We’re constantly being told to live in the now, and be present but that doesn’t mean we shouldn’t take the time to consider what lies ahead and make plans for our future too. Here are some of the things you can do today that your future self will be grateful for.
Visualise Your Future
Set aside some time to envision what you want your future to look like. Imagine where you want to live, what your home looks like and who is there with you. Think about your career, how you’ll support yourself financially and how you’ll spend your free time. Having a clear idea about where you want to be in two, five, ten or even twenty years from now can help you more easily identify how to get there.
Write it Down
Get a planner, diary or calendar. This makes it easy for you to see where you are in relation to the big – and small – things you have lined up in your near future, whether that’s looming deadlines, upcoming birthdays, a dream holiday to save for or a wedding to plan.
Consider Your Career
On average we spend a third of our lives at work, so it’s vital that we’re happy there! Plan a career or look for job opportunities doing something that you think you will enjoy. To help further your career, make the most of opportunities that come your way, such as networking events and courses. If you’re interested in healthcare, you can see listings for a cardiologist and other medical specialists to understand the qualifications and requirements for a potential career path. If you’re unhappy in your current career, try to identify what it is that’s making you feel that way and if it can be changed. If not, consider your transferable skills and how you could use these to secure another job you think you’d prefer.
Take Small Steps Towards Your Goals
Do something every day that will help you achieve your bigger goals in life. Breaking your life’s goals down this way helps them seem more achievable and increases the odds of your reaching them. For example, if you’re looking to grow your own business, sending out a few emails to potential clients each morning before you start your day’s work helps you move towards this goal in a realistic and manageable way. If you’re hoping to one day write a bestselling novel, then blocking out twenty minutes of your day to ensure you get some words written will improve your chances of eventually having a finished book.
Invest and Save
Saving money is a key part of planning for the future, and something that your future self will definitely thank you for. From contributing to a private pension, to opening saving bonds, there’s a lot you can do to prepare financially for the future. Once you have a savings account set up, try to pay a little into it each month and don’t be tempted to use it for everyday expenses or little treats. If saving isn’t possible right now because you have debts, then set aside some time to look at these and figure out how you can pay them off sooner to save yourself money on interest and help you get debt-free sooner.
Look After Your Health
There are certain things we all know we should be doing, not just to benefit ourselves in the short-term but in the long-term too, and exercise is one of those. Exercise has numerous benefits for your physical and mental health, and is something that your future self will be very grateful you did. For a longer, happier and healthier life, you should also try to eat well, getting plenty of whole foods, including fresh fruits and vegetables, stay hydrated and get a good night’s sleep as often as possible.
Stewart Thurlow
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