How to plan for the future, and stick to it
Do you feel like you take each day as it comes, and never truly worry about what’s going to happen in a few years’ time, let alone next week? Perhaps you are trying to get a better idea of what you want to achieve in life, but don’t know where to start? Or maybe you are looking to sort out your finances, and start saving towards your retirement plan or for a new home? Planning for the future can be terrifying, especially if you are prone to procrastination! However, its time to make a change and stick to your goals, it’s finally time to make long-term plans.
Set your priorities
First and foremost, its time to start thinking the high level and ask yourself a few serious questions about your future. You need to ask yourself what your priorities are: meeting a partner, finding your dream job, traveling the world, buying the perfect home, or maybe even all of them! Next, its time to start being true to yourself and writing down what you are passionate about, and what you hate in both your professional and personal life. If you feel that you haven’t been true to yourself lately, then it could be as you have let your goals and dreams fall by the wayside. Finally, start drawing up a few timeframes, either mentally or in a notebook. Often, you will discover that writing your plans down on paper will make them seem more real, and you will be much more likely to follow your plans through to the end.
Make them meaningful
You’ve written down your goals and started to work on establishing some achievable time frames, so it’s essential that you understand the meaning behind your scribbles. Sure, you might have written down plans that you feel you ought to achieve, perhaps to keep your partner or parents happy, but if they aren’t meaningful for you, then the chances are that you won’t stick to your plans. If you want to lose weight or save money, then you need to write down exactly why and how you intend to reach your goals. By remaining honest and open at this stage, you can begin to think big and prepare yourself to tackle your plans head-on.
Start with your finances
Sadly, any plans will require you to have the right amount of money in the bank to fund them. Whether you are saving for your dream vacation or want to put some savings aside for your retirement plan, then its time to start improving how you handle money. Just as you would a relationship with a partner, its time to establish just how and when you use the money, maybe for an instant quick humor fix? Or perhaps you turn to your credit card and indulge in a spending spree when you are feeling a bit down? Your payday blowouts could be seriously harming your savings fund. So, its time to make sure that you work on what your triggers are and get rid of them if you want to improve this tricky relationship. You need to start improving how you manage your cash if you are trying to make plans and actually stick to them.
You could start by making small everyday changes to try and put some money away. Simple changes such as preparing your own lunch, taking your own coffee and using your bicycle over public transport are all small hacks that will soon help you to make some serious savings. You may also want to book in to talk to a representative from your company’s Human Resources department to discuss your pension plan options. While if you run your own business or work as a contractor, its time to start considering the right freelancer retirement plan for you. Remember, it’s never too late to ask for professional advice – this is one aspect of your life and plans that you can’t afford to let slip. Do take time to do your research and find the best savings option for you and your loved ones. So stop making up excuses and do book an appointment today to make sure that you can rest easy knowing that you are already saving for your future.
Be realistic
You never know what’s around the corner, so it’s important to be realistic about any plans that you are making too. There’s no point in making goals that are impossible to achieve, such as saving half of your monthly salary or trying to pinpoint the exact age that you want to have kids or buy a house if you can’t achieve them no matter how hard you try. If you are making plans with your partner, or family, then make sure that you get everyone involved so that you can begin to make realistic, achievable goals that you will all enjoy working together towards. You could start small, by creating a savings jar that you all can use to collect your loose change or dollar bills to save towards your next family trip. It’s important that you keep things light and fun; yes you are planning for the future, but there’s no need to be too serious about it! If you try to remain realistic and slightly flexible, then you are much more likely to stick to your all-important plans.
If you usually find it difficult to stick to any plans that you make then worry not. You are just about to make a positive change and begin planning for your dreams and goals. Start by setting your priorities and try writing down your plans in a notebook. It’s important that you make your plans personal and meaningful for you so don’t try to please everyone. Next, give your finances some much-needed attention by seeking professional financial advice. You can even make a few everyday changes that will help towards your savings. Finally, don’t panic! Remain realistic and enjoy working towards your dreams. You will get there in the end.
