Very few of us are every truly 'present' in our mindset. We're really good at putting off what we want today in order to plan for tomorrow- but when that time arrives we're already planning for something else. It's a surefire way to leave yourself feeling truly unsatisfied, as you're never able to enjoy the fruits of your labour. The future is an unpredictable mess of outcomes that could drive you insane if you think about it too much, here's how you can live for today while preparing with confidence.
Relish the Moment
Planning for the future is so important, we need to make the right decisions today to enjoy the life we want later there's no denying that. But don't lose today in the process. Take time to stop and really take in where you are right now. If you spent years slogging away in college and university to gain the job you really wanted, enjoy the job. Sure, plan for your next step but relish the moment you're in now- take the time to reflect on your hard work and good decisions you made to be where you are right now. There are a number of ways you can live in the moment and be more mindful. The first is to practice grounding techniques, these involve describing your surroundings in detail (out loud or in your head), touch various objects around you or focus on your breathing. It helps you to realise that you're alive right here and right now, instead of trying to fast forward to the future which hasn't arrived yet. This can hugely help with depression and anxiety, as the saying goes, if you're depressed you tend to be focused on the past and with anxiety you're worrying about the future.
Plan Ahead, But Within Reason
If you’re in your late 20s or early 30s you're probably saving for a mortgage, money to travel or being able to provide for your child’s college fund. Priorities are important, and you need to live in the present more than you live in the future.You might be smiling about having the funds saved up to retire happily, but if that’s 30 years into the future and you’ve still not paid off your mortgage, then you might not have a home to retire to! If you are struggling with managing your finances, then consider using a service like Partridge Muir & Warren in order to give you some financial advice. Remember never to live in the past or too far into the future, focus on the present and have a list of priorities.
Focus on Your Happiness
Plenty of people have fulfilling and happy lives without being millionaires because they focus on what’s important to them. Be it a hobby to improve your health, something you’ve been passionate about since you were young, or just being able to provide your children with a comfortable life, find things that make you happy and focus on achieving those goals. Positive changes in your life can make a world of difference, and the only way to reach those goals is to focus on them and minimise the number of distractions you have in life. Sometimes that means spending money, sometimes that means moving on, and occasionally it means giving up something you love for the greater good.
