The Art of Life Planning
A Path to Fulfillment and Success
I was all alone on my birthday.
I was alone, sitting in my office at the university, getting ready for a sporting event. It was a cold January morning, and two feet of snow covered the ground. I had just trudged from my apartment to the office.
Since it was just me, I would go to the office early and get everything ready, then stay until that night if we had to postpone the game.
It was about noon, and I sat and ate my sandwich and drank my soda. I wasn’t exactly sure how I’d gotten to this point, alone on my birthday, but something didn’t feel right.
Looking back over my college years, which took me six years to complete my four-year degree, I realized I had been aimless. Sure, I knew what I was pursuing in my degree, but there was no purpose.
I drank, studied, worked, and did it repeatedly until I finally graduated.
I got my first job with the school where I got my degree and continued to work hard, but sitting there that cold January day, something didn’t feel right anymore.
The Beginning of My Life Planning Journey
Imagine having a distinct sense of purpose each day and knowing that you are pursuing your goals and objectives.
During this afternoon, I started to dive into doing something about my life. I had a similar epiphany a year earlier, but it still hadn’t fully developed.
However, that afternoon, I spent much time figuring out how to get back on top of life and pursue what I wanted.
It was in this search that I came across life planning.
Now, life is a journey. And like any journey, it can improve with a carefully considered plan. Setting objectives and making thoughtful decisions about your future is the process of life planning.
It’s a proactive way to take control of your destiny and live a more purposeful and happy life. Life planning is more than just a tool; it’s a compass that can lead you to a prosperous, fulfilling, and limitless future.
Today, I want to share a little about that journey and the valuable life planning tool.
What is Life Planning?
The process of identifying your beliefs, goals, and objectives and then formulating a calculated plan of action to reach them is known as life planning.
It entails establishing both short- and long-term objectives, creating a distinct picture of the future you want, and taking calculated action to turn that picture into reality.
Life planning encompasses many topics, such as relationships, profession, health, personal growth, and finances.
Matching your actions with your beliefs and priorities is essential to ensuring you’re living in harmony with what matters most to you.
The Benefits of Life Planning
Over the years, I have found a variety of benefits to life planning that are more than simply creating a roadmap for life. And some have been more relevant year-to-year than others.
Clarity and Direction
Making a plan for your life gives you a clear path forward. It facilitates the process of clearly stating your goals and your plan of action. By removing uncertainty and hesitation, this clarity enables you to concentrate on the things that count.
Motivation
Life planning fuels motivation. Having a vision and goals gives you something to aim for. This inspiration might help you persevere through difficult moments and maintain your commitment to your goal.
Increased Time Management
Time management skills are essential for life planning. You may more effectively manage your time and resources by setting priorities to help you focus on the most crucial tasks.
Stress Reducer
Anxiety and tension can be decreased by knowing that you have a strategy and are moving toward your objectives. You’ll feel in charge of your life even in the face of uncertainty.
Self-Awareness
Making a life plan promotes introspection. You’ll learn more about your beliefs, interests, and self, which may help you feel more purposeful and self-aware.
How to Start Today
The first thing you need to do is acknowledge precisely where you are in life. You can start the following steps once you are brutally honest with yourself.
The first time I did this, I was hungover at a friend’s lake place and realized that I had made some poor decisions in life. The second time I did this was sitting alone on my birthday in my cold office.
There have been more experiences like this over the years, but most of the time, I have been able to step into my plan and see amazing dreams come true.
Life planning is not a one-time event but a continuous journey. It empowers you to make intentional choices, grow as an individual, and create your desired life.
Investing time and effort into planning your life today will pave the way for a brighter and more fulfilling tomorrow.
I Want to Help You
It’s been over fifteen years since that fateful day in January and I want to help you with a short, quick resources that is the basics for how I create a life plan today:
This is a short book that I created and sell for just 99c on Amazon. When you purchase the book, you will also get access to a life planning workbook which you will be able to use year after year.
J.R. Heimbigner is a #1 Bestselling Christian Author on Amazon who writes about faith, family, and writing books. Join his Substack community and learn more about self-publishing and faith today!
Bonus: 3 Amazing Resources to help you make money as a writer!
Grab a copy of his book, Transform Your Medium Stories, and learn how to take your Medium stories and turn them into a book!
Please note:
- There may be sales or affiliate links in this post. So, I might get a little kick back if you purchase anything. Thank you in advance!
- This article was originally published on LinkedIn, 10.23.2023.
