ll find yourself doing the same amount of work or even more of it in less time, which will help you focus on the things you’ve always wanted to do but didn’t have time for.
Decide How Long You’ll Track
Sometimes, writing down what you do in a day for only several days can be enough. You can also choose to track for weeks if you want a more detailed timesheet. Avoid doing a time audit during the atypical times, like when you’re near an important deadline, as that won’t give you the real picture.
Write Everything Down
You can use a pen and paper or go digital, but it’s important to write everything down. Whenever you finish an activity, write it down. Include those 10-minute blocks you spent on social media, lunch breaks, everything.
Analyze
After you’re done, review the records you made and see where you can make changes. Don’t judge yourself but try to learn from the past and be better in the future.
