Life is a series of decisions—some major, some minor. Some are expected, others arise unexpectedly. While a few have clear answers based on our values, many involve difficult trade-offs between what matters most to us.
In real life, we rarely get the chance to pause, reflect, or test how our decisions shape our future. This single player simulation offers that opportunity. Over the course of a 30–40 minute experience, you’ll live through 15 years of life, making 15 major and 25 minor decisions that test your ability to balance four key areas:
- Work
- Personal Relationships
- Self-Care
- Social Impact
You’ll navigate these choices under time pressure, while also responding to unexpected events, social influences, and the challenge of managing large and small decisions simultaneously. The simulation mirrors real life: there are no right or wrong answers, only insights about how you make decisions and why.
Each person’s experience will be unique. Some students discover how much they value self-care or how they tend to prioritize work. Others gain clarity on what holds them back or what truly drives them.
This simulation is about understanding yourself—not perfecting your decisions. By the end, you’ll have a better sense of your values, decision-making habits, and how to live with more purpose in a complex world.
Login to the Simulation
- Login to the simulation. URL: Crafting Your Life
- Prior to playing the simulation, please run a system check here - https://forio.com/hbp-support/#check/simulations/crafting
- Note that the simulation is optimized for Google Chrome. If you are unable to access it in Chrome, please use Microsoft Edge.
How to Play the Simulation
- You’ll participate individually in this simulation.
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Once you enter the simulation, you will see the below page. When you are ready to begin playing you can click on Get Started.
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You will then be presented with an introduction and tips for the simulation. Once you have read the information you can click on continue.
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You will then begin the Pre-Play Survey, also known as the “About You” section. This survey helps you reflect on your values and decision-making habits, and personalizes how the simulation experience unfolds for you.
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In the first section of the survey, you’ll rank the importance of four key life areas: Work, Personal Relationships, Self-Care, and Social Impact. Make sure your rankings add up to 100%. Once completed, click “Next” to continue.
- As you move through the survey, you’ll reflect on different aspects of your life, including your priorities and decision-making style. You’ll also personalize your simulation experience by selecting a preferred work context, travel destination, social causes, important personal relationships, and other elements that define your personal context.
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After submitting your pre-play survey, you’ll land on the page shown below. We recommend going through the tutorial, as it will help you understand how to navigate the simulation effectively.
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To navigate through the tutorial, simply click on the “Next” button.
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Once you have finished going through the simulation, click on the complete tutorial button.
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You can access the tutorial/introduction anytime via the menu (top right). However, once the simulation timer starts, it won’t pause—even if you revisit the tutorial. From this menu, you can also manager the simulation background sound/animations.
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You can now begin the simulation play.
- The simulation is divided into five periods, each consisting of:
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Three Big Decisions at the center of your screen.
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A Social Feed on the right side, where messages pop in throughout the period.
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A Progress Tracker at the top, displaying three circles to represent the big decisions for that period.
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A Timer in the top right. Each period typically lasts 6 minutes to 9 minutes.
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- In each period, you’ll also encounter:
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Five Small Decisions appear on the left and are spaced out during the period. Each one has a separate timer. If you don’t respond in time, the decision disappears.
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Two Life Events: These are brief updates—no action needed. Just click “OK” to return to your decisions. The main timer continues running during life events.
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If you complete your big decisions before time runs out, you’ll see the message “All done here.”
Your remaining small decisions will then appear in quick succession. -
At the end of each period, you’ll see a Snapshot page—a quick overview of key life stats.
You’ll have 30 seconds to review this. -
You’ll also see a Reflection page after the Snapshot in Periods 3 and 5. This page summarizes what happened in the previous periods and gives you three minutes to reflect.
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At three points in the simulation, you’ll be able to write your own response instead of choosing a preset one: Period 2 – Question 1, Period 4 – Question 2, and Period 5 – Question 1
To use this option:
a. Look for a subtle “Write Your Own” link at the bottom of the decision screen.
b. Clicking it opens a pop-up with instructions. Choose to cancel or continue.
c. If you continue, the main timer pauses and you get 30 seconds to write.
d. Be sure to click “Save”—otherwise your response won’t be recorded. Saved responses become available for you to select in the decision.
e. If you discard it, you won’t be able to use this feature again for that question.
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Once you’ve completed all five periods, you’ll see a conclusion summary describing how your life unfolded through the simulation. Click on continue to procced.
- After the simulation ends, you’ll complete a post-play survey. Some questions are the same as those in the pre-play survey, helping you reflect on how your decisions and priorities may have changed. This section is untimed, so take your time to respond thoughtfully.
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Once the Post-Play Survey is complete, you’ll arrive at the Results page. Here’s what you can do:
a. Download your results as a PDF.
b. Toggle between two tabs:
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Choices Made – Review your decisions
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Decision Process - See how you approached decision-making
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Tips for Success
- Be Honest with Yourself: The more thoughtfully you respond in the pre-play survey, the more personalized and meaningful your simulation experience will be. There's no need to overthink—just answer based on what feels true to you.
- Stay Focused: Each period is timed, so minimize distractions. Make sure you’re in a quiet space with a stable internet connection and have Google Chrome (or Edge) open.
- Use the Tutorial: Don’t skip the tutorial! It’s short, but it’ll help you navigate the simulation smoothly and make the most of your time.
- Expect Trade-Offs: There are no perfect answers. You’ll face tough choices—just like in real life. The goal isn’t to “win,” but to notice your patterns and priorities as you navigate each decision.
- Don’t Rush the Reflections: Take full advantage of the reflection moments and the post-play survey. They’re designed to help you make sense of your experience and understand how your decisions align with your values.
- Use “Write Your Own” if It Feels Right: When offered, take a moment to write your own response if none of the preset options capture your thinking. It’s a chance to express yourself more personally—even if it doesn’t affect your final score.
- Be Curious, Not Critical: This simulation is about exploring who you are—not judging your choices. Stay open, and use what you learn to grow.
- Come Back to Your Results: After finishing, review your results PDF and revisit the two tabs: Choices Made and Decision Process. They offer powerful insights that might surprise you.