Life audits are a personal growth check-in for your mind, body and spirit. They can help reveal what's working in your life, what's not, and how to make changes to live more purposefully. If you’re seeking to create an intentional and fulfilling lifestyle then this post is for you.
I did my first life audit before I knew what they were. I was pregnant with our first daughter and I as stood in our kitchen I was hit with this thought: What kind of mom will I be?
I kept asking myself, over and over, then grabbed a legal pad and wrote down all the things I liked and disliked about my childhood…the good, bad and ugly. Reading over my download I discovered:
- There were things I didn’t want to pass down to our daughter
- I wanted to build a parenting plan and not just wing it
I wanted to pass on the qualities of both grandparents while steering clear of negative traits.
From there my husband and I left outdated parenting archetypes behind and chose to stay educated with current parenting resources that aligned with our beliefs, and values.
We wanted to raise our kids to be happy and successful. That’s why I started doing life audits. Let’s talk about how they work.
What Is A Life Audit?
A life audit is a self discovery exercise that helps you review your life and plan how to change or improve areas such as your career, health, or finances.
Life audits can help anyone gain the self awareness that is necessary for personal growth and creating a life that you love.
What To Expect From A Life Audit?
- Gain a deeper understanding of your beliefs and values.
- Identify areas of your life that are thriving.
- Recognize areas that may need improvement.
- Prioritize self-care and personal wellbeing.
Why Are Life Audits Important?
A life audit is important because you’re taking action on the direction of your life. With each intentional step you’re designing goals that align with and support your aspirations and personal goals.
By living intentionally, you’re not just going through the motions; you’re actively creating the life you want. This means you’re living your life for yourself and not for your family, friends, or how society expects you live.
When To Do A Life Audit
A Life audit can be done at any time. Here’s a few ideas:
- Weekly
- Monthly
- Every quarter, like every 3 months
- End of the year
- Start of a new year
- A birthday
- Personal anniversary or milestone within your life
Reviewing your life is a deeply personal process so, it’s important to choose a time that feels right for you.
How To Do A Life Audit:
Step 1: Schedule Time For An Audit
Scheduling a lifestyle audit on your calendar can help you commit to completing it.
- Dedicate 1-3 hours for exploring your feelings, thoughts, and experiences.
- Set aside time at the end of the inventory to decompress and center yourself to return to your normal activities.
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What Supplies Are Needed For A Life Audit?
A life audit doesn’t require any fancy tools or gadgets, only a few items to record your answers.
- Write down your answers in a journal or notebook
- Color pens or highlighters can help organize your answers
- If you prefer a digital record use a software spreadsheet
Where is the best place to do a life audit?
When you’re ready to do this self discovery exercise it’s important to prepare your mind for reflection.
- Do your life audit in a place that’s comfortable, quiet and distraction free
- Wearing noise canceling headphones or playing music can be helpful
- Dressing in your favorite loungewear or sweatsuit can help you relax during your audit
Step 2: Reflect On Your Life
For a successful life audit, start by reflecting on the key areas of your life. These areas, called the 'five pillars of a good life,' were created by psychologist Carl Jung. He suggested 5 categories:
- Personal and intimate relationships
- Mental and physical health
- Appreciation for beauty and nature
- Reasonable standard of living and service to others
- Philosophical or religious point of view that supports resilience
Carl Jung’s Ideas On Happiness
Carl Jung also expressed the importance of seeking to be happier versus seeking happiness. He thought that if you only worked to be happy, it might actually make you less happy (even miserable).Also, he believed that happiness isn’t about having everything perfect, but about accepting yourself, even the parts you don't like (like your shadow self).
On a final note, be believed that true happiness is more than just feeling good for a moment; it's about feeling good from the inside out.
Step 3: Rate The Pillars Of A Good Life
The 5 pillars of a good life make a foundation on which you can see how well or poorly your life is going in relation to what you truly desire for yourself. Use this rating system for each pillar of life:
Excellent: Life is fantastic, I am fulfilled and happy
Good: Life is solid, I could adjust certain areas
Fair: Life is going so-so, I need to improve some things
Poor: Life is progressing negatively, I need a complete overhaul
These self-awareness ratings are essential for making the right changes for living intentionally. A life inventory is always about coming back to your why: why do you want to live differently, or with greater purpose.
Step 4: Evaluate Your Life Categories
Now it’s time to evaluate why you gave the ratings you did back in Step 3.
Having a successful life audit requires honesty and transparency about how things are going for you currently. It’s important to be honest with yourself, but be kind and give yourself grace when answering the following questions.
Relationship Status:
What is the quality of your relationships? Think about your satisfaction levels with your partner, family, friends and co-workers.
Career:
Do you enjoy your job? If your career no longer feels fulfilling it may be time to reevaluate your professional goals.
Health:
How is your is physical and mental health now versus one year ago? Think about your daily lifestyle habits, and self-care practices and whether they represent who you are or make you feel good about yourself.
Finances:
Do you have the income you need for daily expenses and long term goals? Consider your income streams, debt management strategies to understand your current financial health and identify areas for improvement.
Personal Growth:
Do you feel like the same person you were last year? Learning a new skill, meeting new people with similar interests as you, and reading non-fiction self-growth books can help you elevate your personal growth aspirations.
Values:
Have your values and standards changed over the years? What do you believe in now and how does it support the lifestyle you see yourself?
Step 5: Identify Gaps and Set Goals
How do you feel after reading through your answers? If there’s gaps between categories and your situation that’s your cue to make an action plan to address the changes you want to make in your life.
Step 6: Set Goals
There are a few systems you can follow for setting goals effectively. First, let’s look over the SMART goal framework.
S.M.A.R.T.
Imagine your goal is to visit Spain - here’s an example of using the SMART system for this purpose.
Specific: Be clear about what you want to achieve. Instead of "I want to visit Spain," try "I want to tour La Sagrada Familia in Spain with my family."
Measurable: Make sure to track your progress. What steps are you taking to make this trip a reality? How much money do you need for airfare or rent a VRBO?
Achievable: Set goals that are challenging but realistic. Imagine you want to take a private tour of La Sagrada Familia.
This is not your average tour that the general public takes. A private tour requires preplanning, a deposit fee and potentially viewing the church during off hours for this special access. Are you willing to put in the time and effort to have this type of experience?
Relevant: Make sure your goals align with your overall life and values. Do you think experiencing this historic site is interesting and worth it?
Time-bound: Give yourself a deadline. Commit to the date you want to travel to Spain. Write it in your calendar, on a sticky note or as a digital reminder so it stays top of mind of mind.
There are other goal setting systems that can help you on you live more intentionally. Here’s a quick overview of each one.
Micro-Goal System:
Micro-goals are like the smaller, supoorting steps toward the big goal. For example, if you want to learn Spanish for the La Sagrada Familia trip then you take language courses to gradually prepare. The courses are the micro goals. Complete those and you’re on your way to becoming fluent in Spanish.
The Eisenhower Matrix:
The Eisenhower Matrix is a time management tool that helps you figure out which things are most important and need to be done right away. Here’s a breakdown:
Urgent and Important: Do these tasks first.
Important but Not Urgent: Schedule these tasks for later.
Urgent but Not Important: Delegate these tasks or eliminate them if possible.
Neither Urgent Nor Important: Eliminate these tasks.
The Eisenhower Matrix focuses on the most impactful activities and avoids low-priority items making managing your time and achieving your goals easier.
H.A.R.D. Goals:
The H.A.R.D. goal-setting system stands for Heartfelt, Animated, Required, Difficult. This system focuses on choosing goals that mean something to you but are still challenging and exciting to go after. 
W.O.O.P.:
W.O.O.P. is a goal-setting system that helps you achieve your goals by focusing on four elements (I’m using the Spain trip as an example):
Wish: I wish to visit La Sagrada Familia in Spain.
Outcome: Achieving this bucket list goal will help me fulfill a long held travel dream.
Obstacles: I know this trip needs a lot of coordination, like airfare, car rental and hotel or VRBO reservation.
Plan: I will read travel books and work with a travel agent to plan my visit.
By identifying your wish, outcome, obstacles, and plan, you can create a clear and actionable roadmap for achieving your goals.
Manifestation Technique:
Manifestation is one of my favorite goal setting tools. It combines mindset, emotions, goal setting, and action steps and to bring your achievements to life.
When you manifest something, you're using your thoughts as the first step to create your reality.
Step number two is focusing on the why behind the goal, emphasizing the emotional reasons the goal is important.
Step three is using visual reminders of your aspirations as reminders of the possibilities for your life. Vision boards, also known as goals boards, or sticky notes keeps your mind focused on what is important to you.
Step four is working towards your goal with consistent action. Break down your goal into smaller, manageable steps and take action daily, even if it’s just for a short time. Remember, consistent action is the key to manifestation. Keep taking steps, no matter how small, and watch your dreams come true.
Step 7: Create An Action Plan
Now that you’ve set goals, you’ll need a plan to complete them. Here are 5 steps to follow after setting your goals.
Choose One Goal:Pick one goal, personal or professional, that reflects how you want to live life.
Slowly Make The Goal A Habit: Schedule time to work on your goal and slowly make it part of your routine so it becomes a new habit.
Prepare For Challenges:
Setbacks are a normal part of a life inventory. Remembering why you you’re choosing to make a change in your life can help you persevere through challenges.
Nurture Yourself:
It is important to be aware of your emotional needs throughout a life audit. Take a break if you feel overwhelmed with feelings and return when you're feeling refreshed and ready to focus.
Track The Progress:
Track your progress and reflect on your growth over time. This will be valuable when conducting future life audits. A journal is a great tool for tracking multiple audits in one place.
Final Thoughts On How To Do A Life Audit:
Congratulations, you just completed the most comprehensive life audit to create a life you love living! If you found this guide helpful please share it on your Pinterest or social media.
Remember, the greatest reward is the satisfaction of living a life aligned with your passions and purpose.
Xoxo,
Nicole
