There's an old riddle that goes like this:

How do you eat an elephant?

Answer: One bite at a time.

That can also be true for redesigning a life. Much of our lives are made up of the routines we have developed that become the framework for a typical day in our life. Granted, many people have a fair amount of variety in a lot of their days, still most of us can learn a lot about our lives by looking at the patterns we have adopted over time.

That is the purpose of the following 2 part exercise. First, to get a clearer picture of what your "Current Typical Day" looks like and then to explore what your "Ideal Typical Day" could be.

Between these two pictures, between the current picture and the picture of your ideal day, there is likely to be a gap. Sometimes the gap is large, sometimes not so large. In either case, once you have a clear view of both of these type days, you can begin the process of closing the gap by taking conscious steps towards bringing your Ideal Typical Day into reality.

For example, when I first committed to living a life of service, simplicity, and spiritual serenity, I was working many more hours than I wanted to be. Those hours were consistent with my Inherited Purpose of needing to work really, really hard so I could get ahead, so I wouldn't be poor and so people wouldn't leave me. But, when I started to look at what I ideally wanted my day to look like, I began the process of redesigning my days to include less work hours and more time for my family and for fun outside of work.

Today, I love my 'typical days' as well as those that are a little less than typical. But this is not about my days, it is about yours, so let's get started.

Part 1: Getting a Clear Picture of your Current Typical Day

Take yourself step by step, segment by segment, through what is a typical day for you. Start with when you normally wake up and how (alarm, child shaking you, or naturally awakening on your own), and also what is your mood upon awakening. Then proceed to what happens next as well as how you feel as you progress through the day.

Be honest with yourself. This is about telling yourself the truth. If there are parts of the day that might vary, then make note of the variety. For example, Tuesday through Thursday much of my typical day is spent on the phone with coaching clients while Monday and Friday is when I am in my office. I am mostly working on my business rather than delivering my services.

Take yourself all the way through your typical day until you finally put your head once more on your pillow. What time do you typically go to bed? How do you feel at that point? How long does it take for you to fall asleep? Do you first fall asleep somewhere else like on the sofa in front of the TV, and then have to get up and go to bed? Make note of anything you feel is relevant, including if you tend to awaken during the night. If you do, how do you feel, and how long does it take you to fall back asleep?

Part 2: Painting a Picture of Your Ideal Typical Day

This may be the more challenging part of the exercise, but it can also be the most fun, invigorating and at least as insight filled as the first half.

Begin to paint a picture of what your ideal or perfect typical day would be. Keep it in balance between allowing yourself to dream and stretch a bit while also anchoring it some in reality.

For this part of the exercise, it may prove useful to set yourself a timeframe as to by when your Ideal Typical Day could realistically become your real typical day. This might be 6 months out, 1 year, or more. Again, be sure to paint a vivid picture including what you will be doing and what you will be experiencing. Have fun with this.

What to Do with the Results

After completing both parts of the exercise, take a day or two to note any insights you can glean from the process, and write those insights down.

Make notes of any of the insights you would be particularly interested in taking action on and if you know what those actions might be, write those down as well.

If you are working with a coach, I encourage you to send the information you have gleaned from this process to your coach. Not working with a coach? Why NOT?

2005 Brad Swift of Life On Purpose Institute, Inc. This article can be reprinted freely online, as long as the entire article and this resource box are included.