6 Tips On How To Craft A More Holistic Life For Yourself

Research reveals six easy ways to live a more intentional, goal-driven life for greater holistic well-being.

By Mark Travers, Ph.D. | January 22, 2024

In a new study published in Frontiers In Psychology, researchers propose a model of "holistic life-crafting," consisting of six strategies to create a more meaningful life. "Life-crafting" refers to the intentional and proactive process of designing one's life according to personal values, goals and aspirations.

By intentionally balancing the demands life presents and leveraging available resources, individuals can reshape various facets of life that contribute to meaningful and satisfying living, fostering personal growth and well-being.

Here are six holistic life-crafting strategies to experience more meaning in life, according to the study.

1. Cognitive Crafting

Researchers describe cognitive crafting as a deliberate mindset shift in the way individuals perceive and derive meaning from various aspects of work and life.

Rather than physically changing tasks or circumstances, this strategy involves consciously shifting one's perspective to initiate change. For instance, if an individual is working long hours and struggles to maintain work-life boundaries, they could begin by cultivating a significant non-work identity and daily practices to mentally disengage from work.

Further, if someone were to lack belief in their abilities, they can practice learning to highlight positive aspects of their work and everyday accomplishments over fretting about what they could not get done. Such alterations in one's beliefs prompt changes in behavior, better emotional regulation and a greater sense of control, mastery and meaning in life.

2. Environmental Crafting

Another way to create meaningful change is by making external, physical changes to one's work, home or other life environments. Environmental crafting often involves setting clear boundaries between different areas of one's life to prioritize and invest in personally meaningful goals and experiences.

Environmental crafting may include prioritizing time with loved ones or with oneself, engaging in meaningful hobbies, keeping work and living spaces separate, creating a home environment that promotes relaxation and creativity or surrounding oneself with supportive, positive social connections.

3. Interest Crafting

Interest crafting refers to a proactively seeking out, cultivating and immersing oneself in enjoyable activities that hold personal significance and resonate with one's passions and interests.

Researchers suggest that engaging in meaningful activities facilitates the acquisition of new skills, competencies and accessing higher levels of creativity. Witnessing the tangible outcomes of one's efforts also instills a sense of accomplishment and confidence while serving as a means of rejuvenation and inspiring goal pursuit in other areas of life.

4. Relational Crafting

Relational crafting refers to the intentional actions individuals take to maintain significant, fulfilling relationships in their lives. Through discernment, people can decide how to engage, when to engage and with whom engagement brings the most value and joy. This encompasses not only nurturing positive and energizing relationships but effectively managing emotionally taxing connections.

Research shows that social connections are pivotal in creating and maintaining meaning and mental well-being. Relational crafting also subsumes the skill of navigating social dynamics, including conflict resolution and establishing boundaries essential for sustaining healthy relationships.

5. Skill Crafting

Skill crafting involves prioritizing skill development by seeking training opportunities, engaging in challenging projects and capitalizing on one's strengths to minimize setbacks.

Its essence lies in aligning one's capabilities with the demands and resources present in the environment. Researchers suggest that individuals who invest in skill crafting often experience heightened confidence, increased self-awareness and a sense of capability.

6. Task Crafting

Task crafting refers to restructuring daily tasks or life elements in ways that resonate deeply with individuals' inner drives and aspirations, finding meaning within activities by perceiving them as avenues for personal growth and embracing responsibilities that demand a broader spectrum of skills and competencies.

Researchers suggest that task crafting encourages a more purpose-driven and rewarding life. Individuals can engage in task-crafting by organizing their daily schedule to prioritize personally meaningful, energizing tasks such as going on a walk for their well-being and choose to invest less time and energy in non-essential tasks such as checking social media excessively.

For instance, allocating specific time slots for checking and responding to emails or scrolling online creates a healthy time boundary between essential and non-essential tasks. This intentional restructuring of the day ensures that individuals invest their energy where it matters most.

Conclusion

Life crafting involves making conscious choices that lead to a more purposeful, balanced and rewarding life. Individuals can start with introspection, which prompts them to confront limiting beliefs and explore alternative, more empowering perspectives. They must also ask themselves how different spaces in their lives can be altered to better support their needs and align with core values to create a life that is truly meaningful.

Unsure if you're willing to push the boundaries of "intentional living?" Try the Openness To Experiences Personality Scale to find out.

A similar version of this article can also be found on Forbes.com, here.