How to Perform a Self-Audit to Live Your Best Life!

September marks the beginning of Self-Improvement Month, a perfect time to take a step back & evaluate various aspects of our lives. One effective way to start is by conducting a self-audit. 

What is a self-audit & Why is it important?

A self-audit is a systematic process of evaluating various aspects of your life to identify areas with room for improvement & to set goals for personal growth. It's a way to take stock of your habits, routines, & behaviors to understand how they contribute to your overall well-being. There are many benefits to performing regular self-audits. Here are a few:

 

  • Improved Self-Awareness: By taking a closer look at your life, you gain a better understanding of your strengths, weaknesses, & patterns.

  • Personal Growth: A self-audit helps you make deliberate improvements in your life, leading to personal & professional development.

  • Enhanced Well-Being: Addressing areas like diet, exercise, & mental health can lead to better overall health & happiness.

  • Better Decision-Making: With clearer insights into your habits & behaviors, you can make more informed decisions that align with your long-term goals.

In essence, a self-audit is a powerful tool for anyone looking to take control of their life & make positive changes. This practice helps us identify areas that need attention & set realistic goals for improvement. It’s about being proactive in your self-improvement journey, ensuring that you’re consistently working towards becoming the best version of yourself. 




Key Areas to include in your self-audit:

When conducting a self-audit, it’s important to focus on several key areas to get a comprehensive view of your well-being. Start with physical health, examining your diet, hydration, & exercise habits. Are you fueling your body with nutritious foods, staying hydrated, & getting enough physical activity? We’ll dive deeper into this topic in next month’s blog-stay tuned. Next, consider your mental & emotional well-being by reflecting on what you’re feeding your mind—media, books, conversations—and the quality of your self-talk. (We’re going to cover this more in November, but for now check out our post on affirmations.) Are these influences positive & uplifting? Finally, assess your daily habits & routines. How do they contribute to or detract from your goals? James Clear, the author of Atomic Habits, reminds us that “You do not rise to the level of your goals. You fall to the level of your systems.” Keeping an eye on these areas will help you identify strengths & opportunities for growth, setting the stage for meaningful self-improvement.

 
 

Okay but how? We’re so glad you asked! Let us introduce you to…



Self-Audit 101: a Step-by-Step Guide

Ready to take your self-improvement journey to the next level? If so, then it’s time to RIP-AT-R! Yes, we made up our own acronym. It’s just a fun term to guide you through an effective self-audit session, helping you stay on track with your goals. We’ve streamlined the process for you into three simple steps, each with its own set of actions. Let’s dive in!

 
 



Reflect, Identify, Plan

This first step is all about setting the foundation for your self-improvement journey. RIP stands for Reflect, Identify, & Plan. Here’s how to do it:

Reflect: Begin by taking a moment to think about your life as it stands. What’s going well? What areas could use some improvement? Reflection is key to gaining insight into your current state. As the philosopher Aristotle observed, “Knowing yourself is the beginning of all wisdom.”

  • Reflection Tip: Find a quiet space where you can think without distractions. Consider questions like, “Am I fulfilled in my daily routine?” or “What areas of my life are causing stress?”

Identify: After reflecting, identify the specific areas in your life that need attention. Assess these areas honestly to create awareness around where you stand.

  • Assessment Tip: Rate different aspects of your life—like health, relationships, work, & finances—on a scale of 1 to 10. This will help you see where you excel & where there’s room for growth.

Plan: With your assessments in hand, it’s time to plan. Set realistic goals for each area that needs improvement & create systems to help you achieve them. Remember Benjamin Franklin’s advice, “If you fail to plan, you are planning to fail.”

  • Planning Tip: Break your goals into manageable steps. If your goal is to exercise more, plan out your workout schedule & choose activities you enjoy. If you want to improve your finances, create a budget or start using a financial tracking app.

Act, Track

Now that you’ve laid the groundwork, it’s time to move into the action phase. The AT in RIP-AT-R stands for Act & Track. This step is all about putting your plans into motion & keeping an eye on your progress.

Act: This is where you start making things happen. Take the plans & systems you’ve created & begin executing them. Consistency is key, so stay committed to your actions.

  • Action Tip: Start small to build momentum. If you’re trying to establish a new habit, begin with something manageable, like 10 minutes of daily meditation or drinking more water.

Track: As you act, make sure to track your progress. Monitoring your actions will help you stay on course & allow you to adjust if needed.

  • Tracking Tip: Use a habit tracker, journal, or digital app to log your daily progress. Regularly review your results to see how well you’re sticking to your plan & where you might need to make changes.

Repeat

Self-improvement is an ongoing process, and that’s where the final R comes in: Repeat. As Will Durant summarized Aristotle's thoughts, “We are what we repeatedly do. Excellence, then, is not an act, but a habit.” Once you’ve gone through Steps 1 & 2, it’s time to loop back & start again.

Repeat: After completing your self-audit cycle, go back to the beginning & start the process over. This ensures you’re continually reflecting, assessing, planning, acting, & tracking your progress over time.

  • Repeat Tip: Schedule regular self-audit sessions—whether monthly, quarterly, or biannually—to keep your personal growth on track. Each time you repeat the process, you’ll get better at fine-tuning your life.



Final Thoughts

The RIP-AT-R method is your easy-to-follow, 3-step guide to self-auditing. By following this rhythm, you’ll create a powerful cycle of continuous self-improvement. Remember, personal growth is a journey, not a destination, and by using this method, you’ll be well on your way to becoming the best version of yourself. So, go ahead & RIP-AT-R your way to your best life!



READY TO TRY IT OUT FOR YOURSELF? Download Our FREE Self-Care Checklist!

Now that you've learned the ins and outs of the RIP-AT-R method, it's time to put it into action. To make your self-audit journey even easier, we've created a self-care checklist. This tool will help you stay organized, focused, & motivated as you work towards becoming the best version of yourself. Don't wait—take control of your self-improvement journey today by downloading your free copy now!








Marcie Burke