Are you feeling stuck or unfulfilled in your current situation? Do you dream of living a meaningful and fulfilled life but aren’t sure where to start? Maybe you set goals every year but have a hard time actually achieving them. You’re not alone. Designing the life you want takes intention, reflection, and action. It’s not about waiting for change—it’s about creating it.
I’ve used this simple 5-step process both in my own life and with clients to turn big dreams into reality. Whether you’re seeking clarity, balance, or a fresh start, this guide will help you map out a plan that brings your vision to life.
Take your time as you move through this process. You can complete it in one sitting, or come back to it over a few days. Most importantly be curious, dream big, and have fun!
STEP 1: REFLECT
The past holds important lessons that shape our future. To move forward, we first need to take stock of where we are. This is a crucial part of designing the life you want.
Ask Yourself:
- What were the highlights of your past year? Which moments made you feel alive, joyful, and fulfilled?
- What were your lows? What experiences left you feeling stuck, depleted, or dissatisfied?
Pro Tip: Write down these reflections in a journal or notebook. This helps bring clarity to what’s working and what isn’t, so you can make intentional decisions about the future.
This simple reflection has often served as wake-up call, revealing when I’m teetering on the edge of burnout. Once I am able to recognize that I’m carrying too much, I can take action to reclaim my balance, and set firm boundaries—both with myself and those around me—to protect my well-being and energy.
STEP 2: VISION
Now, let’s dream big! Visioning is about imagining your what you really want and creating a tangible picture of your ideal future. There are no limits here—only possibilities. Don’t focus on what you think you “should” do, but instead focus on what you want to create.
Questions for Your Vision:
- Based on your reflection in Step 1, what do you want to amplify in your life? What needs to be turned down?
- What do you need more of?
- What do you need less of?
- What do you want to create or accomplish in the next year?
- What is the next version of YOU that you want to become?
- How do you want to feel?
- What do you want to be doing?
- How can you honor your values and passions?
Pro Tip: Every year in Q4, I take time to renew my vision. I find that creating a physical or virtual vision board is a powerful way to visually bring your dreams to life and remain focused on what matters. Place it where you’ll see it often, for example, in your office or as your screensaver, so your goals are front and center every day.
STEP 3: SET GOALS
With your vision in mind, it’s time to get specific about what you want to achieve. I recommend setting goals in the following five areas, but feel free to adjust them to work for you.
- Personal: Your personal development, health, and well-being
- Parent: Caring for kids and/or pets
- Relationships: Extended family, friendships, and community
- Partner: Significant other
- Business/Career: Your professional growth, career and networking
Example:
- Personal: Start a daily meditation practice
- Partner: Prioritize quality time with your partner
- Business: Start networking to support job search
Pro Tip: Aim for 2-4 reasonable intentions for each category. This helps maintain focus without overwhelming you.
STEP 4: SET COMMITMENTS
Setting goals is important, but establishing clear commitments is the key to managing your energy and staying on track. Commitments help you decide what you will give your attention to—and what you won’t.
Ask Yourself:
- What are you saying YES to?
- What are you saying NO to?
Examples:
- YES: I’m saying yes to boundaries that create balance in my life.
- NO: I’m saying no to perfectionism. I will not let perfect get in the way of good.
This year, I committed to saying YES to more rest and NO to overworking. It wasn’t easy at first, but it’s made a world of difference in protecting myself from burnout. I have learned the key to balance in letting my NOs protect my YESes.
STEP 5: ACTION PLAN
Now comes the fun part: putting your intentions into action! Research shows that we’re more successful when we focus on the process rather than just the outcome. Start by establishing small, manageable habits that align with your goals and intentions.
In Atomic Habits, author James Clear lays out the process to creating lasting change in our lives. A powerful way to make your intentions stick is to turn them into habits. How can you turn your goals into habits? Challenge yourself to start small as you think about how your intentions/goals connect to daily, weekly, monthly and quarterly habits and tasks. Apply these three simple tips:
- Track your habits: Tracking your habits is a powerful motivator. Whether you use a journal or an app, seeing your streak grow keeps you engaged and inspired to keep going.
- Make it easy: The key to sticking with any habit is to make it so easy you barely need motivation to get started. Begin with just 2 minutes a day. Once you’ve built consistency, gradually increase the time.
- Be Specific: Set a clear time and place for your habit to lock in accountability. When you know exactly when and where you’ll do it, it’s harder to skip. Make it a non-negotiable part of your routine.
Example Habits (based on Goals from Step 3):
- Personal Goal: Start a daily meditation practice
- Habit: Meditate for 2 minutes every morning in my office before I start work
- Partner Goal: Prioritize quality time with your partner
- Habit: Plan a date 2 times per month
- Business Goal: Start networking to support job search
- Habit: Meet with someone each week for at least 30 mins
Designing the life you want isn’t just a one-time task—it’s a process of continual reflection and action. Take these steps, and you’ll be amazed at the clarity and direction you gain.
Want More?
Check out my Life Design Intensive! In this 90-minute session, we focus on giving you more clarity, balance, and fulfillment in your life and career. You get a workbook based on the steps above PLUS a juicy visualization and a mini-training to help you get the most out of our time together. Don’t miss chance to design the life you want with my support!
