I saw this quote on social media a few months ago, and it resonated with me. The basic concept is that you should take proactive actions in the present to benefit yourself in the future and emphasize the importance of making choices and taking steps today that contribute to your long-term well-being, happiness, and success.
We are all guilty of putting off a task for the future when we will have more time, be in better shape, have more money, etc. Putting the burden on your future self seems like the easy way out right now, but it may be causing you more stress.
By considering the potential impact of your actions on your future self, you are encouraged to prioritize activities that have lasting benefits. This mindset lets you focus on personal growth, health and fitness, education, career development, financial planning, and building meaningful relationships.
The best part is that these actions can be big or small while still impactful. This future self might be 10 or 20 years down the road, or it might be you at 6:00 pm tonight.
Here are a few of my favorites:
- Meal Prepping
- Wearing Sunscreen Daily
- Drinking more water throughout the day
- Morning workouts (I’m telling you, this one is a game-changer)
- Going to bed earlier and prioritizing sleep
- Making a budget
- Setting aside time for rest
Let me give you a simple example of how I put this into practice.
I pack my kids’ lunches every morning. They like cut-up veggies, so I cut up cucumbers and carrots for each. We also have a big plate of cut-up veggies with dinner each night. A few weeks ago, I started cutting up the veggies for the evening at the same time I was packing lunches. This accomplished a couple of things that my future self would be thankful for. One, I didn’t have to clean, peel, and chop veggies twice daily, including washing my cutting board and knife. Two, when I am short on time, rushing around to get dinner ready, I already have a good chunk of my dinner done. This isn’t life-changing on the surface; however, it has been a game changer for 6:00 pm Lauren.
The essence of this concept lies in the understanding that the choices and actions you make today have consequences that extend beyond the present moment. By consciously considering your future self’s needs and aspirations, you can make decisions that align with your long-term goals and aspirations, ultimately leading to a more fulfilling and rewarding future.
What could you do today, right now, that your future self would thank you for?
