Taking control of your life is a big step. You can determine what you want, find out what's important to you, and make a plan to live it so that you can do the best in your life. Learn how to plan your life so that you can meet your goals and needs.
Step
Method 1 of 3: Clarify Your Vision
Step 1. Determine what it means to you
Planning your life can be a daunting task, and there are many different parts of life to consider when planning. To better imagine what kind of future you want, it helps to spend some time exploring what is satisfying and meaningful to you. Some of the questions you can start thinking about about your life's direction include:
- How do you view success? Is it a job position or a sum of money? Is it being a creative person? Do you have a family?
- What would your life be like if you had the power to change it right now? Where will you live? What will be your job? How will you spend your time? Who will you spend time with?
- Whose life do you admire? What aspects of his life path appeal to you?
Step 2. Create a vision statement with guidance
After exploring what it means to you by asking questions and doing some self-reflection, write down the answers you get in a sentence that can be used as a guiding vision statement. Write in the present tense, as if you had already achieved it.
- Examples of vision statements include: "My life is successful because I am my own boss"; "I feel free every day"; "I can use my creativity"; and "I spend time with my family."
- Since planning for life in a fast-changing world can be difficult, you can use this phrase as your guiding principle as you try to map your life by remembering that certain jobs, places or goals can change as long as your guiding vision, or what is most important to you, is fulfilled.
Step 3. Go slowly
Maybe your plans will not go smoothly. Very rarely does something happen exactly as one planned or expected. Life is full of twists, surprises and new opportunities. Life is also full of failures, but that doesn't mean you have to give up. Be prepared to act slowly. Learn from these actions and experiences as you get closer to your goals.
You may come to a dead end in life. You may land a job that you thought would put you in a better position, but it doesn't get you anywhere. Your mind may be disturbed because of relationships with other people and family. Just remember that there is no schedule for this. Keep making small progress towards your goals and learn from every dead end and new development in your life
Step 4. Get ready to create your own opportunities
There probably wouldn't be a perfect job, place, or opportunity out there. If that's the case, you'll need to create opportunities for yourself, even if doing so wasn't part of your original plan. Understanding that when planning your life, you need to make your goals come true can prepare you mentally for any changes that occur along the way.
For example, if your vision statement says you want to be your own boss, this could mean teaching in a dance studio or consulting at a large firm. Both satisfy the deepest need to have freedom because you are your own boss
Method 2 of 3: Making a Life Plan
Step 1. Write a life plan
A life plan is a formal written plan that you can use to plan areas of your life including your career, where you live, who you relate to, and how you spend your time. Writing a life plan can help you identify areas of your life that you want to change or to achieve certain goals.
- A life plan can help you see life in a different light. Seeing aspects of life listed on paper can help you prioritize and readjust your ideas.
- Writing your life plan down on paper can also help you see similar goals and desires you have, or adjust your plan based on things that don't fit.
Step 2. Determine which part of the life you want to change
Having a life plan doesn't mean you're going to change everything in your life right away, but it's a starting point to start the process. There may be areas in your life that you are already satisfied with, such as where you live, but there are other areas that you would like to develop, such as finding a more fulfilling career. There may be various parts of your life that you want to plan, but for starters, try to have one that is most important.
- Decide which area of your life you want to start developing, such as a career, social group, hobby, or something else. Some examples of areas of your life that you can change include work, education, income planning and finances; attitude, point of view in life, creative goal or pleasure; family and friends; planning to have children, ensuring social support, or volunteering for a meaningful cause; or physical and health goals.
- Ask yourself what good things will come of changing any part of your life to make your reasons for choosing to change clear.
- Ask yourself which part of the change will be the most difficult for you. Once you know what's most difficult, you can prepare yourself for those challenges. For example, for some people, the hardest part about changing is getting started. If you already know this part of yourself, you can ask for support from others to help you get started.
Step 3. Gather support and information
Having a support system, or people who can help when you need it is important when trying to make any life changes. Part of planning for change is knowing exactly who to turn to for help and support when the going gets tough. Tell those closest to you about your life plans and what you want to change. Make a list of people you know who you can rely on when you get stuck in a situation.
Gather as much information as possible about the changes that will occur in your life. Listen to other people's success stories, or participate in a group for self-development and success. Ask others what approaches to use in life planning and change, and ask what obstacles to look out for
Step 4. Identify sources and planning steps
For some plans and life changes, you will need resources to start taking any steps towards your goals. You may also need to buy books, set a budget, learn a skill, or ask someone else for help. You may also need to find out how to overcome certain obstacles. After knowing what you need to do first, start making the steps that will lead you to the desired life plan.
- For example, if your life plan includes becoming a healthier person, perhaps your first step is to learn about healthier foods and cooking methods, and then decide to eat one vegetable a day. You need to start slowly to build your goals so you don't lose heart and feel overwhelmed.
- One more example might be when you want to have a life plan that leads you to a healthier diet. To do this, you will need to find the resources needed to achieve this, such as nutrition books, budgeting for various foodstuffs, and asking your family for help as changes in ingredients will also affect them.
Step 5. When life doesn't go according to your plan, deal with it
Planning your life is a great way to gain insight into what you want and how to get it, but often life is unpredictable and doesn't go according to plan. You'll need to hone your problem-solving skills so you can deal with resentment and get back to working toward your goals.
- You can try problem-focused coping. This involves being able to look at things objectively to understand where things aren't going well, and then making plans to fix them. This involves knowing your options, gathering information, taking control of the situation, and then implementing a plan of action.
- For example, if you make a life plan to become healthier, but are later diagnosed with diabetes, you decide to use a problem-focused coping strategy to adjust to the new situation. You learn about diabetes, eating, testing tools to help you get back to your life plan.
- Another problem-solving strategy is emotion-focused coping. This is when you face the emotional impact of an unplanned life event.
- For example, being diagnosed with diabetes will certainly cause emotional reactions, such as fear, frustration, or anger. Ways to deal with these emotions may include talking to a friend or family member, reducing stress by limiting your responsibilities, and keeping a journal of your feelings to better understand them.
Method 3 of 3: Setting Goals
Step 1. Learn the importance of setting goals
Setting goals is an important skill that many successful people use to help kickstart their motivation. Better setting goals will allow you to focus on the specifics of completing the task, as well as help you organize the tools needed to reach your goals.
One of the best parts of setting and accomplishing successful goals is increasing self-confidence and self-efficacy
Step 2. Use the SMART objective method
Setting goals is a great way to give your life plan a boost. It is also possible to make goals or steps specific, measurable, assignable, realistic, and time bound or SMART. It is important that you use SMART goal planning to understand how close or far you are from achieving a goal.
- If your goal is to strive for a healthier life, don't just say "I'm going to eat more vegetables." Make it a SMART goal by saying “I will eat two vegetable dishes every day for 30 days starting from Monday”.
- This will make the goals specific so you have a guide to follow. It's also measurable because you know what you're trying to achieve, it's also realistically achievable, and there's a time bound.
Step 3. Set a concrete goal
There are a number of ways to make your goals concrete and attainable. To start, write down the goal. This will make the goal look more real than just in your mind. Make sure to be specific. If you follow the SMART format, you will have a specific goal.
- Formulate goals in positive language. If you want to lose weight, say things like "Eat healthier and lose 10 kg" instead of "Stop eating junk food and get fat."
- Sort your goals by priority level. If you have multiple goals, you may not be able to do them all at once. Decide what can be accomplished now, what can be done later, and what could take longer.
- You need to keep your goals small so that they can be achieved within a reasonable timeframe and don't become a journey of years. If you have a big goal, break it down into smaller goals so you can reach your goals along the way and feel like you've accomplished something.
