I am constantly planning -- writing lists, imagining scenarios, going over plans once, twice, three times -- you get the idea. Not until recently have I considered the thought of living and focusing on the now.
I chose to change my mindset from planning for the future with every decision I make and start living in the now because quite simply, I can't control what will happen.
I can't control where I will end up after getting my degree, even though I can spend hours, days, even months stressing about it.
I can't control whether or not I end up in the field I'm studying in college!
I can't control what other people will say or do, or even if they will dislike me now or at some point because that's their decision. There is nothing I can do to ever change that (besides try to be a good person).
I can't control if I don't like my professors this coming semester, or even if my books will be super expensive. Maybe I will end up wanting to completely change what I want to do with my life! Who knows when I will be able to afford an apartment or a home. I have no clue when I will start a family, so attempting to plan things that are not only dependent on me is just wasting energy that could be focused on living now.
The point of this isn't to say that none of these things matter because they certainly do. The point is that while these things do matter, there's no way to know right now where you'll be in 10 years. Who knows where you'll be in even two? Things are constantly changing, life happens, and it's better to go with the flow than try to change things you can't-- how can you change things that have yet to happen?
If you're anything like me and you plan, schedule, or anticipate constantly -- this is not an easy thing to change about yourself. I frequently find myself trying to plan for my future, when everything could change in an instant. It is so refreshing to wake up each day and put all of your energy toward making memories for your future self to look back on instead of remembering being mostly stressed -- only for things to be totally different anyway!
Of course, planning and being organized is not a bad thing, but the objective here is that when it comes to things you really can't change -- don't sweat it. Things always work out one way or the other, so save your list skills for what you need to pack for your vacation.
Life is so short, so make sure to spend it with people who make you laugh; to wear clothes that make you feel confident, to buy that ice cream, to take your pets for a walk -- whatever it is that makes you feel fulfilled. Make sure you're not wasting the time you could be doing these things by stressing over what your future husband or wife is doing right now or whether or not you'll be able to afford that Range Rover by the time you're 30. Put your mind to it, work toward your goals, and you will always succeed-- without stressing!
