Values are the deeply held beliefs that guide our behavior and decisions. They represent the ideals we strive for, whether it’s a state of peace or freedom, a trait like diligence or justice, or the desire to be a trustworthy friend or a present spouse. Unlike goals, values aren’t something we achieve; they’re part of who we are, shaping our actions and decisions throughout our lives. Although values tend to be stable, they can evolve with our experiences and life circumstances, making it essential to remain mindful of them.

Thinking back to the last module, effective time management also involves prioritizing activities and tasks that align with these values. By clearly identifying your values, you can make intentional choices about how to spend your time, ensuring that your daily actions reflect what matters most to you.

Now is a good time to start identifying your values in both your personal and professional life. Complete the exercise below to begin reflecting on your values. Previous participants on this course have reported that clarifying their values served as an important reminder to carry your values with you even amongst everyday life and to reflect on them more often.

There are several questions here, and they may feel a bit heavy. It's okay to take little breaks as you reflect on them. These questions are important for clarifying your values, so take your time with them. You can write your reflections in the textbox below the questions.

1. How do you see your life in five years? You can think about both your professional life and your personal life.

Think about tangible goals (e.g. promotions or completed projects in your professional life/ learning a new language or traveling to a new country in your personal life) and intangible goals (e.g. building resilience or conflict resolution skills in your professional life or building a support network or self-acceptance in your personal life).

2. What are the reasons you want to achieve these things? Is this something you genuinely want? Whose goals do these represent?

3. When do you feel most fulfilled/motivated in your life? How do you notice that you're motivated? What kind of feelings do you experience when you're motivated? What outcomes result from this motivation? How might your loved ones or coworkers recognize that you're enthusiastic about something?

Think about the moments when you feel happiest or most satisfied in your life. What values are being honored during these times? If some area of your life isn’t so well balanced (i.e. work), could other areas make up for this? If you neglect something important in your life and you focus on what is meaningful, could you find something more motivating?

4. What motivates you to perform well at work? Which aspects are the most enjoyable for you at work? How might your coworkers notice that you enjoy these tasks? What impact does this enjoyment have on your well-being and work performance? How could you incorporate more of these enjoyable aspects into your work?

Identify the driving forces behind your motivation. Is it, for instance, a sense of achievement, recognition, helping others, or personal growth?

5. Which aspects of your personal life do you enjoy the most? What motivates you to go after your personal goals? How might your loved ones notice that you enjoy these activities? What impact does this enjoyment have on your well-being? How could you bring more of these enjoyable aspects into your personal life?

6. How would you like your colleagues to describe you? What about your friends/family?

7. Think back to the time management exercise in Module 1; Is your work/life balance in line with your values? Are you spending your time in a way that aligns with your values?