1. Values Audit

Identify your values first, so that you know what to ditch and where to focus. Then you can make blending choices that will create a life that's aligned with what you value most.

• Reference: Chapter 5
• Exercise: “Values Audit”

2. Values Hierarchy

Now you know what you want—but the reality is, you can't always have everything you want, all the time.

Prioritizing your values gives you a more sophisticated understanding of how to manage your time and energy without getting burnt out.

I won't say you'll never feel guilt or regret when you have to choose one thing or another. Life isn't perfect and sometimes it's hard to get this right.

But you're much more likely to make decisions and come to a resolution faster. This beats the old method of wasting time deliberating and listening to unproductive voices bounce around in your head. Secondly, you'll start to love your decisions and feel okay with “missing out,” because you'll know that you put the most important things first.

• Reference: Chapter 5
• Exercise: “Values Hierarchy”

3. Areas of Life

In this book, I've divided my life up into several areas.

Use mine if they're perfect for you, or come up with a version that suits your own reality.

Make a list that covers all the areas of life that demand your attention—and that you want to give attention to.

Whatever your picture of fulfillment looks like.

4. Aligning Your Life with Your Values

Across every area of life, ask yourself:

How am I honoring my values in this area?

How am I not honoring my values in this area?

Which values are most important to me in this area and what am I happy to let slide?

What would it look like to live in alignment with my values in this area?

What specific changes do I need to make to get there?

5. Blending Opportunities

Now that you're starting to get a picture of what you want your life to look like, look for overlap between the different areas of life. Where can you see opportunities to blend?

What kinds of activities light up multiple values at once? What kinds of activities help you fulfil your commitments and desires across multiple areas of life at once?

6. Blending Conversations

Blending is not a solo activity—the way you run your life obviously impacts people around you. Once you've identified some ways to blend, invite other people to try it with you.

You will probably also need to say no to some things that you've decided aren't worth your time and energy or that don't contribute to the blend. You'll need to make changes in some relationships moving forward.

Write a list of the conversations you'll need to have to make the blend happen.

• Reference: Chapter 11
• Exercise: “Making Agreements” in Chapter 13

7. Write Your Bucket List

Throughout the book, there are opportunities to stop and brainstorm some ideas for your bucket list.

If you've already done that, go back through the chapters and use those ideas as the basis for your list. 100 items is my magic number, but you can have as many or as few as you like—better to have 15 items that make you feel alive than 100 things that don't feel exciting or true to yourself.

Go wild with your bucket list. This is a list of dreams, not an exam you have to pass. Feel free to use your imagination and dream as big as you like. Check out our social for inspiration from others on their lists. Have fun!

• Reference: Chapter 7
• Exercise: “Building Your Bucket List” boxes in Chapters 7–17

8. Set Goals

Your bucket list is a great place to start when it comes to identifying your immediate goals. For example, if your bucket list says “Live in a foreign country for a year,” there will be steps and goals involved to make that happen—a financial goal, a language to learn, a career opportunity to pursue. Each of those can become a shorter-term goal that contributes to the dream on your bucket list.

Remember, writing them down increases the chances of them happening by 70%!

You'll also have other goals that aren't necessarily bucket list items, but are still important to you. Identify the goals you need to achieve to have the life you want to have.

Remember that goals change. It's not always about the goal; it's about the action that you're going to take to get towards that goal that's going to set you off in the direction you want your life to go. Your goals will evolve as you keep growing.

• Reference: Chapter 6
• Exercise: “Goal-Setting Formula” in Chapter 6