Have a long term plan: Avoiding Burnout Part 16

bythemethod | July 17, 2008

Table of contents for Avoiding burnout

Short term goals are excellent but to have real control you need a long term plan. Lack of control is a main component in high levels of stress. Gain more control with a little planning.

But aren’t long term plans a little too confining – I want to be free to enjoy life

Of course you want to enjoy life and that could be the basis of a very good long term plan. Making plans is not about stifling creativity and spontenaety. The truth is that having a good plan keeps you focuses on what is important and enables you to be spontaneous. Spontenaiety can only really come when there is a plan otherwise it is not spontinaiety it is just aimlessness.

Knowing what makes you happy and having a plan to be happy enables you to do what you could never do without it.

Having a long term plan can make a big difference to you.

I want you to imagine what your life will be like in 10 years time. Where will you be? If your aim is to retire by then you need to discover what you are going to do when you retire. Very few people find that they can spend very long sitting around doing nothing. Don’t see retirement as a long holiday but see it as an opportunity to do something different – something with a real purpose to it. Use the skills you have to make a real difference in the world.

Did you know that boredom is as stressful as too much activity? Make sure your plan stops you getting bored.

Having a long term plan will help you to focus on what is important when things are difficult.