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Share to Facebook Share to Twitter Share to Linkedin A self-audit frames your personal development more as a journey rather than a race. 2025 is just around the corner. For many of us, a brand new year brings with it the familiar urge to start fresh or reinvent ourselves.
Whether that’s through a more active lifestyle, eating healthier, saving more money, spending less time on social media, or getting organized. But what if you’ve tried New Year’s resolutions in the past, and they’ve never stuck? After all, only 8% of people are able to actually achieve them. That’s where self-audits come in.
What Is A Self-Audit? “A self-audit is a reflective process that involves taking an honest inventory of your life,” says Dr. Shannon Daneshrad , a clinical psychologist in private practice. You evaluate what’s working and what’s not, celebrate progress and accomplishments and identify areas for growth or change, Dr.
Daneshrad explains. Think of it this way: Just as pilots methodically go through a pre-flight checklist before takeoff, a self-audit helps you review where you are in life—emotionally, mentally, physically, and even spiritually—and ensure it aligns with where you want to be. “A self-audit can also be a fun opportunity to create a keepsake or memory book of the year's events, which you can look back on,” says Brooklyn-based therapist Morgan Daffron .
You might include sections for books you enjoyed reading, events you attended, and people you learned the most from. “[It’s] about you and how you choose to use it,” she says. Why Should You Do A Self-Audit? Here’s why mental health experts want you to skip the resolutions and consider doing a self-audit instead: It encourages sustainable growth: Rather than making immediate, sweeping changes come January 1, a self-audit frames your personal development more as a journey rather than a race, says Najamah Davis , a licensed clinical social worker.
This reduces stress, anxiety, and frustration that comes from the pressure to overhaul your habits overnight. It builds intrinsic motivation: New Year’s resolutions often fail because they're driven by external expectations (e.g.
, peer pressure, social media, societal ideals, etc.) and unrealistic timelines, says Dr. Amanda Long , a clinical psychologist.
Resolutions are also problematic as they are used to focus on everything that’s “wrong” or needs to be “fixed,” says Jeanne Sparrow , author of Fearless Authenticity . A self-audit is a better place to start as it’s based on self-awareness, curiosity, and a growth mindset, which builds intrinsic motivation. Research suggests intrinsically motivated people are less likely to quit than their extrinsically motivated counterparts.
Reflection over perfection: “Resolutions often fade because they're too ambitious or lack a plan,” says Dr. Ryan Sultan , assistant professor of clinical psychiatry at Columbia University. “A self-audit, on the other hand, is reflective and proactive,” he notes.
It acknowledges the year's successes and setbacks, helping you create a personalized roadmap for growth. According to Sparrow, a self-audit also helps you start from a position of strength, where you’re empowered by what’s already working in your life. More realistic and flexible: "New Year's resolutions tend to be rigid and metric-oriented,” says Lauren Farina , a Chicago-based therapist in private practice.
For example, "I resolve to go to the gym four times a week." These kinds of goals promote an all-or-nothing approach. So, in this case, if you are able to go to the gym only two or three times a week, then technically, you didn’t meet your goal.
This perceived “failure” is likely to discourage you. “When we feel bad about ourselves, we are less resourced to practice self-discipline and honor our commitments,” notes Farina. The very behaviors we resolve against (e.
g., excessive screen time, binge eating, etc.) become convenient coping mechanisms for soothing the guilt and shame, Farina explains.
Self-auditing, on the other hand, helps you set realistic goals and emphasizes continuous calibration. How To Do A Self-Audit? Start by blocking off some time for quiet reflection, away from your phone, computer, and other distractions. The more relaxed and present you are, the clearer you’ll be able to think.
Now, take a look at every key aspect of your life, like health, work, relationships, faith and finances. Go one at a time. You can use a journal or guided prompts.
You can also do it with a therapist. “The process can be as simple or structured as you like,” says Arielle Pinkston , a licensed marriage and family therapist. Ask pointed questions and be honest with your responses, suggests Dr.
Sultan. It’s also important to not be judgmental. “This is less about ‘grading’ yourself and more about identifying patterns, unmet needs, and opportunities for intentional shifts,” notes Pinkston.
“A question I love asking my clients is: How would you feel in one year from now if nothing were to change? and this gets the ball rolling,” says Natalie Capano , a licensed mental health counselor. Here are a few more questions to consider: What am I proud of accomplishing this year, and why is it meaningful? What am I not so proud of? What challenges did I face this year, and how did I handle them? Who or what in my life helped me move toward my goals? Who or what is holding me back? What’s the one thing I’m ready to let go of? Which areas of my life feel balanced, and which need more attention? Where did I invest most of my time and energy this year? What relationships have supported me, and where do I need to set boundaries? What lessons have I learned this year, and how can I apply them moving forward? If you're unsure where to begin, ask yourself why you're reading this article. What drew you to learn more about a self-audit? Whatever is your answer, that’s your starting point.
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