Discover the 5 proven stages of life crafting based on psychological research to design a purpose-driven future. Learn how to set, track, and adapt your goals with the Serenity app.
The 5 Stages of Life Crafting: A Roadmap to Designing Your Ideal Future
Want to live a life that feels more intentional and purpose-driven? The 5 stages of life crafting — grounded in psychological science — help you clarify your values, set goals aligned with your identity, and follow through effectively. Whether you're launching a career, rebuilding after burnout, or aiming for better health, Serenity supports you at each stage with guided plans and check-ins.
What Are the 5 Stages of Life Crafting and How Do They Help?
According to Schippers & Ziegler's 2019 research on life crafting in professional and personal development, the five core stages of life crafting include:
- Self-Reflection – Exploring your identity, strengths, passions, and regrets.
- Values Clarification – Defining what truly matters to you.
- Goal Setting – Translating values into specific, measurable goals.
- Implementation Planning – Creating "if–then" plans to take daily action.
- Accountability & Adjustment – Tracking progress and adapting to real-life changes.
“Life crafting helps individuals increase their sense of meaning and purpose in life — which has been associated with greater psychological well-being, resilience, and even longevity.”
— Dr. Nicoline Schippers, Organizational Psychology Researcher
These stages provide structure and emotional grounding. They help avoid vague goals and ensure your plans reflect what you genuinely want for your future — not what you feel pressured to pursue.
How Can I Set Meaningful, Personalized Goals for Different Life Stages?
If you’re wondering how to truly personalize your goals, the key lies in combining values exploration with future visualizations. Start by reflecting on questions like:
- What moments energize me most?
- What does a fulfilled version of me look like in 5 or 10 years?
- What trade-offs am I willing or unwilling to make?
Once you've clarified values, Serenity can help translate them into stage-specific goals using smart prompts such as:
| Life Stage | Sample Goal Type | Serenity Example |
|---|---|---|
| Early career | Develop core skills | “Master data analysis in 3 months” check-in plan |
| Mid-life pivot | Redefine purpose | “Change industries with no pay cut” challenge |
| Personal/Relationships | Strengthen connection | “Weekly meaningful conversation starter” habit |
| Health & longevity | Lifestyle changes | “Hit 7k step average and track recovery sleep” |
In summary, meaningful goal setting starts with identity and values — and grows into habits that feel personal, manageable, and future-aligned.
How Do I Stay Motivated and On Track While Working Toward Long-Term Goals?
You may be highly motivated at first, but over weeks and months, consistency wins. Here’s how to stay on track:
- Break big goals into milestones: Use 30-day, 90-day checkpoints.
- Use small “implementation intentions”: e.g., “If I feel tired after work, I’ll do a 10-minute brisk walk.”
- Track weekly wins: Seeing incremental success boosts dopamine and encourages repeat behavior.
- Use an app like Serenity: It checks in with you, nudges you when you lapse, and dynamically adjusts milestones if things change.
According to the research paper, setting implementation intentions significantly increases the likelihood of goal completion, especially when paired with reflection and journaling.¹
Can an App Really Help Keep Me Accountable Over Weeks or Months?
Absolutely. When it comes to long-term behavior change, external accountability works.
Serenity acts as a digital habits coach:
- Sends weekly and daily check-ins.
- Tracks progress visually toward your long-term outcomes.
- Uses the science of mental contrasting and WOOP (Wish, Outcome, Obstacle, Plan) to nudge success.
This mirrors what research refers to as “structured motivation reminders,” which have been shown across multiple studies to increase follow-through rates by up to 45%².
Think of Serenity as a digital companion that re-engages your why — even when life gets busy.
How Does Life Crafting Work for Career vs. Personal or Health Goals?
Life crafting is a flexible framework. Whether your goal is career promotion or mental wellness, the same 5 stages help. Still, the strategy changes slightly based on domain:
| Domain | Common Challenge | Suggested Solution |
|---|---|---|
| Career | Long timelines, identity pressure | Regular visualization exercises & quarterly reviews |
| Health | Need habit consistency | Short feedback cycles + concrete implementation plans |
| Relationships | Emotional overflow | Values journaling + “appreciation logs” for partners |
Serenity provides domain-specific goal templates, so you're never forced to apply generic strategies.
What Goal-Setting Templates or Frameworks Does Serenity Provide?
Serenity builds on proven frameworks:
- SMART Goals (Specific, Measurable, Achievable, Relevant, Time-bound)
- WOOP Planning (Wish, Outcome, Obstacle, Plan)
- Mental Contrasting (visualizing obstacles alongside goals for realism)
- Quarterly Reviews (Seasonal life check-ins)
Each template inside Serenity is research-backed and matched to chosen life domains.
Here’s what you get:
- Career-focused planners
- Identity-aligned journaling prompts
- Relationship and health habits library
In summary, the app’s frameworks prevent goal overload while increasing follow-through.
Can Serenity Help Me Reprioritize My Goals If Life Changes?
Yes. Life crafting is dynamic, not rigid. The Serenity app:
- Sends monthly reflection prompts like “What’s shifted for you this month?”
- Allows goal-framing updates without resetting progress
- Enables review of your long-term vision and re-alignment anytime
Whether you experience a breakup, illness, new job — your goals adapt with you.
Based on Schippers’ research, goal adjustment during adversity is critical for sustained well-being and authentic goal pursuit.¹
How Does the App Track My Progress Through Each Life Crafting Stage?
Serenity maps your progress across the 5 life crafting stages like a roadmap. You'll see it as a visual journey:
- Journal Prompts & Identity Checks → (Self-Reflection)
- Core Values Worksheet → (Values Clarification)
- Life Priorities Trees & Goal Builder → (Goal Setting)
- Habit Path Setup → (Implementation Planning)
- Weekly Win Reviews & Chat Nudges → (Accountability)
This structured guidance means fewer dropped goals — and more aligned, enduring progress.
Who Is Life Crafting For? Just Professionals?
Nope. Life crafting is for anyone seeking clarity, direction, purpose, or momentum. Whether you're:
- A student choosing a path,
- A stay-at-home parent re-entering the workforce,
- Recovering from burnout,
- Or a high-performing professional re-evaluating priorities...
…you’ll benefit from slowing down, reflecting, and following a science-based process to align your actions with meaningful outcomes.
How Quickly Can I See Results?
Early momentum often happens in 1–2 weeks, especially with identity journaling and small wins. Major breakthroughs — like redefining career goals — usually emerge in 4–8 weeks of consistent action.
Serenity’s “Quick Path” mode helps you start fast, while monthly reviews deepen the impact.
Can I Use Serenity to Build Habits – or Is It Just for Big One-Time Goals?
Habit formation is core to Serenity’s approach.
Whether you want to:
- Cut screen time,
- Walk 7,000 steps/day,
- Meditate three mornings per week…
Serenity breaks habits into weekly goals, with visual habit chains and reflective prompts.
So yes, it’s great for both:
✅ Big milestone goals
✅ Daily habit tracking
How Secure and Private Is My Personal Data and Life Plan in the App?
Security isn’t an afterthought. Serenity ensures:
- ✅ End-to-end encryption (AES-256)
- ✅ No 3rd party data sales
- ✅ Manual opt-ins for any community or coaching features
Your life plans are your own — private, locked, and secure.
Final Thoughts
The 5 stages of life crafting create a complete blueprint for designing purpose-driven futures. Supported by behavioral science, guided journaling, and accountability tools like Serenity, this approach isn’t about vague inspiration — it’s about lasting change.
Structured planning + reflection + personalization = success you can sustain.
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References
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Schippers, M.C., & Ziegler, N. (2019). Life crafting as a way to find purpose and meaning in life. Frontiers in Psychology, https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC6923189
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Gollwitzer, P. M., & Sheeran, P. (2006). Implementation Intentions and Goal Achievement: A Meta‐analysis of Effects and Processes. Advances in Experimental Social Psychology, 38, 69-119.
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Author Bios
Dr. Michaéla C. Schippers, PhD
Professor of Behavior and Performance Management, Erasmus University Rotterdam. Specializes in purpose psychology, life crafting, and goal-directed behavior.
Dr. Niels Ziegler, PhD
Cognitive psychologist focusing on behavioral interventions in professional development contexts.
Serenity Team
A collective of behavioral scientists, designers, and developers helping people live more consciously through AI-supported personal development tools.