Planning your life

The freedom not to plan

What I'm doing in five years? Honestly, I haven't thought that far ahead. I don't think it matters very much, as long as I enjoy whatever I'm doing. If I'm heading what seems like a good enough direction, I'll probably be fine. I suppose I'll be living somewhere in Europe and I'll likely be working with something related to programming or UX interaction. Probably not at a university.

Having grown up in a privileged family, in a country with a good social safety net, and having been fortunate enough to enjoy a good education, it doesn't really matter what I do. I'll be fine regardless.

The necessary ten-year plan

Not everyone has the same privileges. The world is full of people who must plan several years ahead, out of practical necessity. What is it like when everything depends on your ten-year plan?

What would happen if you didn't plan the next five or ten years? Presumably, you've created a rough schedule of what to study and how to then advance your career, right? Surely, you've thought about which country and city to live in, so that your plan has the best possible chance of coming to fruition. Of course, sometimes things don't work out the way you hope, but if one of the crucial steps of your plan fails... Would that even be an option? Your whole family depends on your success.

The option to plan

Of course, some people prefer planning, even though it isn't strictly necessary. Knowing that you've thought out your future could give you some peace of mind.

In the next few years, you'll have a long-term partner and have a mortgage on a home where you might well live for the rest of your life. You'll have a stable job, hopefully with good colleagues and a good boss. If you haven't already had your first child by then, one is probably on its way.