3 Life Challenges You Can Prevent with Planning

We all face innumerable challenges throughout our lives. And while some are entirely unpredictable, others are more so and can be prevented through careful planning. And while nothing in life is entirely predictable (it is life, after all), many of the most common challenges people face can be lessened or mitigated through planning and preparation.

Here, we share three of life’s shared challenges that, with some simple planning and proactive thinking, can be prevented.

#1. You are stressed out all of the time. One of the number one reasons people are stressed out is that they do not have enough time to devote to the most important things in their lives. “I don’t have time for….” seems a common refrain these days, and it causes stress that leads to mental, physical, and emotional health problems and can harm relationships and your overall success and happiness. When you take on too much and do not prioritize what matters, you can feel like you never have time for yourself.

Time management and careful planning help you feel less stressed. Planning allows you to prioritize what is important and say “no” to things that are not valuable to you. Planning helps you create action steps to reach specific goals, which means you are much more likely to accomplish your aims.

When you make plans, these should include how you care for yourself and those most important in your life. If you want to get off the rat race treadmill and start living life on your terms, your first step is to learn to plan your life and daily activities.

#2. Financial troubles. While it is true that planning cannot always prevent money problems (say, because of a sudden and unexpected layoff), thinking ahead and practising planning can certainly make financial struggles easier to manage.

Planning for the future and unforeseen circumstances is the cornerstone of economic health, and having a plan will be your surest way out of any financial troubles you may find yourself in.

When you realize that your income exceeds your debt, planning can help you cut back on expenses, find new sources of income, and determine ways to find a better job that will meet your future needs.

Many people think that the wealthy are just lucky. Still, in reality, those with financial resources often possess similar habits, including living below their means, saving for unexpected expenses, planning for their retirement, and continually looking for better career opportunities that will help them meet their financial goals. And living within a budget is just another form of planning which will help you get your finances back on track.

#3. Health problems. Of course, not all health problems are preventable. Still, the vast majority of chronic and acute conditions can be prevented or mitigated by better planning and health decisions throughout your life.

For example, making better health decisions in your early and middle years will help you live a longer, healthier, more active life in your senior years. Eating a healthy diet and getting plenty of exercises are the top two things you can do to prevent the most common causes of death, including cardiovascular and metabolic problems.

Planning helps you invest in your nutrition and activity, gives you the time you need to devote to your health, and allows you to embrace healthier lifestyle choices throughout your years. Planning helps you find a balance that contributes to your mental, spiritual, and emotional health. All these factors play a role in your long-term wellness and longevity.

Final Thoughts

These are just a few of the many life challenges we all face in our daily lives and represent ways you can prevent or lessen the impact of these obstacles on your happiness and well-being.