Do you guys think it's pointless to plan your life? If not, how far ahead do you consider when planning the future?
In high school, I would never have imagined where I was today. And I mean that in a good way. I have taken my life one step at a time and have changed my career progression many times. However, recently I have found something I am truly passionate about and would like to pursue. It's going to be a challenge no doubt, and I have found myself planning my next steps, the next few years, to help myself get there.
As a follow-up, as you get older (i.e., 20 compared to 30, compared to 40, compared 50 and so on), do you start planning further ahead less and less?
I have a hard plan that generally spans until the next multiple of a decade in age. This began when I was 18 or 19, when I planned what I'd do until I was around 20. Then around 22 I came up with a plan for until I was 30, and now at 29 I'm thinking about where I'll be by 40. This plan changes dramatically every few years but the bullet points stay the same.
I have a general vision of who I'd like to be at some point though - skills I want to have, how financially well off I want to be, social and personal development, etc. This part of the plan has never changed.
How arrogant do you have to be to plan your life out?
Lol yeah man don't be arrogant, just wing it and be mediocre.
I try to always be thinking about the next step. Anything longer than that is a fool's errand IMO. There are so many variables that influence where you'll be and what you'll be doing 5, 10, etc. years from now, and many of those variables you won't be able to predict (e.g., what if you meet someone, have a medical situation, family death, get fired, company gets bought, etc.). As such, while it's good to have a general idea of where you want to be, I think planning specific steps too far in advance is a pretty fruitless exercise. Just my 2c.
I used to stress myself out thinking about the future, and nowadays I just take it one step at a time. Try as hard as I can on what's relevant in the next few months.
Although I used to plan everything out compulsively. I knew I wanted to go into investment banking back when I was a freshman in high school. But I don't do that anymore, because it leaves you feeling disappointed and like life has gone out the window before it's even happened.
I don't think planning your life (to some extent) is pointless. If you obsess over little details and meaningless or unrealistic goals you set for yourself you'll ultimately end up unhappy. I try to have a general, fairly specific plan for the next several years, but ultimately if things don't end up right where I imagined it's not a big deal as long as I've overall accomplished what I wanted to. I have a vague idea of where I'd like to be in 20-30 years, but everything in between the next few and then is something I don't tend to plan at all. Like you, I had almost no idea of a plan for the future in high school, but now that I've gotten a little older I've found it very beneficial to hold myself accountable to my personal standards by planning.
I have a couple different paths in my head depending on which route I want to choose. These outline the next 5-6 years. After that I have some ideas of where I want to go but nothing concrete.
All about never being satisfied with where you are in life but still enjoying the present.
This is exactly how I feel. People tell me I never celebrate the victories but they were all a part of the plan so why bother? Its hard to explain to people that I am indeed happy, I'm just driven.
I/we enjoy the little victories but then we're right onto the next task. My mother complains that I'm always finding the negatives in things and in explaining it to her in a different light, I say that I just look at all the ways things can be better. Not a fan of settling/complacency.
I have an immediate goal, as in "what am I going to aim for this next year," and I have a final goal, as in "what do I ultimately want to accomplish in my life" but I care far more about progress along the path to achieve both of those goals than I do a set plan. Obviously there is value in thinking about the execution of those goals, but I also don't want to get caught up in things "not going to plan" because they can still work out in the end. More than one way to skin a cat and all that.
Look you fucks. All I'm saying is an interesting life is punctuated by black swans.
Should've had rich parents--your whole life would've been planned before you were even born.
I am 20 years old and I feel like I should have everything figured it out already, I feel like a lot of people of my age can relate to that. So yeah, planning your life isn't pointless, it's stressful but having a goal set in your mind helps you move forward and eventually achieve it.
I have a whiteboard in my room where I write out my goals for the month, and a journal with goals 1,2,3,5 and 10 years out. I think having a long-term vision is important, but having short-term realistic goals is what actually helps you develop into a more well-rounded person.
Make a plan with stretch goals, but don't be afraid of changing it as better things come in. Just don't trade out your goals for lesser ones.
I think planning out is crucial as long as you understand that the plan will probably never work out. If you don’t plan out, you are just reacting to the current problem or the next problem. If you plan it out, you can attack the current problem in a way that sets you up to best crush the problem after. You can wage a war instead of just fighting battles
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