Focusing on the Future this Cloudy, Rainy Friday - Making a 5 Year Plan
I’ve been pretty open lately about my current situation in life and my desire to improve it. I’m going to be 25 very soon yet I still feel like I’m in the same position as a high school teen. I want to get my life back on track by the time I turn 30 so I plan on making a 5 year plan with your help, advice, and valuable input. It will be an ever-evolving plan of course since I still don’t know exactly what I want from life, but I’m starting here and I’m starting now.
First, I want to break down my general life goal of “being better/finding happiness” into manageable pieces within manageable sections. So I am going to list ideas and strategies for physical health, mental/emotional stability, social wellbeing & financial status in both short term and long term steps.
Physical
I do not take care of myself and that really doesn’t help my mental health to be honest. I heard my therapists harp about it constantly and even though I knew they were right, it still annoyed the hell out of me. I don’t particularly like exercise anymore. I used to be a cross country runner in high school but multiple injuries, graduation, and a general lack of enthusiasm put an end to that habit. So I would like to find a new routine.
Old high school picture
My short term goal is to feel a sense of accomplishment daily while my long term goals include regaining muscle definition, losing 5-10 pounds, and increasing my energy level.
I plan to begin working towards these goals by going to yoga class once a week, getting outside in the sunlight for at least 15 minutes a day, going for a walk 3-4 times per week, and eliminating around 90% of artificial sugars from my diet.
Current Status: Couch potato & really sore from a single yoga session
Mental/Emotional
My mental/emotional wellbeing (or lack thereof) is going to be the main focus of my personal development plan. With my depression and anxiety, every aspect of my life is affected. I want to get things under control in this area of my life so I can get some control over the others as well.
Old college picture
My short term goal is to take each day as it comes and my long term goal is to find both a passion to pursue and a balance living with depression.
I plan to begin working towards these goals by contacting my doctor to discuss my medications, researching the possibility of medical marijuana, rejoining therapy (if possible), and continuing my #mentalhealthmonday initiative.
I also plan on recreating my long forgotten “bucket list” and trying to achieve some of those old dreams. Maybe finding a few new dreams along the way as well.
Current Status: Tentatively hopeful while ignoring the existential dread that has settled on my shoulders
Social
I don’t have many friends anymore. After I dropped out of college, I lost contact with many people and then blocked out even more when I endured an emotionally abusive relationship that took 100% of my time and effort to survive. In fact, the only people I speak to are my parents and my (now ex-) boyfriend. With the recent breakup, I no longer have anyone to turn to.
Family Vacation picture
My short term goals include getting out more often and meeting a few new people while my long term goal is to find a significant other (thought that can’t be determined in a specific amount of time).
I plan to begin working towards these goals by taking a rather dramatic step - a temporary relocation to Minneapolis. I plan to stay with family in the big city (much bigger than the one I currently live in) and participate in more social happenings. There are many more opportunities there and I have family who is willing to guide me through them.
Also, I am adopting a cat :)
Current Status: Single, not-really-ready-to-mingle, and antisocial AF
Financial
One of my biggest stressors is student loan debt. I am currently unemployed so any payments I make towards my $17,000+ debt are with the help of Steem and SBD (*insert self promotional plea for upvotes here). I feel like once I get out from under this burden I will be able to focus on moving forward and saving money for future endeavors.
My short term goal is making enough SBD daily to pay my current monthly bill and my long term goals include paying off my student debt and moving into my own home.
I plan to begin working towards these goals by posting at least 2 articles per day on Steemit, investing more time in my other passive income streams (affiliate links and Etsy store), and looking for online/remote/work from home jobs.
Current Status: Broke with $17,000+ debt and estimated payoff date of 11/2025
Steemit
Steemit is a main factor in realizing many of my goals so I need to commit more time and effort towards cryptocurrency.
My short term goals are to reach a reputation level of 60 and reach 1500 Steem Power while my long term goals are to reach a reputation level of 70, 1250 followers, and make a steady monthly income.
I plan to begin working towards these goals by posting twice a day and spending at least an hour per day curating. I might also be starting a new series called “The Global Homestead” along with my Dtube vlog that I promised ages ago but have procrastinated until today.
Current Status: 59.4 reputation level, approx. 1274 SP, and 1062 followers
End Goal - 5 Years
So what do I want my life to look like when I am 30?
Student debt paid off
Living independently/ homeowner
Dating (please dead god, at least let me be dating)
Potentially off medications and antidepressants?!
I feel like the bar is set so low yet so high at the same time. I really don’t know how to end this either… do you guys have a 5 year plan or goals you are currently pursuing? Do you have any advice for my goals? Comment below!
First photo from Pexels and used under the CC0 license. Additional photos taken by @kiaraantonoviche - please do not share/repost without express permission!
Join the HomesteadersOnline Discord community today!
Proud passenger of the Steemit EcoTrain!
Let me start off by saying YOU ARE AMAZING! There are so many young people these days that are just floating along, not bothering to even think about where they are headed or where they want to go. To lay out a 5 year plan like this... well, just let me say I wish my 38 year old son and daughter in law would think in these terms.
I am so glad you got out of your abusive relationship. My first husband was physically abusive and literally put me in the hospital 3 times in 3 weeks. You can't dwell on that part of your life. Keep your eyes firmly fixed on the future. Keep breaking down your goals into smaller and smaller pieces until you can actually see each step happening in your mind. By focusing on the future the past will slowly fade wso it no longer haunts your every waking moment.
I understand your depression also. When things were at their worst for me, no job, no insurance, scrounging for every dime and unable to afford anti-depressants, the one thing I found that did wonders for me was by taking a B-100 capsule every day. They are cheap, start working within days and take a large portion of the anxiety and the racing thoughts away.
As for your social goals, if the goals you set are what you truly want, then go for them. But don't feel the need to hurry into anything. I lost all my friends after my accident. Every one turned away when I needed them most. Now, since Larry died, I am considering this MY TIME. I may or may not decide at some point in the future to allow others into my personal life, but for now, this is my time to do what I want and need to do. So do what feels right for you at this point in time. You can always open up more at a later date.
That's all I can think of at the moment. Just know that you are a strong person who can accomplish anything you set your mind to.
First of all be gentle with yourself and acknowledge that you are aware and that is the very best place to start, awareness. You will find you way again, do not force anything, you are young you are only finding out who you are and also who you want to be. I am 40 and know that that changes alot over the years, but you are showing a wisdom that you should be proud of. Embrace your emotions, they make you who you are, be proud of you and do some self love exercises each day. Your fitness will come, do something you enjoy.I love to walk and dance. Reach out to us on here if you need to, sending you much love and light xxx
yes, this message speaks to me too...
thanks, love !
ok @kiaraantonoviche i SO feel you and understand exactly where you are at. because i am at the same place! You can do it, you are still SO young, and your body can still heal and recover better than you might think if you give it the love and respect it needs.
I never paid heed to warning when I was 25 about my health.. Now im 44 and i have several REALLY unpleasant things going on.. and its really not fun or nice having to live in pain every day, or not be able to breathe properly, or just having a really huge belly that wont shift.
the 5 year plans is IT! This is the way, and will help you visualise and manifest the future that you want to live. I once did a powerful 5 year plan, which led me to my dreams very quickly. I would definitely recommend you have read of the post I wrote about it once..
https://steemit.com/life/@eco-alex/the-remarkable-diary-of-an-eco-builder-part-3-how-to-accomplish-anything-in-life
Wishing you much love and strength.. have faith.. you WILL be ok !
Thank you so much for your support :) The people here on Steemit are really what keep me going sometimes! I'm off to read your article now!
love this and the comments that your post brought up (lots of great stuff for other steemians, too!). resteemed at the hearth and i, wren, have been sitting with this post since i read it. wanted to say that i experience a pretty heavy depression in my 20s and i think those are some hard formative years. your self awareness and obvious desire for growth will definitely see you through! know that everyone who seems to have it all together most likely doesn't (who does?!) and even as we grow, there's always more "to work on"... evolution ("the work/self growth/whatever") doesn't stop while we're here on earth school so even though certain things are "figured out".... more always needs to get worked on. for me and ini, our relationship is working out some really difficult kinks (generational patterns) that are really hard lately... and on a personal level my moods are swinging up and down. though certain things in life may look more figured out for us, they're still in process and can be difficult. much love to you! you're on the right track <3
I understand your depression too. I've also never experienced the same thing as you. When things are worst for me, no job, no insurance, looking for every penny and not being able to buy anti-depressants, one thing I find amazing to me is to take depression medication every day. he is cheap, start working in a few days.
You're doing awesome work! It's a lot harder for your generation than people want to admit. It looks to me like you're way ahead of the game with this plan. Be gentle with yourself and keep moving forward. I'm 43 and still no clue.
We love this yoga instructor, and it's free. You can work at any pace, but this is where I started.
That thumbnail really seems to sell her looks rather than her teaching ability, but my massage therapist was who recommended her and she said that It's the channel that was recommended to her by her peers. (In case the boob shot was making you think this was clickbait.)
As for social and mental, we both suffer from depression, amongst other things. Weed doesn't help me at all, it actually makes it worse, but my wife uses it a couple of times a day and it seems to help her quite a bit now. She's off all of the prescribed meds and just has a few puffs and dances or walks to relieve the anxiety. I just try to cope with everything, and I did try antidepressants once, but it wasn't for me. I found driving a truck alone all the time helped me work through a lot of things and also having good communication with my wife has been a life and mind saver.
This leads to the social. We used to party and had lots of friends that we hung out with, but after bouts of depression, etc... people sort of dropped like flies, so it's mostly just us and a few neighbours etc... I find that I really enjoy playing with the plants, pets, and chickens instead of drinking beer and playing poker. We will curl up and watch a show or two and go to bed early on a Saturday night. We're old.
Our five-year plan is still on track, but it's down to three or four years now. We are getting pretty excited. So much unknown.
Anyhow, I truly hope you get everything straightened out, and it seems like you are on the right track, except the living in a city part. (Blech) We'll be following along to see your progress.
Having gotten out of the black hole, my experience has been that sugar in any form is really bad for depression. Artificial is bad because some of it can be cancer causing. But all of it is a trigger, for me. Might be something to track and see how it makes you feel...knowledge is power....
I guess we're of similar age! Turning full 24 this coming August .
I guess we can pat each other's back on the 5 year plan. Not many people of our age eve considers what's to next year much less work towards it. We can say we're already ahead in that!
Those are all sensible goals you set for yourself. As for me, I'm looking to expand my horizon and focus mainly on a few things such as
I admire your emphasis on emotions and social skills. While some people like t brush it off as "im just introverted", knowing our flaws and working towards them is a much better initiative.
Be seeing you around and see your change over the years!
PS. Take care of yourself first, prince charming comes much easier when you've got your stuff in control
Reading your recent posts I realized how lucky I've been in my early life. And even now, with a family, two kids, own business and garden, even with all the worries and struggles those things bring, I cannot begin to imagine what it could be to have no one to talk to and share, or to spend my days not leaving the house.
What I think could help you is to find a passion. I have several (too much at times, I feel!) and each and every waking moment I'm not busy with something else, I spend dedicated to those passions of mine!
Thank you for responding and I agree, one of the main reasons I've been wandering around so lost is because I cannot find something I am passionate about. I understand that is part of the depression but I have to find something in order to combat the depression, so it's a vicious cycle! I am going to try to expand my horizons when I go to Minneapolis... to use that as a starting point so to speak because there are so many more opportunities there!