Ever found yourself at the end of the year, looking back and wondering where all the time went? Maybe you had big plans, resolutions that fizzled out, or just felt like you were constantly reacting to whatever came your way. It’s a common feeling, that sense of just “coasting along” without making truly meaningful progress. We often hope the next year will be different, but without a clear plan, it’s easy to fall into the same patterns.
What if there was a simple, actionable way to reflect on your past year and intentionally set yourself up for a more productive, fulfilling one? That’s exactly what we’re diving into today with a powerful framework that helps you audit your Time, Energy, and Attention. By focusing on these three core pillars, you can gain clarity, make strategic adjustments, and ensure your efforts are aligned with what truly matters to you.
1. Your Time Audit: Where Did the Hours Go?
When we talk about productivity, time is often the first thing that comes to mind. But simply “managing” time isn’t enough. We need to understand how we’re actually spending it and if those hours are serving our goals and values. A great way to start this audit is by looking back at your calendar. Don’t worry, you don’t need to scrutinize every single entry. Just skim through month by month, noting what jumps out at you.
- What tasks and projects consumed most of your time? Were they worth it?
- Where did you feel like you wasted time? Were there unnecessary meetings, unproductive trips, or recurring tasks that felt like a drain?
- What tools or strategies helped you save time? Did learning a new skill, like using AI, make a significant difference?
My co-host, Brooks, often skims his calendar and journal to spot patterns. He looks for things that highlight, whether good or bad. For instance, he realized he was spending a lot of time doing live client presentations that could be streamlined. By pre-recording some of the content and personalizing the beginning, he saved significant time for himself and his clients, without losing that personal touch. It was a simple tweak that came from observing a recurring time sink.
Sometimes, what seems like “wasted” time isn’t wasted at all, but simply needs adjustment. Brooks shared a personal story about spending two to three hours daily helping his mother eat dinner after she had a stroke. While it took a lot of time, he wouldn’t trade those moments for anything. He made a conscious choice to prioritize his mother, even if it meant less time for other pursuits, like learning Python. This highlights a crucial point: you don’t find time, you make time for what truly matters. The key is to be intentional about those tradeoffs.
For me, looking back, I realized a lot of my time was going into administrative work. Even though my weekly review often flagged it, I kept prioritizing other things. This year, I’m making it a point to tackle that head-on. It’s like ignoring the check engine light in your car; eventually, something’s going to blow up. By identifying these patterns, we can make proactive changes instead of waiting for a crisis.
What patterns do you see in your own calendar and daily activities?
2. Your Energy Audit: Fueling Your Day
Time is finite, but energy can be renewed and optimized. This pillar is about understanding what truly fuels you and what drains you. It’s not just about physical energy, but mental and emotional vitality too. Ask yourself:
- What activities consistently drained your energy this past year?
- When were you most energized and productive? What were you doing, and what were the circumstances?
- Did you consistently prioritize the foundational elements of energy: sleep, exercise, and nutrition?
I spent a lot of 2024 focusing on my energy. I experimented with things like red light therapy and shifted my social activities from dining out to playing sports. It wasn’t a conscious decision to spend less on food, but by replacing dinners with padel or pickleball, I naturally allocated my resources differently. My spending on sports went up, but my dining out went down, and I felt more energized. It’s a great example of how focusing on one area can have positive ripple effects across your life.
Brooks made a similar realization about his energy. He loves live music, but found that midweek concerts consistently left him drained the next day. So, he made a personal rule: no more midweek concerts, unless it’s a truly once-in-a-lifetime event. I have a similar rule about drinks: no alcohol Sunday through Thursday. While I enjoy a social cocktail, I know even a few sips can disrupt my sleep and impact my productivity the next day. These small, intentional boundaries can make a huge difference in maintaining consistent energy levels.
What small changes could you make to protect and boost your energy?
3. Your Attention Audit: Where Does Your Focus Lie?
In our hyper-connected world, attention is a precious commodity. This audit helps you understand what captures your focus and whether that focus is serving your highest priorities. Consider these questions:
- What activities put you in a “flow state” this year? When did you feel completely immersed and energized by your work?
- How well did you stick to your stated priorities? Did you achieve the goals you set, or did your attention get pulled in other directions?
- Were you consistently distracted by social media, notifications, or other interruptions? What were the biggest culprits?
This is where a social media audit can be incredibly insightful. Brooks realized that platforms like Twitter (now X) and TikTok, which once offered some value, had become significant distractions. He decided to remove them from his phone entirely, finding that his mood was lighter and he spent less time “doom scrolling.” It’s about being honest with yourself: are these platforms adding to your life or actively detracting from it?
For me, maintaining focus often comes down to how I start my day. Regardless of how I slept, if I can nail the first three to four hours with my routine, calendar review, and focused work, that momentum carries through the rest of the day. It’s about creating a strong foundation for your attention.
What pulls your attention away from what truly matters, and what strategies could help you reclaim it?
Your Next Step: One Tweak at a Time
The beauty of the TEA framework is its simplicity and actionability. You don’t need to overhaul your entire life. The most powerful approach is to pick one of the three pillars—Time, Energy, or Attention—to focus on for the coming year. Then, within that chosen pillar, identify one small, actionable tweak you can implement. Whether it’s optimizing your sleep, setting boundaries around social media, or dedicating specific blocks for deep work, a single consistent change can lead to massive productivity gains over time.
Start today. You don’t have to wait for January 1st. By taking this intentional step, you’re not just hoping for a better year; you’re actively building one.
