Nightly Inventory: Free 10th Step Printable PDF
A nightly inventory is a short review of your day before you go to sleep: where you were resentful, selfish, dishonest or afraid, who you owe an apology, and what you're grateful for. The book describes it on page 86 of Alcoholics Anonymous (fourth edition), and it's how most people practice Steps Ten and Eleven every day.
Print this and keep it by the bed. Use the questions on page one, then mark the 7-day tracker so you can see the week.
Download free PDFFree. No email, no sign-up. A printable PDF, letter size: tonight's review questions, a 7-day tracker and a night prayer.
Tonight's review
- Was I resentful, selfish, dishonest or afraid today? Where?
- Do I owe anyone an apology? Who, and when will I make it?
- Did I keep something to myself that I should talk over with my sponsor or someone I trust?
- Was I kind and loving toward the people around me?
- What could I have done better?
- Was I thinking mostly of myself today, or of what I could do for others?
- What am I grateful for today?
My week
| Day | Resentful, selfish, dishonest, afraid? | Apology I owe, and to whom | What I'd do better | What I'm grateful for |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | ||||
| 2 | ||||
| 3 |
The PDF runs from 1 to 7.
A night prayer
Lord, thank You for this day,
and for keeping me sober in it.
Forgive me where I fell short.
Show me what to put right tomorrow.
I give You the people I love
and the things I can't fix.
Let me rest in You tonight. Amen.
How to use it
- Keep the sheet and a pen by the bed.
- Before you sleep, read the questions and answer honestly. A word or two is enough.
- Mark the day on the tracker.
- Say the night prayer. If you owe an apology, plan to make it tomorrow.
- Bring anything that keeps coming up to your sponsor.
Scripture to go with it
“Let us test and examine our ways, and return to the LORD!”
“Be angry, and do not sin; ponder in your own hearts on your beds, and be silent.”
“In peace I will both lie down and sleep; for you alone, O LORD, make me dwell in safety.”
The questions follow the evening review in the 1939 first edition of Alcoholics Anonymous, put in our own words. Page numbers are from the fourth edition. The tracker and prayer are our own. Steps & Scripture is not affiliated with Alcoholics Anonymous World Services, Inc.
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Common questions
What is a nightly inventory?
It's a short evening review of your day: where you were resentful, selfish, dishonest or afraid, who you owe an apology, what you could have done better, and what you're grateful for. Then you ask God's forgiveness and what to do about it.
Is the nightly inventory Step 10 or Step 11?
Both. Step Ten is continuing to take personal inventory. The book describes the evening review on page 86 of Alcoholics Anonymous, fourth edition, at the start of its Step Eleven section.
How long should it take?
Five to ten minutes. It's a quick, honest look, not another Fourth Step.
What if I find something I need to fix?
Make the apology or correction as soon as you can, usually the next day. If you're not sure how, call your sponsor.
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