I was working with a coaching client on a time audit to figure out where her time went. She was so surprised by how much time it took to just LIVE LIFE. It’s the question so many of you ask: where does your time actually go?
Life has a rhythm and a structure that takes time to get right
Here is what her 24 hours looked like on a typical day:
- 24 hours
- subtract 7 hours for sleep
- subtract 1.5 hours for making breakfast, eating breakfast, packing lunches, shower
- subtract 45 minutes to bike to work
- subtract 8 hours of work
- subtract 1.5 hours of paperwork and administrative tasks
- subtract 45 minutes to bike back home
- subtract 2 hours to cook and eat dinner
- subtract 1 hour to help with homework
- subtract 1 hour to wrangle kids with the night routine and read
- subtract X hrs to collapse in bed with the smartphone… which she often extended well past her bedtime leading to the next day that looked a little different…
The morning routine starts with the quality of the night before
After the late-night scrolling, the next 24 hours shifted.
- 24 hours
- woke up to the alarm blaring
- subtract 5.5 hours for sleep…
- then a rushed 15-minute scramble through a breakfast eaten at the sink
- left the house late so skipped the bike ride and navigated the heavy traffic
- 8 hours of work
- 2.5 hours of paperwork
- rush to get back home
- no time to cook dinner so grabbed take out
- homework squabbles
- skipped the story time
- dropped into bed…with the smartphone to calm her down (huh what?)
Does that sound familiar to you at all?
What does your time audit tell you about how you’re spending your week?
If you feel the frantic pace of life starting to wear you down, I invite you to get some data on your time choices. Some common trends I tend to see with busy women:
- First, you are trying to accomplish more than what can reasonably be done in a day. No wonder you are stressed. Give yourself some grace and a lot more space. I have learned to accept that things will take 2-3x as long as what I originally estimated, especially if other people are involved.
- Second, ask yourself how much time in a week you are spending on your easy-no and difficult-no tasks. Remember, to have a great life, you want more of your day to be filled with things you truly value. Even if you’re the most efficient person on earth, it doesn’t necessarily mean you’re using your time the way you would actually like.
- Third, you might find that you engage in some “stress-relieving” behaviours that actually sabotage your goals the next day.
Take-home exercise: where does your time go?
A one-week time audit is a fantastic exercise to do if you’ve ever felt time-poor. Print out this sheet: time audit sheet PDF and track your time in 30-minute intervals for the next week. If you’re trying to multi-task (I see you), choose the main activity you’re trying to accomplish. Remember, you can’t have more than 24 hours allocated for the day!
Does your time audit surprise you?
Are you spending your week like you would want to spend your life?
If you want some help deciding how to organize your days so it aligns with what you value, I invite you to book a free strategy call at the link below. Let’s get you living your great life!
