Whether you’re a student looking to start your career, a parent with young children, or someone longing to dip their toes into the waters of blissful retirement, we all need plans to keep us grounded and focused on the future. Here are our top tips for planning for that next step in 2021, when the future may not feel so set in stone.
We would all love to imagine that at the stroke of midnight on News Years Eve, our fairy godmother waves her magic wand and suddenly all is right again with the world. Sadly, the reality is that life is never quite so simple.
So what can be done in 2021? Should we stay on the fence or cast caution to the wind? In a time when things may not feel so certain, we’re going to take a look at the best ways to make plans in 2021 according to our lotto experts.
1. Leave wiggle room in your budget
It’s all well and good to make plans for the future, but the first thing one must assess is if they have the means to do so. Our lotto expert says
I am one of those people that thinks about money all the time. I constantly budget for the future. My advice would be, if you want to spend, make sure you have it first.
2. Keep up with the news
In these trying times, it is very important to stay up to date with the world around you in order to achieve your goals and dreams. Our lotto expert says
Oh yeah, totally. I think I read 10 different news sites a day at least. I look at stocks, the latest lottery jackpots, etc. I’m constantly engaged. It’s really important to stay up to date with what’s important to you.
3. Be willing to adapt
As the world changes around us it’s important to learn how to change along with it. Be open and embrace change as a doorway to a better opportunity for learning and growth. Our lotto expert says
I think day to day I’m pretty flexible. You have to be in this day and age. One thing I will say is that you need to be able to roll with the punches. One day you lose, the next day you win. You know?
4. Assess your finances
As we mentioned earlier, it’s important to assess your financial stability before diving into a new project. Our lotto expert says
You know, it’s pretty embarassing to admit but I do obsess over our (my wife and I) finances a lot. I think about it when buying groceries, picking up the kids. It sounds boring but it really helps put my mind at ease.
5. Be willing to try new things one step at a time
Sometimes the issue at hand isn’t “what to plan for in 2021” but rather what not to plan for! Many people have a whole list of pet projects sitting on a shelf with no clear idea on what to start on first or even how to go about it. Our lotto expert says
One of the scariest things for most people is to experiment with new things. This is mainly because the risk of failure is high and usually no one wants to be a “loser”! The secret, though, is “fail fast, learn fast!” – trying new things must be seen as a learning process in order to succeed!
6. Talk to others about their plans
Two heads are always better than one! It’s always important to air out plans and future achievements with others to get a new point of view. Our lotto expert says
In our After Sales team we’re very fortunate to talk to customers after they’ve won a big prize. But the smart ones always say “I’m going to call my sister” or brother or friend next to see what they should do about their big win. I like talking to those people the most. They have a good head on their shoulders and always end the call with a smile.
7. Create goals
In 2021, It’s important to have goals and a way to make them become reality.
Note that goals work for large plans, such as making £50,000 a year, but also for smaller projects, such as, “I want to read 5 books this month,” or “I want to learn how to bake bread.”
Be Specific: Make sure your goal is clearly defined. “I want to make more money” is vague. “I want to make £5,000 per month” is specific.
Be Decisive: You need to assess your goal so you know you can achieve it. Identify your intent, then list everything you need to do to accomplish it.
Be Secure: It’s good to set goals that make you grow and challenge yourself, but it’s also important to make sure you are able to achieve your mindset. Make a plan and set a goal that is reachable.
Be Relevant: Your goals should fit within your life plans. There is no point in planning for goals that aren’t relevant to the life you want to live.
Be Ready: You have to set a date by which your goal should be achieved and set milestones on how to obtain it. If you want to learn a new skill, ask yourself “how much time do I need to learn this?”
Final Thoughts
There you have it, our lotto expert-approved 7-step plan to achieving your goals. Remember, though, that the most detailed plan in the world will never work out until you do. It’s not enough that you know how to make plans for 2021, you also have to put in sufficient time and effort to work on them. So, make 2021 the year you achieve your goals with our expert guide!