Building a Life You Love: A Design Thinking Approach

Do you ever find yourself asking the question, “What do I want to do with my life?” or “How can I build a life that I love?” It can be difficult to figure out the answer, but taking a design thinking approach can help. 

The design thinking approach consists of three key steps – Identify, Experiment, and Refine. These steps are designed to help you understand the areas of your life that you want to improve and how to make the changes needed to achieve a life you love. 

Step 1: Identify 

The first step in building a life you love is to identify the problem. On a scale of 0 to 10, how much are you currently loving your life? If the answer is anything less than 10, it’s worth figuring out what the gap is between where you want to be and where you currently are. 

This gap can be in different areas of life, so it’s important to split your life into manageable sections. Health, work, and relationships are often considered the three main areas of life. 

To get started, think about physical and mental health. What is one step you can take to get closer to building a life you love? For example, you may want to focus on eating healthier or taking exercise more seriously. 

When it comes to work, think about how you ideally want to be spending your time and what energizes you. Consider the “fast forward test,” where you imagine fast-forwarding through each activity in your day. How many activities drain you, and how many energize you? This can give you an idea of what you should focus on when it comes to work.

Finally, think about your relationships. How do you want to spend time with the people you care about? What kind of relationships do you want to have, and what kind of person do you want to be in your relationships? 

Step 2: Experiment 

Once you have identified what you want to change, it’s time to experiment. This means trying new things, taking risks, and testing your assumptions. You may not know exactly what you want to do with your life, but trying new things can help you figure it out. For example, if you’re unhappy with your current job, consider trying a new career or starting a side hustle. 

If you want to improve your health, try a new workout routine or diet. If you want to improve your relationships, try reaching out to someone you haven’t talked to in a while or finding a new hobby to do with a friend. 

Step 3: Refine 

The final step is to refine your approach. This means evaluating what worked, what didn’t, and what you can improve. Reflection is key, and it’s important to be honest with yourself about what changes you want to make. 

For example, if you tried a new career but it wasn’t fulfilling, you may want to try something else. If a new workout routine didn’t work for you, you may need to find a different way to improve your health. The key is to keep experimenting and refining until you find what works for you.

In conclusion, building a life you love takes time, effort, and a willingness to experiment. By identifying what you want to change, experimenting with new things, and refining your approach, you can find what works for you and build a life you truly love.