Ever feel like life has you on a non-stop treadmill, racing through days without a moment to catch your breath and wonder, Am I actually on the right track?
If so, you’re not alone! Life’s hustle can blur our focus and keep us from checking in with ourselves.
Enter emotional auditing: a fun and eye-opening way to pause, reflect, and make sure you’re directing your energy toward what really matters.
No spreadsheets or number crunching here—just a little honest self-reflection and a chance to rebalance your emotional resources.
What Is Emotional Auditing Anyway?
Think of emotional auditing as a review session with yourself where you take stock of your feelings, energy levels, and life choices.
It’s like a financial audit, but instead of balancing your bank account, you’re balancing your emotional resources.
Are you investing in things that make you happy, or are you spending all your emotional currency on stuff that drains you? Let’s find out.
Why Should You Care?
Life can get hectic, no doubt about it. We’re constantly balancing work, relationships, side projects, and that hobby we promised ourselves we’d start (looking at you, yoga mat gathering dust).
In all the chaos, it’s easy to find ourselves pouring energy into things that don’t truly serve us.
That’s where an emotional audit comes in—it helps you identify exactly where your energy is being spent and make adjustments so you can save it for the important things, like your dreams and those unexpected dance parties that make life fun.
The Emotional Audit Checklist
- How Do I Really Feel? Take a minute to sit in silence and ask yourself: How am I actually doing? Stressed? Excited? Tired beyond belief? Name the feeling without judgment. Awareness is step one.
- Where Is My Energy Going? Grab a notebook (or the notes app on your phone) and jot down the top things that occupy your mind and time. Is it work, family drama, social media doom-scrolling? Make a list and see where the bulk of your energy leaks are.
- Who’s on Your Emotional Payroll? Relationships are investments. Are the people in your life lifting you up or dragging you down? Do they give you emotional income (positivity, support) or take withdrawals (stress, constant complaints)? Time to see who’s a good investment and who needs to be “restructured.”
- Check Your Emotional Subscriptions You know those streaming services you keep paying for even though you don’t use them? Yeah, emotional subscriptions are like that but for your mental space. Are there activities or commitments you’re mentally subscribed to that no longer serve you? Time to hit that “unsubscribe” button!
Making Adjustments
Now that you’ve reviewed your emotional finances, it’s time to make some changes:
- Invest Wisely: Start pouring more energy into things and people that bring you joy. Whether it’s picking up that old hobby or scheduling time with a friend who always makes you laugh, make sure your energy goes to things that fill your emotional piggy bank.
- Cut Back on Energy Drains: Identify the activities or relationships that deplete you. If quitting them altogether isn’t possible, set boundaries or reduce your involvement.
- Plan Your Next Check-In: Emotional auditing isn’t a one-time deal. Make it a habit to review your emotional books every few months to stay on track.
The Benefits
When you regularly check in with yourself, you’re better equipped to pivot before things go sideways. It helps you be more intentional, resilient, and, most importantly, happier. Plus, it’s way more productive than just complaining to your friends over coffee (though that has its place too!).
So, go ahead—take yourself on an emotional audit. You might be surprised what you find, and better yet, you’ll come out of it feeling a little more balanced and a lot more in control.
