An Alternative to the Ideal Day Exercise

Many coaches use the Ideal Day exercise to help clients tap into what they really want.

The idea is that you plan out your “ideal day” or your “ideal week,” then aim to put that into reality.

I’m not a fan of this exercise. In fact, I’ve found it to be a set up for failure and disappointment.

First: It’s too theoretical.

The ideal day is untethered from reality. Rarely do we have days that match our fantasy of what we think we want.

Second: We don’t really know what’s ideal.

The truth is that we are poor predictors of our own future happiness. We don’t really know what we want. If you achieve your ideal day, only to find yourself disappointed, it could lead you to abandon your self-trust.

Here’s an alternative that I find to be more effective:

When you have a great day, notice the elements:

• Who were you with?
• Who were you not with?
• What were you doing?
• What were you not doing?
• Where we you?

Notice the patterns in real life, not in theory. Make a list of the elements.

Then go out and implement:

Create a strategy for how to oo more of what lights you up and less of what plunges you into darkness.