Pack for the Life You Want

Before a holiday, we carefully decide what to put in our suitcases. We choose what's worth carrying and leave behind what isn't.

What if we approached our lives in the same way?

Sometimes the changes that improve our lives don't require a major transformation. We often think change has to be dramatic — a new job, a new home, or a complete reinvention of ourselves. Yet some of the most meaningful improvements begin with a few simple decisions and a little honest reflection:

What should I keep?

What should I leave behind?

What should I try next?

Many of us move through our days on autopilot — following familiar routines, seeing the same people, and making the same choices. While routines can be helpful, they can also prevent us from noticing opportunities for growth, learning, adventure, or simply doing something different.

What if there was something more we could do with our time? Someone new we could meet? A skill we could learn? An experience we have been putting off for years?

One simple and tried-and-tested coaching tool that can help is Keep, Drop & Try.

You may have come across this technique in team meetings, workshops, or project reviews (just under a different name and with different words), but have you ever applied it to yourself?

I like to think of it as packing a holiday suitcase. Before setting off on a journey, we decide what to take, what to leave behind, and what new experiences might await us when we arrive. The same approach can help us prepare for the next stage of our lives.

How to use Keep, Drop & Try

Keep

What is one habit, relationship, or activity that genuinely adds value to your life?

Before looking for something new, it can be worth recognising what is already working well. Ask yourself:

• What brings me happiness?

• What gives me energy?

• What have I learned that is worth continuing?

• What helps me become the person I want to be?

For example, if I take a walk every day, how do I feel afterwards? More relaxed, clearer in my thinking, and physically refreshed — or stressed and depleted? If this simple habit consistently improves my well-being, perhaps it deserves a place in my suitcase for the journey ahead.

Sometimes growth is not about adding more. Sometimes it is about protecting the things that already serve us well.

Drop

What is one behaviour, belief, or commitment that is weighing you down?

Just as we cannot pack everything into a suitcase, we cannot carry everything through life without it eventually slowing us down. Ask yourself:

• What drains my energy?

• What takes my time without giving much back?

• What habit would I be relieved to leave behind?

• What baggage am I carrying that no longer serves me?

For example, if I spend thirty minutes scrolling through social media every morning, how do I feel afterwards? Energised and informed — or distracted and behind before the day has even begun? Could that be something I might choose to discontinue?

Perhaps it isn't social media. Perhaps it's perfectionism, overcommitment, constant email checking, or holding on to an old frustration. Whatever it is, letting go of one unnecessary burden can create space for something more valuable.

Try

What is one new experience, skill, or opportunity that could bring fresh energy into your life?

Growth often begins with curiosity. Ask yourself:

• What have I always wanted to do?

• What interests me?

• What would I try if I knew I could not fail?

• What sounds exciting rather than merely comfortable?

For example, maybe there is a place you have always wanted to visit. What if you stopped saying "one day" and started making a plan? Could that experience create memories, broaden your perspective, and give you stories you will tell for years to come? Perhaps you could book a guide, join a tour, or plan some meaningful interactions before you go.

Or perhaps your "try" is something much smaller: joining a local group, learning a language, taking a class, volunteering, or starting a creative hobby.

The size of the step matters less than taking it. Life doesn't always change through dramatic decisions. More often, it changes because we keep one good habit, let go of one unnecessary burden, and try one new thing.

So imagine you are packing a suitcase for the next chapter of your life. Why not take a moment to consider:

Written by John Swallow, Chief Growth Officer and Master Coach Trainer at World Coaching Organization.

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If this little exercise has you reaching for an imaginary suitcase, you don't have to stop here. Keep, Drop & Try is one of many simple coaching tools we love to share — you'll find more of them, free to use, in our Toolbox. And if you'd like to see how tools like this come alive in conversation, both with others and with yourself, our workshops and International Coaching Certification course are a warm place to begin.