Circa 2024: Now that we have welcomed the New Year with open hands and hearts, we are all set, well almost. Have you ever thought about how you see yourself by the end of the year? Moved forward or stuck in the same rut? Of course, moved forward…
As years pass by, have you ever thought about how you visualize 5 years hence? No! It is high time that you start visualizing where you want to see yourself ahead – say 5 years from now.
“A man who does not plan long ahead will find trouble at his door.” – Confucius.
Thus, planning is important to lead a happy and worthy life.
Everything can turn out to be the best when you have a direction and a proper plan. “A goal without a plan is just a wish.” We cannot make anything happen without having a plan for it. It is not just about wishing but also working on something that you really want to do.
o you know the value of planning?
Planning helps individuals to focus on the tasks that are most important, reducing the risk of distractions and procrastination. This can lead to increased productivity and more efficient use of time.
So how to plan?
- Consider your ultimate personal life goals.
- Set short- and long-term goals.
- Review your career goals.
- Consider your time frame.
- Create a budget.
- Write your goals and plans down.
- Actively work toward your goals.
. “Planning is bringing the future into the present so that you can do something about it now.” -Alan Lakein
If you say that what is the need for planning when life is going well, I am in the pink of my health and wealth. True, but there is a need to plan to maintain this state. How well prepared you are if some emergency strikes? What if your wealth is drained due to some medical emergency? What if your children want to pursue higher education abroad? Are you prepared? The answer would be, No. Hence you need to plan to build the confidence to face any such scenario.
What if you are dealing with some weighty matters, then it is even more important to plan amidst your present struggle. You must take a step back and analyze how others deal with such challenges. The spoken or written words of others who have been in your shoes can sometimes do wonders for reframing your mindset. Everyone, at some point in their life, will be faced with end-of-life matters.
“A good plan is like a road map: it shows the final destination and usually the best way to get there.” – H. Stanely Judd
Planning will help you in such a way that you are not caught off guard when the rest of the world is struggling and clawing to keep up. You can win because you are already ahead of the game.
Now, the most important aspect of planning and executing well is to be in good health. So, how do you ensure that? You can take the first step by inculcating healthy eating habits which are the sure-shot way to receive dividends in the future. It may sound difficult as you would say, how to plan for a whole day’s meal when you are busy with routine chores of life. Everyone has different tastes and eating habits in the family, now the additional burden of planning for your own meals. Sounds great but looks difficult.
For this, you can start simple.
If you have a sweet tooth, try skipping out on a second dessert serving. Hold on to the extra bowl of ice cream or piece of cake that you indulge in after the kids go to bed. That one habit can get you started toward better health.
However, you should not stop there.
You can groom yourself by cutting desserts and sugary snacks down to special occasions. For this, it is important to define special occasions, of course. Restrict it to birthdays and anniversaries, it will help.
Like many kids have birthday parties for all their stuffed animals as an excuse to have cake. Adults do similar things. The point is to quit medicating your emotional pain with junk food.
While you can have ice cream or cake occasionally you need to cut back. Once you have that under control, it is good to add sprouts, fruits, and vegetables to your standard meals.
Get to it. Only to note the transformation in you!
You can begin by taking out just one hour of your day to prepare meals for yourself which your body appreciates. Chuck the click of the mouse to order food, rather use click to order raw vegetables, fresh fruits, lentils, millets, and dairy products to toast a healthy meal to yourself. Believe me, cooking is such a good stress buster. For this, also you need to plan your meal. You can devote your Sunday morning to preparing the grocery list and go shopping for the same. Once you are back, prepare a menu for breakfast, lunch, evening snack, and dinner. Looks like quite a task, believe me, it will simplify your work manifold. You can chop vegetables or soak grains and stock for the coming days.
While cooking, follow a simple methodology like boiled or at the most sautéed veggies. Avoid heavy doses of spices, and deep or shallow-fried food, to keep your heart healthy. Now, you will say that how can one eat bland food day after day, rather forever? Right, you can have a cheat diet 2-4 times a month but it should be home–cooked and prepared by yourself so that you are aware of the ingredients used in these.
Get to it. Only to note the transformation in you!
And be HappyHO!
