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TEA Audit

By
December 16, 2025

TEA Audit Framework: Mastering Time, Energy, and Attention

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The TEA Audit Framework -short for Time, Energy, and Attention audit- is a practical tool to help you understand how you’re spending your most valuable resources. Think of it as a diagnostic check for your daily operations, allowing you to identify inefficiencies, prioritize high-value activities, and achieve better alignment with your goals.

Here’s everything you need to know to perform a T/Audit and use its insights to optimize your productivity.

1. What is the TEA Audit?

The TEA Audit Framework is a method for evaluating how you allocate your time, energy, and attention. It’s not just about tracking hours; it’s about understanding the quality of your focus and the energy you bring to different tasks.

Key Components:

  • Time: How many hours are you spending on specific activities?
  • Energy: How do these activities make you feel? Are they draining or energizing?
  • Attention: How focused are you? Are you frequently switching between tasks, or are you staying in a productive flow?

2. Why the TEA Audit Matters

Your time, energy, and attention are finite resources. Managing them effectively can:

  • Boost Productivity: Focus on tasks that drive the most value.
  • Reduce Burnout: Avoid overcommitting to energy-draining activities.
  • Enhance Clarity: Align your daily activities with your long-term goals.

3. How to Conduct a TEA Audit

Follow these steps to perform a thorough audit:

Step 1: Track Your Activities

  • Use a simple log or spreadsheet to record what you’re doing every 15-30 minutes for a week.
  • Note the type of activity (e.g., meetings, creative work, admin tasks).

Step 2: Rate Energy and Attention Levels

For each activity, assign scores:

  • Energy: –5 (draining) to +5 (energizing).
  • Attention: High, Medium, or Low.

Step 3: Categorize Activities

Organize your activities into categories such as:

  • High Value: Tasks that directly impact your goals.
  • Supportive: Necessary but not directly impactful (e.g., admin work).
  • Wasteful: Activities that don’t contribute meaningfully (e.g., excessive email checks).

Step 4: Insights from the TEA Audit

Once you’ve completed the audit, analyze your results to uncover patterns:

  • Time Spent: Are you allocating enough time to high-value activities?
  • Energy Drain: Identify tasks that consistently drain your energy and explore ways to delegate or eliminate them.
  • Attention Gaps: Reduce multitasking and create blocks of focused time for critical work.

4. Optimizing Your T/E/A

Here are some strategies to act on your audit findings:

1. Time Management

  • Batch Similar Tasks: Group similar activities together to minimize context switching.
  • Set Time Blocks: Reserve dedicated time for deep work on high-value tasks.

2. Energy Optimization

  • Schedule Around Energy Peaks: Work on your most demanding tasks when you’re at your energy peak.
  • Take Breaks: Incorporate short breaks to recharge during the day.

3. Attention Mastery

  • Minimize Distractions: Turn off notifications and create a focused workspace (e.g. turn on Not Disturb mode of your cellphone, silence social media notifications or schedule the screen time).
  • Prioritize Deep Work: Allocate specific times for uninterrupted, high-concentration tasks.

*Practical Example: TEA Audit in Action

Suppose you’re managing a business and notice frequent energy dips during the afternoon. Your audit reveals:

  • Morning Tasks: High-value creative work (+4 energy, high attention).
  • Afternoon Tasks: Administrative tasks (–2 energy, low attention).

Optimization:

  • Shift administrative tasks to later in the day.
  • Use afternoons for lighter tasks or breaks to recover energy.
  • Protect mornings for deep work.

5. Maintaining and Evolving Your TEA Audit

To keep your TEA Audit effective:

  • Review Regularly: Conduct an audit quarterly to adapt to changes in priorities.
  • Incorporate Feedback: Use insights from the audit to refine your schedule and habits.
  • Stay Flexible: Adjust based on what’s working and what’s not.

Conclusion

The TEA Audit Framework is a powerful way to take control of your time, energy, and attention. By understanding where your resources go and making intentional adjustments, you can work smarter, not harder, and align your daily efforts with your larger goals. Start small, stay consistent, and watch your productivity soar.

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