How do you count your period days?

I think I’ve been doing my period calendar all wrong and I feel stupid to even have to question it when I’ve been having my period of over a decade now but in my defense I never really had them for years due to birth control. I haven’t been on birth control for over a year now snd have been having my period now for about it 7-8 months normally well to my knowledge it’s normal considering it get them around the same time. But I’m having trouble figuring out when my period truly ends I think I’m dragging it out longer then it is. I’m my 6th day into my period today but all day today I haven’t seen blood in my pads (yes I use pads, sorry for those who are bothered by that), but when I wipe I see blood but it’s like light and faded a bit so idk if I still count that as a period or spotting or if my period ended yesterday and I’ve been punting it all wrong. No one ever explained it to me I’ve just been assuming but I’m reading that spotting after a period is normal, but does that mean my period ended yesterday and I’m spotting or is this still considered my period and I’m just extremely light. 🤦🏽‍♀️I feel like I’m overthinking it but if not I’ve been doing my calendar wrong for months and I’m going to have to fix them haha. So someone please give me some sort of answer lol.