Learn how life crafting helps you clarify your values, set intentional goals, and design a purposeful life. Backed by research, this complete guide explores the components of life crafting and how modern apps like Serenity make the process actionable.
If you're struggling to find direction, life crafting is a scientifically-informed strategy that helps you align your goals, values, and purpose through intentional life planning. This approach—rooted in psychology—uses guided self-reflection and goal-setting to design a meaningful life. Apps like Serenity make it easier to implement by offering personalized plans, goal tracking, and progress reflection.
What Is Life Crafting and How Does It Work?
Life crafting is a structured process designed to help people reflect on personal values, set meaningful goals, and implement action plans to achieve a more purposeful, satisfying life.
➤ According to a peer-reviewed paper titled "Life Crafting as a Way to Find Purpose and Meaning in Life", life crafting combines evidence-based techniques from positive psychology, motivational theory, and goal-setting science.
Key Mechanisms in Life Crafting
- Reflecting on core values and ideal future self
- Setting ambitious yet attainable goals
- Creating detailed implementation plans
- Monitoring and adjusting goals regularly
In summary: life crafting helps bridge the gap between who you are today and who you want to become—with the aid of psychological tools and structured goal systems.
How Can I Use Life Crafting to Design a Meaningful Life?
To design a meaningful life, life crafting begins with self-exploration, followed by goal formation, planning, and behavioral action.
Steps to Design Your Life:
- Clarify your core values and life priorities.
- Envision your ideal future—career, relationships, health, lifestyle.
- Set SMART goals aligned with that vision.
- Break goals into actionable steps.
- Track your progress and make adjustments.
Using a tool like Serenity, a guided life crafting app, simplifies this process by giving you step-by-step plans, daily habit structures, and reminders to stay on track.
What Are the Main Components of a Life Crafting Process?
The life crafting framework, as detailed in research by Schippers et al. (2019), involves the following core components:
| Component | Description |
|---|---|
| Values Clarification | Identifying what truly matters to you |
| Ideal Future Visualization | Writing about one's ideal life in vivid detail |
| Goal Setting | Formulating personal and professional goals |
| Implementation Intentions | Creating specific “if-then” plans to achieve goals |
| Progress Monitoring | Continuously reviewing progress and adjusting behavior |
💡 Research shows that writing about your ideal life and setting concrete goals is linked to increased well-being, academic success, and resilience (Schippers & Ziegler, 2019).
How Do I Set Effective, Meaningful Goals Using a Life Crafting App?
To set meaningful goals with a life crafting app:
- Start by completing structured reflections on your values and future vision.
- Use the app’s guided prompts to draft goals in specific, measurable terms.
- Break large outcomes into achievable weekly or daily micro-goals.
- Link each goal to a personal “why” or intrinsic motivation.
Serenity does this by asking pointed questions about your intentions (“Why is this important to you?”) before drafting a plan.
👉 Tip: Serenity’s SMART goal templates help you create goals that are Specific, Measurable, Achievable, Relevant, and Time-bound.
Can a Life Crafting App Help Me Find My Purpose or Passion?
Yes. Life crafting apps like Serenity are designed explicitly to help users discover their purpose by guiding them through:
- Reflective writing exercises
- Value sorting tools
- Passion and meaning discovery prompts
🧠 According to Schippers et al., writing out your ideal life and goals significantly boosts feelings of purpose and direction (2019).
In short: If you’re unclear on your purpose, structured tools combined with guided prompts can provide clarity.
What Types of Goals Can I Set with a Life Crafting App?
You’re not limited to only one domain—life crafting covers multiple domains of well-being:
- 💼 Career advancement or transitions
- 🧘🏽♀️ Mental & physical health improvements
- ❤️ Relationship building or repair
- 📚 Personal growth (learning, creativity)
- 💰 Financial responsibility and planning
👍 Serenity allows setting and tracking goals across these categories—with tools customized for each.
How Does the App Help Me Create a Step-by-Step Action Plan?
Apps like Serenity use a structured process:
- You define your end goal.
- Serenity generates backward steps (reverse-engineered).
- It offers weekly goals and daily habits.
- Notifications prompt you to act each day.
🎯 “If-then” planning is used—for example: “If it’s 7am, I go for a 30-minute walk.”
Does the App Provide Templates or Personalized Guidance?
Yes. Serenity offers:
- Expert-designed templates for common goals (e.g., wellness, productivity)
- Personalized guidance based on your values and inputs
- Weekly check-ins to adjust your plan
This ensures your plan aligns with your unique lifestyle and evolves as you grow.
How Can I Stay Motivated and Committed to My Goals Over Time?
If you’re wondering how to stay accountable to your goals, a great strategy is to use external supports. For example, Serenity acts like a chat-based accountability partner, providing daily check-ins and motivational nudges.
✅ Other motivation boosters:
- Small wins through mini-goals
- Visual progress tracking
- Revisiting your “why” regularly
- Supportive messages or journaling features
💬 Motivation isn’t constant—build systems that don’t rely on willpower alone.
How Does Goal Tracking Work Within a Life Crafting App?
Serenity includes:
- Goal dashboards
- Visual achievement streaks
- Weekly summaries of progress
- Reflection prompts tied to task outcomes
This keeps you aware of what’s working—and where to pivot next.
—
Can I Reflect on My Progress and Make Adjustments Within the App?
Absolutely. Serenity builds in:
- Weekly review prompts (“What did you learn this week?”)
- Mid-goal modification tools
- Reflection journal logs
🌀 Life crafting is adaptive. Reflection and re-alignment are central parts of the process.
Is the App Suitable for Long-Term Life Planning or Just Short-Term Goals?
A quality life crafting tool like Serenity supports both:
- Short-term wins (e.g., start exercising)
- Medium-term shifts (e.g., change of career path)
- Long-term visioning (e.g., legacy, lifelong goals)
🗓 Users are encouraged to revisit their life vision every 3–6 months for alignment.
How Does Life Crafting Differ from Regular Goal-Setting Methods?
Unlike to-do lists or vague resolutions, life crafting is:
- Value-centric: begins with understanding your core self
- Narrative-driven: involves writing out your ideal future
- Evidence-based: grounded in motivational and psychological science
- Holistic: integrates multiple domains of life, not just work tasks
In short, it’s transformational goal-setting—not transactional task-tracking.
Are There Examples or Success Stories of People Using Life Crafting Apps Effectively?
Yes. In the study by Schippers & Ziegler (2019), over 90% of students who used life crafting interventions reported:
- Stronger sense of purpose
- Improved academic performance
- Better goal clarity
While Serenity is newer, beta users report career breakthroughs, improved mindfulness, and even rekindled family connections.
How Often Should I Revisit or Revise My Life Crafting Goals?
⏰ Best Practice: Review every 4–8 weeks.
- Use mid-goal reviews to switch tactics
- Use quarterly vision updates to reflect on big-picture life shifts
Life evolves. Your goals should, too.
Can This App Help Improve Mental Clarity and Reduce Stress About Life Direction?
Yes. Writing about your ideal future self has been shown to:
- Reduce anxiety
- Increase mental clarity
- Enhance mood and motivation
🧠 According to research, students doing life crafting showed higher positive affect and lower depressive symptoms (Schippers & Ziegler, 2019).
Serenity builds reflection into your weekly flow, promoting clarity over confusion.
Is Life Crafting Backed by Science or Psychological Research?
Yes. Life crafting is rooted in:
- Goal-setting theory (Locke & Latham)
- Self-determination theory (Deci & Ryan)
- Positive psychology (Seligman et al.)
✅ In clinical studies, life crafting improved:
- Mental well-being
- Academic motivation
- Sense of purpose
Life crafting is an evidence-based practice—not just a self-help trend.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
What’s the best way to achieve long-term goals?
Break them into small, achievable steps, and track daily progress with accountability tools like Serenity.
What if I don’t know what I want in life yet?
Use value-sorting and writing exercises within a life crafting app to discover direction.
How important is reflection in life crafting?
Essential—reflection connects action with meaning and allows for mindful course correction.
Can life crafting help with burnout or mental fatigue?
Yes, it helps clarify priorities, which can prevent burnout by focusing your energy on what actually matters.
References
- Schippers, M. C., & Ziegler, N. (2019). Life crafting as a way to find purpose and meaning in life. Frontiers in Psychology, 10, 2778.
- Locke EA, Latham GP. (2002). Building a Practically Useful Theory of Goal Setting and Task Motivation. American Psychologist.
- Deci, E.L., & Ryan, R.M. (2000). The “What” and “Why” of Goal Pursuits: Human Needs and the Self-Determination of Behavior.
Author Bios
Dr. Michaéla C. Schippers
Michaéla C. Schippers is Professor of Behavior and Performance Management at Erasmus University Rotterdam and an expert in goal-setting theory, future writing, and life crafting interventions.
Dr. Niklas Ziegler
Niklas Ziegler is a psychologist specializing in interventions that promote autonomy, meaning, and motivation. He co-authored the foundational study on life crafting interventions in 2019.
Want to start your life crafting journey? Download the Serenity app to begin designing your meaningful life—guided, structured, and scientifically grounded.