As I mention in my book, “one is often so busy doing life that it is easy to avoid evaluating whether you are putting your energy in the directions you value most.” Taking time to reflect on your values helps you make intentional choices about how you spend your time and energy.

Once you’re clear about your values, you can set meaningful goals that support them. Setting goals based on your values ensures that your actions are aligned with the life you truly want to live, rather than just reacting to what comes your way.

Are You Living in Alignment with Your Values?

A simple way to evaluate whether your daily life aligns with what matters most to you is to track how you spend your time. Start by writing down everything you typically do in a 24-hour workday. Then do the same for a typical weekend day. Once you have both lists, ask yourself: How much of my time and energy is actually spent on the things I value most?

It’s easy to get caught up in the busyness of life and overlook how little attention we sometimes give to what truly matters. Of course, work takes up a large portion of our time—but how are you spending the hours when you’re not working?

Use this exercise as a tool to help you identify areas where you can shift your energy. Even small adjustments can bring you more in harmony with your values.

Start with Small, Meaningful Goals

If you notice areas that could be more aligned with your priorities, start by setting small, achievable goals. For example, maybe you find that you spend two hours watching TV each night from 8 to 10 p.m. You could set a goal to reduce that to one hour, using the other hour to exercise, work on a personal project, spend time with loved ones, or invest in something that truly matters to you.

Time can easily slip away—but instead of letting time get the best of you, make the best of your time.