Have you ever reached the end of the day and thought, "I was busy all day, but what did I actually get done?" If so, you’re not alone. It’s easy to feel like time is slipping through our fingers—especially as busy moms and business owners.
The good news? A time audit can help. By tracking your time for a few days, you’ll get a clear picture of how you’re spending your hours and where adjustments can be made to create a schedule that actually works for you.
Let’s break down what a time audit is, why it’s beneficial, and exactly how to do one.
What Is a Time Audit?
A time audit is the process of tracking how you spend your time throughout the day. It’s like budgeting—but for your time instead of your money.
When you track your time, you’ll start to see patterns: where your hours are going, what’s eating up more time than you realized, and where inefficiencies or distractions are sneaking in.
Think of it as a reality check for your schedule. Instead of guessing why you always feel behind, you’ll have hard data to make real changes.
Why a Time Audit Is Beneficial
A time audit isn’t just about tracking—it’s about clarity and control. Here’s why it’s worth doing:
- Identify Time Wasters – You might think you only spend 10 minutes scrolling Instagram, but what if it’s actually two hours? A time audit shows you exactly where your time is slipping away.
- Improve Productivity – Once you know how your time is spent, you can make intentional changes to work smarter, not harder.
- Reduce Overwhelm – Knowing how long tasks actually take helps you set realistic expectations and prevent burnout.
- Create a More Balanced Schedule – Ensure you're dedicating enough time to business, family, and personal well-being.
- Better Time Blocking – A time audit helps you set up an effective time-blocking system that aligns with your real-life schedule, not just an idealized version of it.
How to Conduct a Time Audit
Step 1: Plan Your Audit (5-7 Days)
To get an accurate picture of your time, track your schedule for at least a week. Choose a method that works best for you:
- Use a planner (like the Capture the Chaos Planner) or a simple notebook.
- Try a time-tracking app like Toggl or Clockify.
- Set a timer to log what you're doing every 30-60 minutes.
Be brutally honest! Track everything—even that 20-minute TikTok break or the “quick” email check that turned into an hour.
Step 2: Categorize Your Activities
Once you’ve tracked your time, start organizing it. First, ask yourself:
- What can be deleted from your schedule?
- What can be outsourced or handed off?
- What can be batched to improve efficiency?
- What can be automated?
Then, sort your time into categories like:
- Work-related tasks (emails, meetings, content creation)
- Family & personal time (kids’ activities, meals, self-care)
- Household chores (cleaning, errands, laundry)
- Distractions & unproductive time (social media, TV, mindless scrolling)
Step 3: Analyze the Results
Now comes the eye-opening part—review your time log and look for trends.
- Where are you spending more time than expected?
- Are there gaps or inefficiencies? (e.g., too much context-switching between tasks?)
- Are you underestimating how long things actually take?
Once you see where your time is going, you can start making adjustments.
Step 4: Make Adjustments to Your Schedule
Now that you have the data, it’s time to optimize your time.
Set Priorities – Focus more on high-value tasks and minimize distractions.
Implement Time Blocking – Dedicate specific time slots for work, family, and personal time.
Set Boundaries – Reduce interruptions by scheduling focused work time and limiting distractions.
Remember, the goal isn’t to schedule every minute of your day—it’s to create a routine that actually supports your life and business.
Maintaining Better Time Management After Your Audit
A time audit isn’t a one-and-done exercise. To keep your schedule running smoothly:
✅ Conduct a mini time audit every season to adjust for life changes.
✅ Make tweaks based on different seasons of life (school schedules, business shifts, holidays, etc.).
✅ Use tools like planners and digital calendars to reinforce your new schedule.
✅ Give yourself grace—your schedule won’t be perfect, and that’s okay!
If you always feel like you don’t have enough time, a time audit will help you see where your hours are actually going—and how to get them back.
The best part? Once you identify the leaks in your schedule, you can make small, strategic changes that add up to more time for what truly matters.
Want to learn more about time audits and time blocking? Download my free time blocking pages and email series where I walk you through how to complete a time audit in more depth and how to set up your time blocking schedule.