How To Create A 5 Year Plan That Won't Stress You Out

A question almost every one of us has heard and internally eye-rolled at during some point in our lives- the dreaded, “so what are you plans next?”. Whether you’ve just graduated from university, are collecting your GCSE results, or have hit a junction in your career life, there’s a certain feeling that comes with thinking about the future that leaves us all a bit panicked inside. And it’s not just our jobs that spring to mind when thinking about the future, planning for what you hope to achieve in your personal life and creating realistic expectations of your perhaps unrealistic pipe dreams can be just as daunting.

So whilst a 5 year plan is something we may ordinarily associate with that sweat-inducing interview question, in reality, creating a plan with a tangible time frame can be the positive boost we need to assess where we are now, and where we hope to be in the future. Life can sometimes feel like you’re going through the motions of the day-to-day with no time to think about the deep questions of fulfilment and success, but questioning your routines and shaking up the everyday is not something simply reserved for your New Year’s resolutions. 

There are a number of factors involved in beginning your 5 year plan, but first and foremost it might be worth re-stating that to effectively make a plan that allows you to successfully and happily lead a live a life you love, you must park your insecurities at the door. Creating your 5 year plan requires you to fully embrace the life you want, not the one you feel has been predetermined for you by previous actions or decisions. A quote recently shared online which sparked conversation surrounding this thought process reiterated that nobody has the exact perception of you that you have of yourself- every person you meet or interaction you have builds a slightly different relationship, whether that be friends, colleagues, extended family or neighbours. There are thousands of different versions of you, and if you can appear so changeably to those around you, then you can absolutely create a plan for yourself that fulfils even goals and ambitions you may have thought unrealistic. The key to creating a 5 year plan that doesn’t fill you with dread is focusing only on the things that really make you thrive. 

Step 1:

Divide your life into the subsections you feel are most important and valuable. This might look something like careers, family, love and relationships, home, fun and personal fulfillment, but will likely be different for everyone! Think about exactly where you sit within each of these sections now, and whether there are any that stand out as particularly successful, or perhaps others desperately need more effort and attention, it’s important to identify a starting point for each so you can assess how to move forwards. Whether you’re an Excel enthusiast or diary devotee, find the best format for you in clearly identifying your current starting point.

Step 2:

Acknowledge any emotions that you feel during the process so far. If there’s something that feels especially lacking in your life now, make a note. Equally if there are areas that you’re inspired and proud of, it’s important to take stock and assess how those successes could be mirrored into other aspects of your life. For the nervous or anxious amongst us, the process of simply analysing where we’re currently at can induce all sorts of panic and worry, but to ultimately move towards a life in which you’re freer of those insecurities, you have to wade through the hard emotions that might surface initially.

Step 3:

THE FUN PART! Now that you know exactly where you are currently, it’s time to decide where future ‘you’ wants to be. Whether it’s marriage, inter railing, children, university, starting the business you’ve always dreamed of, running the marathon that scares but excites you, visiting the 7 wonders of the world, applying for the Great British Bake-Off, learning to ballroom dance- it’s all up to you! Practically it might be helpful to be realistic, but don’t put too many constraints on what future ‘you’ can achieve- aim high, dream big and be optimistic!

Step 4:

So. You know where you are now, and you know where you want to be. It’s time to get serious and assess whether your current routines and endeavours are aiding or detracting from your ability to achieve your goals for the next 5 years. If you’re hoping to be the CEO of your own company, it’s time to write that business plan and consider cutting the hours of your 9-5. If you want to road trip across America, it’s time to change your savings account from ‘nights out’ to ‘dollars fund’. This step isn’t necessarily about revolutionising every aspect of your life, rather, making the practical changes needed to convert your dreams into daily routines. Don’t go crazy and quit your job, sell your house and donate your worldly possessions, but make serious intentions on the best route to your 5 year older self!

Step 5:

Now that you’re feeling confident and capable about your future goals, it’s time to get serious on the planning front. Make estimates on how long each potential change might take, and be realistic about how many revamps you can emotionally and physically achieve. It might be helpful at this stage to break down your plans into 5 sections- one for each year- and divide up the steps you need to take to within each to successfully and coherently achieve your goals! Make a note of points that might be useful to come back and review your successes at each stage, thinking about the actionable changes you might need to make if things don’t go smoothly.

Step 6:

The most fun of all- go live your best life!

Planning for the future is never easy, but wading through the day-to-day feeling unfulfilled is even harder. So it’s time to take stock and feel excited for future ‘you’, whoever that may be. Oh, and don’t forget to tag us on Instagram when you’re 12 days into your African safari or revising for your midwifery degree at 3am- we can’t wait to see where you take things!