Feel so busy you don't even realize you're busy? Try doing a time audit

A few years ago, Niro Feliciano didn't even have the time to grasp how busy she was. The mom of four was taking on more writing and speaking gigs on top of her work as a psychotherapist and a licensed clinical social worker.

"I remember sitting in my office. I had done eight sessions, several with adolescents. And I said, 'When was the last time I spent 45 minutes listening to one of my kids?'" she says.

She realized that how she wanted to spend her time and how she was really spending it "were very much misaligned," she says. "I did not see enough of a reflection of things that brought me joy and contentment."

If your day leaves you no room to enjoy what matters, reevaluate where your time is going, says Feliciano, author of two self-help books, including This Book Won't Make You Happy: Eight Keys to Finding True Contentment .

Feliciano asks many of her own clients to do this, especially those who feel like they're on a "hamster wheel and can never catch up," she says. "Oftentimes, the things that are most important to them don't have much of a place in their day-to-day schedule."

To regain control of your time — and your life — try these exercises from Feliciano.

Make a list of the people and the activities that are the most important to you. It might be loved ones like your partner, your kids or your bestie, and hobbies like reading, working out or video-chatting with your long-distance friends.

Then do a time inventory. Where is your time really going each day? Are the lists matching up? You might find that a lot of your day is spent on obligations, chores and time-sucking activities.