Planning for your future is an exercise in good self-care. It’s an valuable step to take, not only for tomorrow, but because it will give you peace of mind today. By deciding what’s most important to you, discovering what your options are and putting relative things in place, you will alleviate stress. That nagging feeling of unfinished business that lurks in the background of your mind will vanish.
Sooner, rather than later, is the best time to begin this process. Begin when things are relatively calm in your life and dive into the process one step at a time. There are many different things to sort out and make decisions about, you will want to do it when you are clear minded. Try your best not to push things off until later when life’s eventualities might make it more difficult for you.
In this article, we’re going to be tackle a few of the most important matters to tend to to give you a starting point. First, is financial matters, a part of all planning for the future.
Money
One of the most important things to look at when planning for the future is your money. It’s a given that we all want to be able to retire comfortably, and remain so well into retirement. As such, if you take care of your money now, things will be much easier to manage down the road. The first, and most important step, is to make a budget. Think of this not as a restriction but as a roadmap of self-care.
Spend some time thinking about what you need today and what you might want or need tomorrow. Of course you can’t think of everything, and that’s okay. What you’re trying to accomplish is wiggle room in your finances, not to cover every eventuality.
Begin your planning by day dreaming about your best possible life, today and tomorrow. Then play with the numbers to see how you can make this happen. If there’s a short fall, keep imagining how you might go about filling it in. Planning for the future is not something that is locked in stone. It’s a mix of reality and fantasy that will transform your life.
Living
The next step in planning for the future is to think about where you might like live when you get older. Do you want to continue to live in your own home, or would you like to make a change? There are 55 plus communities where you can live independently but have support and activities close by. Being alone isn’t an appealing option for most people. These communities ensure that this isn’t the case.
To begin putting a plan in place, research your options. Explore the possibilities. You don’t have to decide yet, but by researching now you will have a foundation for making the decision in real time.
Health
Last but not least, planning for the future requires keeping your health in the best possible condition now. Good self-care now will make everything easier later. Take this opportunity to look at what you’re eating. Do you have a well-balanced diet most of the time? Are you exercising regularly? Are you taking time for yourself and attending to good mental health? If any of these areas could use some improvement, include a few steps and goals in your plan for the future. What can you change today that will help you thrive tomorrow?
We often resist planning for the future in large part because it scares us. Thinking about everything that might go wrong from here on in is not a pleasant place to dwell! Avoidance, however, is also not a good option. And honestly, the future doesn’t have to be fraught. It’s not carved in stone that we will all be miserable. In fact, it might just be the opposite, especially if we do a little pre-paving of our way forward. There is much left to live for, let’s make the most of it.
