Time Audit 101: Take Control of Your Time & Priorities
Wondering Where Your Time Goes? Let’s Fix That.
Ever feel like time is slipping through your fingers? You get to the end of the day, week, or month and wonder—where did all that time go? You know you did something, but it’s all a blur. Or maybe you feel like you barely did anything at all.
You want to be more intentional with your time but aren’t sure where to start. That’s where a time audit comes in.
Auditing your time helps you see exactly where your time is going, so you can decide if it aligns with what truly matters to you—or if it’s time to make some changes.
You can’t improve what you don’t track, and a Time Audit gives you the clarity you need to reclaim your time.
What Is a Time Audit & Why Should You Do One?
A time audit is a simple way to track how you’re spending your time throughout the day. It provides real data on your habits and routines so you can make intentional shifts. (and we love data!)
When auditing your time, you’ll uncover:
Where your time actually goes
Patterns and habits in your daily routine
What you’re prioritizing (intentionally or not)
Areas that are working well
Places where your time could be better spent
Instead of feeling like you never have enough time, you’ll have a clear picture of where your hours are going—and how to make adjustments.
How to Do a Time Audit (Step-by-Step Guide)
I recommend tracking your time for at least 3 days—up to a full week if possible—so you get a more accurate understanding of how you spend your time.
Step 1: Track what you’re doing for 3-7 Days
Log what your activities every 30–60 minutes using your preferred method (notebook, spreadsheet, Notion, Google Calendar, or a time-tracking app like Now Then).
Don’t stress if you miss a time block—just do your best to capture key activities.
Resist the urge to change your habits while tracking! This is about observing, not optimizing or adjusting (yet).
Step 2: Categorize Your Time
Once you have a few days of data, categorize your time into broad areas like:
Work/Business & Commuting
Self-Care, Health, & Routines
Social Media & Screen Time
Household Tasks & Errands
Leisure & Hobbies
Sleep & Rest
Step 3: Analyze Your Patterns
After tracking your activities for the week, take a look at your results. What stands out? As you review your time audit, take a moment to reflect on the following:
How do I feel about how I spent my time?
Am I prioritizing the things that matter most to me?
Are there tasks that take longer than expected?
Where am I spending time that could be better used elsewhere?
Are there distractions or inefficiencies I can minimize?
Is there something I want to do more or less of?
Time Audit Example
Here’s what a Time Audit might look like for someone who feels like they don’t have time, struggles with energy, and defaults to a lot of social media & phone scrolling.
Some observations this person might get while reflecting on their time audit are:
Lots of unintentional screen time (morning, lunch break, and late night)
No time for personal growth, movement, or hobbies
Feeling rushed in the morning and mentally drained by evening
What to Do After Your Time Audit
Think about your ideal week—what changes would help you get closer to it?
Once you see where your time is going, you can decide what adjustments you want to make. For example, could you replace 30 minutes of scrolling with a morning routine? Swap evening screen time for reading or journaling?
Here are a few ways to restructure your time:
Identify small shifts, and adjust your schedule to reflect your priorities.
Use time blocking to create structure and reduce distractions.
Batch similar tasks together (instead of constantly switching between them).
Set boundaries around distractions (like limiting social media or email checks).
Make space for rest and recharge time—your schedule should be sustainable!
The key is to make small, realistic tweaks instead of overhauling how you spend your time overnight.
Example Time Adjustment after Time Audit
Building on the example above, here’s how their week looks after making intentional adjustments based on their time audit.
Now, their days are more intentional and fulfilling, with:
A better balance between work, rest, and personal time
Less mindless scrolling and more meaningful activities (but still time for scrolling and TV - it’s all about balance!)
Dedicated space for creativity, hobbies, and movement
Best Tools & Resources for Time Auditing
If you’re ready to track your time, here are some great tools to use:
My fave app for time audits → Now Then
Simple tracking → Google Sheets or Google Calendar
If you prefer digital tracking → Notion (create a table) or a digital planner
For journaling your time manually → good ol pen & paper or your fave journal
Use whatever method feels easiest for you!
Once you know where your time is going, you can be more intentional with it.
Time freedom isn’t about doing more—it’s about spending time where it matters most.
Try a 1-week time audit and see what you learn! If you need any help setting goals around your time, grab the free goal planning sheets here.
TL;DR
Feeling like time is slipping away?
A time audit helps you track where your time really goes so you can make intentional changes.
Step 1: Track everything you do for 2–3 days.
Step 2: Categorize your time (work, self-care, social media, etc.).
Step 3: Analyze your patterns—where are you spending too much or too little time?
Step 4: Adjust your schedule based on your priorities. Make space for what matters.
Time freedom isn’t about doing more—it’s about choosing what matters most. Try a 1-week time audit and start making intentional changes today! (and grab the free goal planning sheets here)
