The Life Design Method
Here, you can go through the whole life design method, from self-knowledge to daily systems. Each stage builds on the last. By the end, you'll have a clear picture of who you are, what you actually want, and a working plan to live a life that aligns with you.
What's here on this page is the short version of each topic. Subscribe for free to get the better, longer essay for every stage, sent straight to your inbox. If you also want the growing library of prompts, exercises, and workbooks that go alongside them, you can upgrade to a paid subscription from the same page.
You work through it at your own pace, one topic at a time. Some topics take around an hour, others might take a few days. There's no rush and no schedule - just do it when you feel called to do it.
Five stages, forty+ topics, and one attempt to help you build a life that actually fits.
Go stage by stage, starting with Self-Discovery. Each topic includes research within the essay itself. If you subscribe to the paid tier on Substack, you'll also get a growing library of exercises and reflection prompts for each topic. Most will also contain AI prompts you can use to go deeper, but it's not necessary to use them for the method to be effective. You can work through them in your browser, with a notepad or a Word doc by your side, but I strongly recommend using the Notion workbook, created specifically for this, to make the process easier. You can access it with your subscription via Substack.
Some stages (like Energy Audit or Shadow Work) can take a few days. Start them, continue with other topics in the meantime, and come back to them when you're ready. The method is designed to be done at your own pace.
Stage 0: Stabilisation
If you've found your way to this life design method because something in your life isn't working, know this: you can't think clearly about your life when your nervous system, your sleep, your body, or your finances are in distress. If this is the case, please start the method from Stage 0 - Stabilisation and spend a few weeks getting your foundations stable enough to think on. You can skip this stage if you're already there, but if not, the rest of the method will work much better after a month here than it will if you push through now.
Stage 1: Self-Discovery
Click any card to get started.
Stage 2: Life Context
Stage 3: Vision & Direction
Stage 4: Strategy
Stage 5: Daily Practice
Frequently Asked Questions
Do the stages need to be done in order?
Yes. Each stage builds on the one before it, so skipping ahead might feel confusing or might mean redoing work later.
What does it cost?
Nothing to read the theory. But if you want access to structured tools, exercises, and/or workbooks, the subscription costs $8/month on Substack. If you want the physical or digital planner to work through it, that's a separate purchase. And if you'd rather not do this alone, the Experimentalists Club is where members can work through experiments like these together.
I don't feel lost, I just have too many interests. Is this still for me?
Yes, even more so. The Method wasn't built for people staring at a blank page with no idea what they want. It's built for people with too many ideas, too many possible versions of a life, and no way to tell which ones are worth building. If you've got a notes app full of half-started plans and a nagging sense that picking just one feels like a loss, the Method is for you.
Is this more like therapy or coaching?
Neither. It is a structured method for life design. But you may find that it works alongside (not instead of) a good therapy.
Can I do life design without self-knowledge?
You can, but we don't recommend it. Research shows that only between 10%-15% of people who say they know themselves actually have accurate self-awareness. Doing life design work without completing the first stage means that you'll be designing a life for someone that doesn't exist.
How much time per week should I spend on the course?
You can spend as long or as little time as you like - you're in full control. We recommend you dedicate between 4-5 hours per week if you can allow it. This way, it should take you around 9-10 weeks to complete, and you can start living a life that fits you.
The IKIGLOO method, course, and materials are designed for personal reflection and self-directed life design. None of this is professional advice. This framework is experimental. It draws on published research and real-world practice. Everything here is offered for educational and entertainment purposes only. I make no guarantees or promises about specific outcomes. What works for one person may not work for another.
By using these materials, you accept full responsibility for how you apply them. I'm not liable for any decisions you make, actions you take, or outcomes that result from engaging with this content.
A space for people figuring out what to do with their lives by getting to know themselves better and by actually trying things.
The Newsletter
Blueprint to Being is a newsletter for multi-passionate people building a life around who they actually are, one intentional piece at a time. If this resonates with you, subscribe below.
💌