It is hard to imagine that in a few days, we shall say goodbye to this year and usher in a new one. This in my view is the perfect time to conduct a life audit. A life audit is a process where you sit and objectively look at where your life currently is and where you would want it to be in the future. It is a proactive exercise and when done effectively allows you to live life by design as opposed to leaving things up to chance.
Conducting a life audit may be likened to designing a life plan. Michael Hyatt and Daniel Harkavy have addressed the issue of creating a life plan in their joint book. Living Forward: A Proven Plan to Stop Drifting and Get the Life You Want. In the post How to design your life plan and embrace success. I share my story of how I used their book to create my own life plan in 2016.
Over the years, I have discovered that the best way for one to conduct an effective life audit is to begin by categorizing your life. For example, in my case, I have goals relating to the roles I am currently performing in life, These are family, then personal and professional.
As you start the exercise of conducting a life audit, keep in mind what you want your legacy to be. Stephen Covey refers to this as keeping the end in mind. In effect, you need to be thinking, when you are through with this life what do you want people to remember you for. Personally, my guiding principle as I journey through life is to get the victors crown and hear Jesus say to me the words of Mathew 25:21.
21 “His master replied, ‘Well done, good and faithful servant! You have been faithful with a few things; I will put you in charge of many things.Come and share your master’s happiness!’
In my view, conducting a life audit at the end of the year is good because it allows you to, first of all, come to terms with where you currently are in life. This is good since it allows you to let go of what did not go according to your plans and set new goals for the coming year.
Secondly, life audits also help one to break out of negative mindsets you may have acquired especially if you did not achieve what you set out to do. It is imperative to note that negative mindsets when not addressed effectively can result in depression. In this post, I share how you can combat depression using a six-step process.
Below I share 5 steps that I believe you can follow when conducting a life audit before you release the old year and set new goals for the coming year.
![\"\"](\"https://fulfilledlifenetwork.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/12/Life-Audit-2.jpg\")
#1. Critically look at the goals you set for the preceding year
At the beginning of the year, I use my goal setting worksheet to capture all my goals for the year as well as my word for the year. I limit my goals to not more than 5. This ensures I remain focused and do what I set out to achieve.
My word of the year is usually based on my big audacious goal for the year. This year, for example, my word was simplicity. This word served me so well and when we were suddenly given a transfer and had to relocate to South Africa, I used my word to keep me relaxed throughout the process. As I bought furniture and decorated our new home in Johannesburg, I was guided by my word for the year. This allowed me to keep things simple and remain within budget while creating a cozy and beautiful home.
As a leadership and productivity coach, I advise that as you critically look at your goals, try categorizing them into different categories that make up your life. For example, you could have goals relating to family, spiritual growth, professional growth, as well as health, and well being. After you have done this, you are now ready to move on to step 2.
#2. Realistically award marks on how well you performed in each category
When awarding marks I usually use the scale 1-5 with 1 being the lowest mark and 5 being the highest mark. This year, for example, I gave myself 4 on the category family I will explain why. I was able to work almost six months outside the home and yet I kept up with the commitments I made to my family. Our son sat for Cambridge checkpoint exams and he performed well because I put in place systems that allowed me to revise with him each evening while still putting dinner on the table and sometimes squeezing in a walk/run after work.
When it came to health and wellbeing I scored it 2. The reason for this is at the beginning of the year I set a goal to shed off 8 kgs. I knew this goal was ambitious but it was one of my big audacious goals for the year. Currently, I have taken off 2.5 kgs. Although I am not happy with this result, I have enjoyed good health throughout the year and kept up with my objective of walking at least three times a week. Even when we relocated and I am yet to find an accountability group like the one I had in Abidjan I still push myself. I joined a gym and I am enjoying pushing myself.
In professional growth, I scored a 5. My goal was to have my employment contract extended for at least three months. In the end, I got an extension of five months. In addition, after we relocated to Johannesburg I quickly got my consultancy firm up and running. I designed promotional material and was able to participate in a pop-up shop. I also took a leap of faith and designed and facilitated a vision board workshop which was conducted for 3 groups of people. Still on professional growth, I set a goal to double the number of books I read this year. Last year I read 8 books. This year I am currently reading my 24th book.
For spiritual growth, I scored 3. Although I am relatively happy with the relationship I have with my Heavenly Father, I wanted to be able to fast more this year. I was able to do the Daniel fast during the Easter period but then I did not continue on this journey. I hope to do better next year.
#3. Based on the results in step 2, consider any new habits you may need to take up or release
Overall I am quite happy with my results for 2018. I am in good health and was able to hit some of my goals. The grace of God has been so abundant with my family and we have comfortably settled in a new country. God has blessed me with a new circle of friends and I am hopeful for the coming year.
This may be embarrassing to admit publically but the truth is I cannot ride a bicycle. Our children are now riding very comfortably and this makes me the odd woman out. To this end, one of my goals for next year is to learn how to ride a bicycle.
Reading is a good habit and I do not want only myself to benefit from it. I am therefore going to encourage members of my family to also read more.
#4. Celebrate your successes however small and build on them
Unless you are kind to yourself and accept that there is progress you made throughout the year, you may leave this exercise feeling deflated. How many times have we failed to take stock and rejoice in what we have been able to accomplish?
Personally, I have taken stock of the year 2018 my overall score for this year is a 4. Yes, there is room for improvement but I did bring home so many successes this year and I deserve to be congratulated for this. When I told our children how many books I had read, our son Ephraim told his sister \”I think we should clap for mummy\”. It felt good and my husband as well gave me a big hug before proceeding to request that I ensure our children take up the habit of reading.
#5. Set new goals for the coming year
By the time you get to this stage, you are now clear about what you were able to accomplish and where you fell short. It is imperative that you try your best to accept the status quo and avoid living with regret. Whenever you are tempted to regret, instead use your shortcomings as lessons and springboards for what you want to achieve in the coming year.
Like you will see on my goal setting worksheet, I usually list 2 – 3 action steps for each goal. In addition to this, when it comes to goal setting, I recommend that you always think big but plan small. Try and aim at taking steps instead of leaps. This ensures that you avoid burnout and give up on the goal before it is accomplished. To help you do just this, you could try using the 12 week year system. Using this worksheet , you will be able to tackle 3 goals every 12 weeks and design steps you will do every week to lead you to the results you desire.
Finally,
As you conduct your life audit, please also take the time to reflect on your relationships. Ask yourself if there are new relationships you need to curve out. In my case, for example, I have a new mentor Rose who is going to be a very valuable person as I go for my big audacious goal of writing and publishing my book next year.
In the same way, you should also consider whether there are any relationships you may need to reconsider and let go of. In life, less will always be more and this does not just apply to our physical possessions but the friends we entertain in our lives as well. You need to maintain friends who are for you and help to fan your flames and not put them out.
I hope you will find these simple steps to be of use to you as you carry out your own audit of this year and plan for next year. I wish you a Merry Christmas and a blessed, productive, and prosperous new year.
The process of setting a goal involves thinking about your values and the direction that you would like your life to follow. Setting personal goals gives us a sense of direction in life, which is essential to personal empowerment.