Designing the Process of Life

I'm an Interior Designer by trade so the design process is built into my everyday simply by going to work, however, I have discovered that applying the design process to my everyday decisions and goals works really well for me.

The process of design is a 2 phase - 8 step (give or take a few depending on how lazy I am).

The phases are:

Phase 1: Analysis Phase 2: Synthesis

Phase 1

There are 4 steps to analyzing a project (or goal/ problem/ whatever you happen to be thinking about) prior to actually beginning...

Step 1 - Commit

This is one of those Duh! steps. In order to be successful in obtaining a goal you must first commit yourself to obtaining it.

Step 2 - State

Write your goal down clearly and concisely and put it somewhere where you can see it! Define the issues you may have completely your goal - i.e. if I had a goal to loose 20 pounds one of my issues my be I love food and hate running. Being completely honest with yourself during this step will help you overcome those issues.

Step 3 - Collect Data

(Not my favorite step) Write down all you know about your goal and how to achieve it, research additional ways, write down time frame and anything else that might be helpful for you to be successful - Inspirational quotes, pictures, etc.

Step 4 - Analysis

I bet you were wondering when we'd get to the analysis portion of the analysis phase. This is the part when you take all the information you've gathered and written down and clarify your goals, break it down into steps, and further scrutinize and issues.

Phase 2

This is where the designing usually takes place and all the hard work of implementing strategies to obtain your goal. There are also, what do you know, 4 steps - go figure.

Step 1 - Ideate

Generate ideas on how to achieve the steps to your goal. I like multiple options in case one fails - i.e. for my weight lose goal I might come up with the strategies to eat less calories, eat healthier, and work out in the gym. 

Step 2 - Choose and Refine

You've decided on your possible strategies and you've decided the best way to proceed. Now it's time to refine those strategies. If I decide to eat healthier and go to the gym then, how many times a week and I going to the gym, what am I doing at the gym - cardio (yuck) or weights, etc.? What am I going to eat, am I just cutting out fast food or am I eating a salad for lunch everyday?

Step 3 - Implement and Construct

Put your plan into action and give form to your goal!

Step 4 - Evaluate

Follow up with yourself periodically and evaluate your progress. When you've reached your goal evaluate your process - did it work well for you? what would you do differently?