Conduct a Life Audit

Conduct an 80/20 Life Audit to Evaluate and Improve Your Life

Are you feeling overwhelmed by the demands and responsibilities in your life? Do you feel like you’re constantly running on a hamster wheel, unable to catch a break? It might be time to conduct an 80/20 life audit to evaluate and improve your life.

The 80/20 principle, also known as the Pareto Principle, states that roughly 80% of effects come from 20% of causes. This principle can be applied to all areas of life, including the people, activities, and situations that take up your time and energy.

To conduct an 80/20 life audit, ask yourself the following questions:

1. What are the 20% of your activities that bring you 80% of your stress? Identify the activities that drain your energy and cause you the most stress. Is it your job? Your daily commute? A particular household chore? Once you’ve identified these activities, consider how you can minimise or eliminate them from your life.
2. What are the 20% of your activities and areas of your life in which you experience 80% of your stress? Think about the areas of your life that are causing you the most stress. Is it your finances? Your relationships? Your health? Once you’ve identified these areas, consider how you can improve them.
3. What are the 20% of your activities and areas of your life in which you experience 80% of your happiness? Identify the activities and areas of your life that bring you the most joy and fulfillment. Is it spending time with loved ones? Pursuing a hobby or passion? Travelling? Once you’ve identified these areas, consider how you can incorporate more of them into your life.
4. Who are the 20% of the people in your life with whom you have 80% of your best experiences? Think about the people in your life who bring you the most joy and support. Is it your partner? Your family? Your closest friends? Once you’ve identified these people, consider how you can spend more quality time with them.
5. Who or what brings your energy up when you think about them? Think about the people, activities, and situations that bring you energy and inspiration. Is it listening to music? Spending time in nature? Talking to a particular friend? Once you’ve identified these things, consider how you can incorporate more of them into your daily life.
6. Who or what brings your energy down when you think about them? Think about the people, activities, and situations that drain your energy and bring you down. Is it a toxic relationship? A stressful job? Negative self-talk? Once you’ve identified these things, consider how you can minimise or eliminate them from your life.

Based on what you have learned from your 80/20 life audit, ask yourself the following questions:

1. What should you be doing less of? Identify the activities, areas, and people in your life that are causing you the most stress and unhappiness. Consider how you can reduce or eliminate them from your life.
2. What would be worth doing more of? Identify the activities, areas, and people in your life that bring you the most joy and fulfillment. Consider how you can incorporate more of them into your life.
3. Who would it be worth spending more time with? Think about the people in your life who bring you the most joy and support. Consider how you can spend more quality time with them.
4. Who would it be worth spending less time with? Think about the people in your life who drain your energy and bring you down. Consider how you can minimise or eliminate your time with them.
5. If you had only one month to live, what would you let go of from your life? Think about the things in your life that you wouldn’t want to spend your precious time on if you only had one month left. Is it work-related stress? A toxic relationship? Once you’ve identified these things, consider how you can let them go from your life.
6. Which of those things can you let go of anyway? Identify the things in your life that are causing you the most stress and unhappiness that you can let go of. This may be easier said than done, but it’s important to consider how you can create boundaries and take action to prioritize your own well-being.

By conducting an 80/20 life audit, you’ll gain clarity on the areas of your life that are causing you the most stress and unhappiness, as well as those that bring you the most joy and fulfillment. From there, you can take action to make positive changes and improve your overall well-being.

If you’re feeling overwhelmed and don’t know where to start, consider reaching out to a therapist or coach for guidance. They can help you navigate your emotions and create an action plan for making positive changes in your life.

In summary, an 80/20 life audit can be a powerful tool for evaluating and improving your life. By identifying the 20% of people, activities, and situations that bring you the most stress and joy, you can create a plan to minimise or eliminate the negative and focus on the positive. Remember, taking care of yourself should always be a priority.