Feeling like you haven’t gotten your act together? Trying to get your life in order? You need a life plan. Read this guide on how to make a life plan.
Did you know that the term “midlife crisis” was first coined in 1957?
A midlife crisis can bring someone’s life to a standstill, and it often leads to people wanting to completely reroute their life.
However, a life plan can be useful for anyone going through major life changes. But how do you begin crafting a successful life plan? We can get you started!
Keep reading below to learn how to make a life plan of your own!
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How to Make a Life Plan: Start by Assessing Your Current State
The best way to get a sense of where you want to be headed in life is to sit down and take a look at where you are currently. Using a journal or typing it out in a document can help ground you as you start this journey.
It’s important to recognize where you are finding both success and failure. Even if these seem like obvious things, it’s important to jot them down. You may find that the things you’re succeeding at financially aren’t necessarily the things that are bringing you joy or emotional wellbeing.
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Focus on Your Aspirations
To create a life plan, you have to narrow in on what makes you happy. Ask yourself what you’d like to accomplish, even if they seem unrealistic goals right now. It’s wise to document these somewhere too, so you can evaluate them throughout the process.
This task can cover different areas of your life. Are your financial and career aspirations polar opposites of your personal aspirations? Is there any overlap?
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Consider Your Resources
When asking yourself how to make a life plan, look at what you have available to you at the moment. For example, determine what financial resources you have.
Also, ask yourself what opportunities exist around you—are you within reach of job offers or a potential college degree? What would you need in order to obtain opportunities like those?
Don’t ignore the people in your life. Networking is an important part of building a life plan. Get in touch with professionals who can help you out along the way, as well as friends and family to act as a support group.
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Combine Your Efforts
When drafting a life plan, you need to combine the information you’ve collected from the previous steps. Note where resources, success, and aspirations overlap. Plot goals surrounding this information and ask how you can realistically reach them.
Life plans are most effective when they aren’t longterm. A 20-year life plan is going to be incredibly difficult to fulfill.
A life plan that ranges from 1-5 years is more realistic. A shorter life plan allows for some wiggle room since you never know what situations might arise and alter the course of your plan.
In fact, it’s important to account for any interruptions in your plan. As you map out your goals and the milestones you’d like to hit as you reach to accomplish them, consider what might stop you. How can you address potential problems if they occur?
If you feel like you’re not in the right headspace to fully draft your final life plan, consider consulting life transition specialists. They can help you address big changes in your life and how to deal with them and move forward healthily.
Start Your Journey
If you’ve wondered how to make a life plan, chances are you’ve already been imagining one in your head. The guide above will help you bring those ideas and concepts to fruition. A life plan can be a powerful tool, and you will likely find the tides turning for the better if you make one and stick to it!
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