12 essential life areas to focus on if you want to create your dream life
Brrrrrrrr.
Have you ever looked around and thought, “Is this really the life I’m meant to be living?”
Living intentionally doesn’t mean having all of your problems figured out or fixing everything at once. It means making small, steady choices that add up to a life you actually want to wake up to each morning.
And to do that, it helps to have a map.
That’s where the 12 life areas come in.
Start at the top and move clockwise around the circle. Or don’t. That’s just how MY brain works.
What are the 12 essential life areas to focus on when creating your dream life?
The 12 essential life areas are: Career and Business, Charity, Creativity, Education, Finances, Fun, Health, Home, Relationships, Self, Spirituality, and Travel and Culture. Focusing on each of these areas helps you design a life that feels balanced, meaningful, and true to who you are, so you’re not thriving in one part of life while neglecting another.
When you understand why these areas are important and how they work together, you can begin noticing where you’re doing well, where you’re struggling, and where you’re ready for something new. (And no, you don’t have to overhaul your whole life at once. Please don’t. We like sanity around here.)
The 12 essential life areas for intentional living are the key parts of your life that I believe shape how you feel day to day and long-term.
When you step back and look at them as a whole, you might start to see patterns that explain why you feel the way you do, whether you’re feeling stuck, restless, energized, fulfilled, or any of the other feelings that pass through you from one moment to the next.
A quick tour of the 12 life areas
Use these to check in, dream big, and figure out what actually needs your time and energy. You don’t have to tackle them all at once, but knowing what each area represents gives you a full picture of what “living intentionally” really looks like.
1 | Career and Business
This is about the work you do and how it fits into your bigger life vision, not just how you pay the bills.
Why it matters: When your work aligns with your values and lifestyle, it energizes you. When it doesn’t, it drains you fast.
Example: You love your job, but it’s eating up every spare hour. It’s time to set some boundaries and maybe rethink what “success” really means to you.
Visit the Career and Business HUB for guidance.
2 | Charity and giving
This is how you show up for something bigger than yourself through time, money, advocacy, or quiet behind-the-scenes support. By the way, giving doesn’t have to be loud, public, or draining.
Example: You set up a small monthly donation to a cause you care about instead of feeling guilty for not volunteering every weekend.
Visit the Charity HUB for guidance.
3 | Creativity
This includes any form of self-expression that helps you feel alive, curious, or more like yourself. Creativity isn’t just for “artsy” people. It’s problem-solving, joy-making, and sanity-saving.
Example: You dust off that neglected guitar or sign up for a painting class, even if your first attempt looks like a toddler went rogue with finger paint.
Visit the Creativity HUB for guidance.
4 | Education and learning
This is about expanding your mind, skills, and worldview, whether that means earning a credential or just following your curiosity. You’re allowed to learn just for the joy of it.
Example: You take a short online course in photography or creative writing, not because it’s “useful,” but because it lights you up.
Visit the Education HUB for guidance.
5 | Finances
This is your relationship with money: how you earn it, spend it, save it, and plan for what matters. Money isn’t just math; it’s emotional, generational, and deeply tied to your sense of safety and freedom.
Example: You set up sinking funds for travel or emergencies, so future-you isn’t panic-ordering instant noodles again.
Visit the Finances HUB for guidance.
6 | Fun
Yes, this is a whole category. Fun isn’t frivolous, it’s soul fuel. Without fun, everything else starts to feel like a chore.
Example: You skip another work camping trip and plan your own weekend-long danceathon instead. Zero regrets.
Visit the Fun HUB for guidance.
7 | Health (mental and physical)
This is about caring for your body and your mind so you can show up fully for your life. Your health supports everything else. It’s the base layer.
Example: You book a check-up and carve out 10 minutes a day to breathe and reset. Tiny habits, big impact.
Visit the Health HUB for guidance.
8 | Home life
This includes your physical space, your household systems, and the people (or pets) you live with. Your home should help you rest, recharge, and function, not just store your stuff.
Example: You declutter your bedroom so it finally feels like a retreat, or decide it’s time to live solo instead of putting up with your chaotic roommate.
Visit the Home HUB for guidance.
9 | Relationships
This includes everyone from your closest people to your co-workers, and the relationship you have with yourself in relation to others. Good relationships nourish. Draining ones slowly chip away at you.
Example: You finally have that boundary-setting conversation with someone who’s been taking more than they give.
Visit the Relationships HUB for guidance.
10 | Self (care and growth)
This is about who you are outside of your roles, your identity, your growth, and how you treat yourself. You’re not just a supporting character in everyone else’s story.
Example: You start a weekly “you time” ritual like Sunday night journaling or a solo walk, and actually protect that time without guilt.
Visit the Self HUB for guidance.
11 | Spirituality
This is your connection to something bigger than yourself, whether that’s through religion, nature, mindfulness, or meaning. It’s less about rituals, more about grounding and purpose.
Example: You try morning meditation, gratitude journaling, or walking in nature, whatever helps you feel more centered.
Visit the Spirituality HUB for guidance.
12 | Travel and Culture
This is how you engage with the world: through exploration, curiosity, and connecting with new people, ideas, and places. You don’t need a passport to feel inspired. Curiosity counts.
Example: You check out local restaurants tied to a culture you want to learn about, or start planning that long-dreamed-of trip.
Visit the Travel and Culture HUB for guidance.
Why the life areas matter
It’s one thing to feel like something’s "off" in your life. It’s another thing to actually pinpoint why you’re feeling that way. Only then can you know what to do with that knowledge.
The 12 life areas give you a language and a lens to spot what’s working, what’s not, and where you want to grow.
Instead of saying “I feel stuck and empty and I don’t know why,” you can say, “Oh, I’m feeling disconnected from my creativity and my sense of fun. That’s where I need to shift.”
Intentional living starts with intentional noticing.
Your life is a garden, not a factory
Think of your life like a garden. Some areas are lush and thriving. Others might be overgrown, wilted, or in desperate need of new seeds.
You don’t bulldoze the whole thing when you spot a few weeds. You water what’s thirsty, nourish what’s struggling, and celebrate what’s growing.
Working with the 12 life areas helps you become a wise gardener of your own life, one small, intentional choice at a time.
How to start working with your life areas
When you first meet the 12 life areas, it’s easy to want to fix everything all at once. (Trust me, I get it. I once planned a whole “total life makeover” on a single Sunday afternoon... it did not go as planned.)
Instead, try this gentler, more powerful approach:
Step 1: Reflect
Take my Life Audit (free download) to honestly assess where you are in each life area. No judging! This is just to help you get clear on what’s working for you and what needs changing.
Step 2: Prioritize
Choose one or two areas to focus on first.
You can choose based on:
Where you feel the most misaligned
Where you feel the most excited to grow
(Choosing joy counts. Big time.)
Step 3: Act
Set one tiny, doable action for each chosen area. Small shifts create momentum. And momentum creates transformation.
My wake-up call
When I first sat down with the 12 life areas, I thought, “Career and finances. Those are the problem areas for me.” But the Life Audit told a different story.
My self-care and fun areas were running on empty. No wonder I felt burned out and joyless.
So I started changing those areas of my life with small changes like:
Reading novels again (not just personal development books - kind of addicted to those)
Scheduling time off without feeling guilty
Remembering that rest is productive
Demanding bi-weekly out-of-the-house date nights with my husband
I didn’t try to change anything else for a few months. Just those little things. And you know… those tiny actions added up and slowly, my life started feeling like it fit again. I started to catch myself smiling, even while doing the dishes. Weird, right?
My point is, you don’t have to overhaul all 12 areas at once. You just have to begin. If you want to see your life clearly, the Life Audit is your first step. Grab your free copy, pour a cup of something cozy, and start reflecting with curiosity and honesty.
You’re closer than you think to living a life that feels true to you. And I’m cheering you on every step of the way.
Frequently asked questions (FAQ) about the 12 life areas
-
Nope! Most people start with one or two that feel out of sync, then branch out. The goal isn’t to “master” every area overnight, it’s to create awareness and build habits that support the life you want over time.
-
That’s totally okay. These life areas are a framework, not a checklist. If something doesn’t feel relevant right now, you can skip it or come back to it later.
-
Start by asking yourself: Where am I feeling stuck, stressed, or unfulfilled? That’s usually a good place to begin. You can also use the free Life Audit tool to get a clearer picture of what needs your attention.
-
Absolutely. The 12 life areas give you a structure for setting intentional, well-rounded goals that support your overall well-being, not just one aspect of your life.
-
‘Self’ focuses on your inner world, like mindset, personal growth, identity, and self-care. ‘Health’ is about your physical and mental wellness. They’re closely linked but cover different ground.
Want more support in this area?
Explore our Intentional living HUB to reflect, take action, and grab tools designed to help you stop living on autopilot and start living the life you want to be living.
Where does your gut tell you to start? Drop it in the comments.
New around here? Welcome.
I’m Michelle, a life coach, course creator, and recovering overachiever who finally got tired of chasing the wrong version of success. I don’t believe in perfect lives. I believe in intentional ones.
I started Intendify Your Life to help people stop living for everyone else and start building a life that feels like home.
Warning: I’m a little blunt, a little nerdy, and wildly in favor of tough love and bold decisions.
Want to know the whole story? Start here.
At Intendify, we break life down into 12 key areas and offer guided paths to help you reflect, plan, and take action—so you can start living more intentionally, one step at a time.
It’s like having a life coach in your pocket, minus the awkward eye contact.