Living in the Moment, But Planning for the Future by Michelle Vandepol

Living in the moment, but planning for the future — it can be tricky, but it can be done. We often look at others’ lives when we plan our own – the ones who seem to be on the right track life and work balance-wise or even ones who only seem to have a real handle on one or the other. But we don’t know their whole story and even if we did; we would still have to make our own circumstances, skills, and obstacles mesh into our own greener side. There are things we would wish different even in the most blessed life. The trick is to separate what is changeable and what is not ours to change.

If we want our lives to take new directions, just wishing it so will not make it happen. If you have an idea of what you want to do differently, whether in life or work, list it. If you don’t know, list what you don’t want and try for its opposite.

For example, too many work hours at too little per hour may mean talking to your manager and trying for getting more done in a shorter work week for a bit more an hour. It would take more focus, but if successful, a more satisfying work experience. If you are contracting out, renegotiating with clients means some will decline to pay more, but there will always be another opportunity to replace the lost income and when you do, you are at the next pay level. Even if you lose some and keep some; but at a higher billable hour, you are at the same income, but with less stress.

When thinking about how to transition whether it be in hours or career path or skill set, the key is to not let worry take over. Each stage of life has its good and bad and its learning opportunities and you don’t want to rush to the next stage just to rush through the one after that. There is something to be said for just being and doing the next thing. Living in the moment, it’s called. The only danger in doing the same thing repeatedly is that you will find yourself doing that same thing much farther down the road than you intended.

Somewhere down the line likely a transition may need to be made. Even though we have thought that transition through a thousand time, often how we’ve pictured transitions don’t line up with how they happen. Perhaps a job’s come up that’s great for a different stage in your life, but not this one. Perhaps you are available for work with your kids off in school or in an ideal daycare situation, but now your dream job isn’t falling at your feet.

Don’t get discouraged. Work towards the goal, put the work and networking in, and you will see the reward – the timing will happen on its own. We are not in charge of outcomes, but in how we play the game. Getting your strategy down, executing it, and then doing life as normal, letting things play out, means life is as balanced as you can make it, not a hectic paced worry zone.

It’s important to keep the everyday sane. Constant planning and plotting or filling the calendar too full with the next stage so that you are a frazzled unhappy mess will not lead you into the path you want. When concerned about where your career is going, wondering whether it’s secure, or what you should do next in case of layoff; do the legwork as you can – a set amount every day, and then find something to pay the bills between. If work is not at its maximum potential, enjoy the non-work parts of life and build your skill set in the meantime. Building a resume, documenting past achievements, and having it all ready to go for when you need it will take a lot of stress off.

The key to making it look effortless and even fooling yourself in the meantime is making a plan to do and then forgetting about it. The forgetting doesn’t mean to stop looking for new opportunities, but to relax the high alert stance and kicking worry to the curb. The word needs to circulate and while you wait and work, your skills will build in the meantime. Brainstorm for new ways to achieve your goals whether it’s free advertising opportunities, portfolio building, or something a bit lesser than you first had in mind in the meantime.

Ask for advice, but remember your vision. How one person pictures their life or got to their current place in it is likely not going to be a carbon copy of yours. Glean their stories for applicable wisdom, thank them, and move on.

Let things unfold the way they’re meant to. Ever rush into something out of fear and then later realized it was not meant for you and something better was on its way? It’s because you got in the way of yourself. Instead, prudently consider opportunities. Above all, enjoy the stage you’re at. It’s likely (given that greener grass theory) where someone else wants to be.