I’m a planner. I always have been, and I’m pretty sure I always will be. Last week, my boyfriend and I were talking about the way that each of us make plans, and I realized I think way too long-term about my future whereas he thinks more short-term and day-by-day. I could tell you exactly where I want to be and what I want to be doing 25 years from now, but I have no idea how to plan out my meals for the week ahead.
It’s great to have goals and strive for the best, but it’s also important to stay balanced and grounded.
I’m currently living alone for the first time in my life. I’ve always had roommates, but now I live in a one-bedroom. I’m learning how to plan things I’ve never had to plan before, learning how to budget things I’ve never had to budget before, and learning how to hold myself accountable. Because I’m a long-term planner and always have been, it’s strange for me to take things like chores or grocery shopping week-by-week or day-by-day. I’ll admit I’ve never really been able to maintain a good grocery routine. I always wind up buying way too much produce, and then it winds up going bad before I can eat it all. So now, I’m working on making a grocery list any time I need to go to the store. I’m going to plan out what I need for the week, then go and get it. That seems like such a normal thing to do, and I’m sure it is for most people, but making those sort of plans is mind-boggling to me.
It’s hard for me to focus on small-scale things. I’m a big picture type of person. I like to look at things from a distance and try to piece everything together that way. But when it comes to zooming in and looking at minute details, like maintaining a good routine for doing the dishes or laundry, I get weighed down. In my head, it feels so insignificant to spend time on basic routine maintenance of my home. I would so much rather spend my time working, reading, or honestly just thinking about and planning my future.
My boyfriend and I were having this exact conversation when we realized that I have a hard time seeing things day-by-day. He’s much more practical than I am, though, so he brought up the importance of taking care of yourself (or, in this case, myself) now in order to achieve your goals in the future. I’d never really thought about it that way, but he’s completely right. I need to learn how to be a functioning adult on my own before I can start working toward my future. I need to make a budget for the first time in my life, I need to stick to a routine of grocery shopping for what I need and what I can realistically eat, I need to take the time to just rinse the dishes and put them in the dishwasher so I don’t have to spend 30 minutes doing it when the sink is full. I need to learn how to be the best version of myself in every aspect of my life, even the ones I’d rather not spend time on. I need to create balance.
Again, it’s great to have plans. It’s great to have goals, but if you’re like me, it’s also important to learn how to take care of yourself. It’s important to create balance between the things you like to do and the things you need to do. It might not be fun, and it might not be easy, but it’ll pay off in the long run.
Stay healthy. Stay balanced.
Xo,
Kayla W