Having a plan for your life - why it is important

​Imagine working hard every day, only to wake up in five years’ time to realise you’re living a life you never really wanted; one that maybe you didn’t even choose. After all, if you have no destination in mind, who knows where you’ll end up?
 
In life, it’s easy to get bogged down by mundane duties and essential everyday tasks. Juggling your career, home life, relationships and health can be all-consuming, leaving you without a moment to step back and reflect on where you are, what you want, and which direction you’re going in. Although it’s important to work hard and keep your head down, it’s even more important that you don’t forget to look up every now and then to get a glimpse of the bigger picture.
 
Think of your big picture like a roadmap, one that can help guide you towards taking the right path and the right actions that will eventually take you to where you want to go. Having a clear vision for your future can help make you more productive and effective in the present. If you have a good understanding of where you’re going, impossibly big life decisions become far easier to navigate. Instead of asking if an opportunity is good or bad, you will be able to ask yourself if it will help move you towards the future you want; a far more specific question with a more definitive answer.
 
Having a big picture can also help you avoid giving into procrastination. By understanding how even the smallest of tasks ties into your ideal future, you’re able to give these activities more meaning. In this way, you’ll keep motivated to perform these tasks and everyday chores, no matter how trivial, with the knowledge that they’re taking you one step closer to your future goals.
 
Without a clear vision for the future you leave a lot up to chance, which can feel very unnerving and unsettling. Even worse, you’re often leaving your life in the hands of other people; people who may be looking after their interests first, and yours second. By taking responsibility for your life and the direction you’re going in, you essentially take control of your life. And by taking control of your life, you’re bound to grow in confidence and strength as well as getting to where you want to be.
 
In creating your vision for the future, the first thing you need to do is to figure out what you really want and what is most important to you. Always remember that it is you who should be the leading star in the movie of your life, so don’t build your visions around someone else, or other people’s expectations of you. Remember to focus on all aspects of your life, not just your career. Family, relationships and health are all vital to your overall happiness, so make sure your big picture includes a clear view of what these parts of your life will look like too.
 
Now you have the reasons as to why you need to have your big picture clear, next step is to define it. If you would like to know a way to easily do it, head over here to get all the steps.