I talk a lot about living a life of no regrets and I inevitably get asked the same question: "Where do I start? How do I know what that looks like for me?"

Below I explain the steps I take when working with clients like you.

Start mapping out your "no regrets" life using the following exercise:

Step #1
Make a list of what is most important to you.
What do you value? What brings you joy? Is it spending time with friends and family? Is it living in a healthy body? Or maybe it’s cultivating your intellectual and artistic sides. Whatever has meaning for you, write it down.

Step #2
Write out what you do in a typical day, from the moment you wake up to the moment you go to bed.
What do you do daily? How is your time spent? Is it work? Family obligations? Domestic duties? Just make a note of it all.

Step #3
Compare the two lists.
Are the things that are most important to you making it into your day-to-day life? How much time do you dedicate to them? Are the things you value most given priority? Start noticing where there may be a disconnect between what you value and what you are actually doing.

Step #4
Take a turtle step towards joy.
Pick one thing that’s really fun and joyful from your list in step #1, something where you lose all sense of time, and see if you can organize your day around it instead of trying to squeeze it in amongst your other to-do’s.

Step #5
Notice the information your body is giving you throughout the day.
Your body is constantly responding to its environment and relaying information to you in various ways. Begin noticing the physical sensations in your body as you go about your day and see what you discover. What is it saying? Do you feel a knot in your stomach as you enter a meeting? Do you sense expansion in your chest as you watch the sun set? The things that make you feel light, weightless and expansive are indicators you’re heading towards your ideal life.

Step #6
Take consistent, aligned action in making your core values the central focus of your daily life.
Repeat this exercise week after week. You will find yourself making decisions from a place of self-awareness and clarity, which in turn will move you closer to living a life of no regrets.