As we get ready to close out the year, there’s one powerful practice that I swear by— I love it so much I’ve discussed it numerous times on the podcast. It’s my annual calendar audit.
What’s a calendar audit? Think of it as a way to get clarity on exactly what you should do over the next twelve months. I like to spend several hours at the start of a new year mining last year’s calendar for insights into how I should plan the year ahead.
The calendar audit is perfect for the goal-setter, dream-builder, or anyone trying to make space for peace and rest. If your days often feel like a blur of busyness… or you’re craving more joy, and purpose… or if you feel like you’re working so hard but not really making traction against your goals, this simple practice could be the reset button you didn’t know you needed.
What Is a Calendar Audit and Why Should You Do One?
First of all, I think everyone should do a calendar audit. College students, stay at home parents, entrepreneurs… every single person I know can benefit from some clarity and intention in what they want out of the year before them.
A calendar audit gives you the chance to:
- See where your time actually went (the first year I did this I was shocked at how much time I wasted!)
- Identify what lit you up—and what wore you out
- Make sure your calendar reflects your values, and your goals not just your obligations
Step-by-Step: How to Do Your Own Calendar Audit
1. Block Time for the Audit
Set aside two to four hours of focused, uninterrupted time. This should be done all at once (breaking it up breaks up focus). I like to make it special: grab a cozy drink, light a candle, put on your favorite playlist. This is your time.
2. Gather Your Calendar and Journal
Use your digital calendar, planner, or any tool that helps you see how you spent your time over the past year. Didn’t use a calendar for your schedule? Use the photos on your phone as a reminder of what you did each month. It’s not as accurate as apointments but it’s better than not planning at all. Also (dude, let’s start using a calendar in the year ahead) You’ll also want a notebook or document to jot down reflections.
3. Sort Activities Into 3 Categories
Open your journal to a blank page and on three separate pages label the top with.
- Worth it
- Not Worth it
- Fun / Self Care
Now start on January 1st of last year and go through every single appointment. For each event (doctor’s appointment, workout, board meeting, date night, church, therapy, ALL of them) I want you to write them out on the page they fit in.
- Worth It: Energizing, meaningful, effective, got your closer to your goals
- Not Worth It: Draining, unnecessary, misaligned, wasted money, waste of time
- Fun and Self-Care: Life-giving, restful, joyful moments
4. Look for Patterns
Once you’ve gone through every date for all twelve months and put them onto the appropriate page, now it’s time to review. The first year I did this I was shocked to discover that my “not worth it page” was absolutely packed and there was barely anything on the “fun and self care page”. This was a huge eye opener for me.
Where did most of your joy come from? What activities always left you exhausted? Who did you spend time with that lifted you up—or brought you down? Lean on the 80/20 rule. Which 20% of your time created 80% of your growth, success, or happiness? How can you plan for more of that in the year ahead?
5. Design Your Ideal Week
Use your insights to create a rough sketch of a weekly rhythm that supports your goals, energy, and well-being. For instance, the first year I did this was also the moment I started to color-code my calendar this allowed me to see, at a glance, whether or not my week had anything fun planned or any time to work on my business, not in my business.
So use this as your opportunity to: add some self care, block out some dates for your vacation, schedule a quarterly check-in to review your last quarter and make sure you’re on the right track.
You’re not just planning—you’re curating your life on purpose.
Ready to Audit? Final Takeaways for a Calendar Audit
Be honest with yourself. You deserve a calendar that reflects your real priorities, not just your obligations.
- Boundaries are your best friend. Your energy is limited. Protect it.
- Celebrate what worked. Acknowledge the wins and carry them forward.
- This isn’t about doing it perfectly, it’s about doing it intentionally.
Your best year yet doesn’t happen by accident, it happens by design. If you want to watch the full youtube video I made a couple of years ago you can find it below.
