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Welcome to the Time Audit!
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A time audit is an extremely helpful tool, but it's only as good as the information you enter.
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Before you start, commit to the process of time tracking for your designated number of days.
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I reccommed 14 days in order to get the most accurate picture.
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It can feel like a tedious activity, but it's worth it!
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And no week is exactly the same so stick with it, even if you feel like its not a typical week.
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Follow the steps below to begin your time tracking.
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*View the Example Data and Example Results tabs if needed.
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Before you begin, copy this spreadsheet and rename it for yourself
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Go to File > Make a copy OR download as
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Step 1:
Identify and determine the categories of activities. How you group activities is important as it will determine what insighths you gain about how you spend your time.
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See below for examples of cagetories.
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Step 2:
Input your categories into the time tracking 'Categories Key' on the Data tab of this spreadsheet.
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Step 3:
Optional: Adjust the start date, time intervals, wake up and bed times.
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Step 4:
Decide how you prefer to track - online in the spreadsheet or on a paper print out.
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Step 5:
If online, keep this spreadsheet open and available for easy data entry.
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If on paper, print out the spreadsheet (or two - one for office and one for home) for easy data capture.
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Step 6:
Start tracking! Consider setting a timer for every 30 minutes to remind yourself to input the data.
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**If you are doing two things at once - eating and spending time with friends, commuting and listening to a podcast, record both activities - as a primary and secondary
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Step 7:
If you are tracking digitally, use the comment feature to add additional notes or context to a give cell.
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If you are tracking on paper, write notes on the back or an additional page to capture more context.
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Step 8:
If you are tracking on paper, input your activity numbers into the digital spreadsheet - daily or at the end of the week.
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Step 9:Analyze your results!
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Examples of categories of activities:
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*Create whatever groupings are helpful for you to understand how your time is being spent and the make decisions about how you'd like to re-allocate your time.
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**If it's helpful for you to see how much time you're spending doing a specific activity, e.g. supporting your colleagues, make that it's own catetory rather than part of a group.
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CATEGORY
EXAMPLES OF ITEMS IN THAT CATEGORY
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content / product creation
research, writing, recording, producing
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client work
preparation, meetings
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service delivery
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business administration
supporting colleagues, submitting expense reports
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personal/professional develpment
reading, online courses, working with my coach, listening to podcasts or audiobooks
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marketing and sales
social media for work, sales meetings, reseraching prospects
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Online connecting
personal email, personal social media
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email
work email and/or personal email
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family time
playing with kids, time with partner
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socializing
connecting in person and/or virtually with friends
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fun / entertainment
movies, tv, reading, concerts, shopping
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Self maintenance
showering, getting dressed, hair cuts, doctor appointments
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health
exersize, meditation
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housework
laundry, dishes, home repairs, organizing
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mealscooking, eating
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running errands
grocery shopping, post office
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volunteering
little leage coaching, serving on a committee
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care providing
helping a family member or friend, giving kids a bath
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travel / commute
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other
random activities that don't fit anywhere
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