By Hema Ravi

Planning for the future is not worthwhile according to some people, particularly youngsters, who believe living in the present is more fulfilling.  Another group however, understands the importance of planning ahead.  While I agree that needless worrying ruins the joy of the present moment, preparing for contingencies would certainly prove beneficial to every individual.

Firstly, being organized in everyday life helps to manage time precisely, thereby, enabling one to perform multifarious activities in a day. Secondly, this reduces stress levels and also ensures quality work in time for instance, a student who plans to take up competitive examinations or pursue higher education must have a short term and long term goal and work accordingly. Likewise, planning the menu earlier and stocking the refrigerator with the necessary vegetables and foodstuffs saves mental hassles and the actual cooking process becomes enjoyable as well.

Planning helps in working to one’s full potential in a structured manner towards success. For example, activities such as purchasing a house or migrating to another country are complex goals that require planning of resources, consequently, cannot spring up as impromptu decisions.  Furthermore, a large number of salaried citizens have a limited time-period to earn, hence, investments for the future have to be planned early in life.

On the other hand, worrying constantly about the future would certainly prove futile in managing the day to day challenges. For instance, some people work round the clock,  live frugally setting aside funds for  a rainy day, often, this constant struggle takes a significant toll on their health. Although such savings would guarantee a good future for the next generation, it also results in enormous expenses on medication, which is often the consequence of the stress of the younger years.  Another illustration is the occurrence of natural calamities owing to which people face loss of property and lives overnight and are brought down to the streets, for example, the recent floods in Assam and Houston, has left innumerable people homeless and miserable.  Under such circumstances, an invested insurance policy would have proved to be the respite to start life afresh again.

To summarize, living in the present moment is very much needed to have a complete and wholesome life experience, which ultimately enhances the quality of life in the future, nevertheless, financial decisions are to be planned early in order to lead a balanced and happy life.

Author Profile:  Hema Ravi is a Communicative English and IELTS Trainer, Co-author of Sing Along Indian Rhymes and Everyday Hindi, she is a prize winner in the 26th ITO EN Green Tea Haiku Competition, Japan (2015). Her verses and haiku have been published in HSA Anthology (2015), Atlas Poetica, Poetic Prism, The Enchanted Verse, Rainbow Hues, Contemporary Literary Review, Metverse Muse, write-ups published in The Hindu and a multitude of print and online anthologies.