How To Visually Plan For The Future: 6 Ideas

Planning for the future is an important step for living your best life.

By taking the time to envision what you want, you can put yourself in a better position to make it happen.

There’s no wrong way to plan for the future, but there are some things you should keep in mind as you start mapping out your next steps.

Things To Consider When Future Planning

The future is not someplace you arrive at; it’s something you create. So here are some questions you should ask yourself as you think about the next chapters in your life.

What Do You Want To Achieve?

“Begin with the end in mind.” ~ Dr. Stephen R. Covey, Author

If you don’t know where you’re going, how will you ever get there?

When planning for the future, it’s important to dream big and think about what you want to achieve.

• What are your long-term plans?
• What do you want your life to look like in 10, 20, or even 30 years?

Answering these questions can help you start to formulate a strategy for how you’re going to get where you want to be.

Of course, things may not always go according to plan, but it’s still good to have a general roadmap to follow.

What Are Your Values?

“A highly developed values system is like a compass. It serves as a guide to point you in the right direction when you are lost.” ~ Idowu Koyenika, Principal Consultant

Your values are the things that are important to you and guide your actions. So always consider your core values and make sure they align with your goals.

Otherwise, you risk pursuing goals that aren’t in line with who you are and what you believe in. This can lead to feelings of frustration and dissatisfaction down the road. 

To get started, sit down and make a list of your values. What is important to you?

Once you have your values identified, you can begin to look for ways to incorporate them into your future plans.

What Are Your Next Steps?

“You never change your life until you step out of your comfort zone; change begins at the end of your comfort zone.“ ~ Roy T. Bennett, Author

The downside of taking a 30,000 foot view of your future is that it can feel overwhelming.

You may look at where you are right now and feel like you’re a million miles away from where you want to be.

This is why it can be helpful to break your future goals down into small steps.

• What are the next things you need to do to get closer to your goal?

Your first step may take you out of your comfort zone, but that’s often where the best growth happens. So don’t be afraid to take a leap of faith and go after what you want.

Key Areas To Focus on For Future Planning

Your entire future is in front of you, waiting to be written. It involves several aspects of your life, including your career, finances, relationships, health, and more.

Since there are so many parts to figure out, it’s often best to focus on one at a time.

Try one of the following to start. 

Career Planning

Career planning is about figuring out what you want to do vocationally.

In other words…

• What is your dream job?
• What type of work would make you jump out of bed every morning with a sense of purpose?

Think about what you’re good at and what you enjoy doing.

• What are your strengths?
• What are your passions?

Answering these questions can help you start to identify potential career paths that may be a good fit for you.

When career planning, it’s also important to consider where you are now. Your current position is a stepping stone on your journey to the future, and it’s the launching pad for your next step.

So take some time to assess your current situation.

• What do you like and don’t like about your job?
• What skills and work experience have you gained that could help you in a new role?

All of this information can be helpful as you start planning what the future looks like for your career.

Financial Planning

Your future self is going to need some money to thrive. So in order to live your best life, it’s crucial to plan for your financial future.

This includes things like:

• Creating a budget
• Having a savings account with an emergency fund
• Having a retirement account with a Roth IRA or 401(k) regularly tucking away money to create a nest egg for your future.

No matter where you are right now, there are always steps you can take to improve your financial situation.

If you aren’t sure where to start, talk with a trusted person or financial advisor who can help you create a plan.

Relationship Planning

What kind of relationships do you want in your life?

Do you want to be married? Have kids? Be close to your extended family? Build a strong support network in your local community? Prioritize true friendship?

It’s okay if you don’t have all the answers. Still, it’s important to start thinking about the role relationships will play in your future.

This will help you identify what steps you need to take to achieve your long-term goals.

It’ll also allow you to start surrounding yourself with the right people to support you on your journey.

Health And Wellness Planning

Your physical and emotional health plays a large role in your overall well-being. So it’s essential to think about these things when brainstorming your life plan.

It could mean you need to make significant changes to preserve your mental and physical health.

Or it could be as simple as making small tweaks to your current routine. Regardless, it’s important to think through how medical decisions you make now could impact your health down the road.

Other Areas Of Life

Of course, these are only some aspects of your life you can set goals for. You can also plan for your personal growth, spiritual life, recreation, and anything else important to you. 

The sky’s the limit when it comes to goal setting and future planning. However, if you need help or more motivation, check out the sample personal goals in this post for ideas. 

6 Ways To Visually Plan For The Future

Now that you have a better sense of what you want your future self to achieve, it’s time to start planning.

What better way to do that than with a visually appealing roadmap?

Here are six of the best ways to visually represent your goals and plan for the future:

1. Create A Vision Board

A vision board gives you a physical representation of your goals. So whenever you’re feeling discouraged, you can look at your vision board and be reminded of what you’re working towards.

To make a vision board, start by finding pictures, quotes, and other images that inspire you.

Then once you have a collection, put them all together on a large piece of poster board or even on a smaller piece of paper.

Put this somewhere you’ll see it on a daily basis, such as on your fridge or next to your computer.

2. Mind Mapping

Did you ever make a mind map in school to help you plan a paper or essay? You can use this same brainstorming technique to plan your future.

To create a mind map, start by:

• Drawing a large circle in the center of a paper. In this circle, write something like, “My Future Self.” Then, the fun part begins…
• From this central circle, use lines to branch out and write down all the different goals, dreams, and aspirations you have for your future self.

However, there are other ways to do it than this plain mind map. So go ahead and get creative. Add pictures or colours to your mind map if you want. 

Oh, and if you prefer to work digitally, there’s a web app for that! For example, you can use Bubbl.us to create mind maps on your computer. With the free version, you get to make three maps, which can help you tackle a lot of your planning.

3. Create A Future Planning Pinterest Board

Pinterest is a great place to collect inspiration for just about anything, including your future plans.

To get started:

• Create a board and title it something like “Future Plans” or “My Dreams.”
• From there, start pinning images that inspire you, whether they’re quotes about reaching your goals or pictures of the lifestyle you want to have.
• You can also find other boards with similar content and follow them for even more inspiration.

4. Write Your Own SMART Goals

You may have heard of SMART goals before, but in case you’re unfamiliar, here’s a quick overview.

A SMART goal is… a specific, measurable, achievable, relevant and time-bound goal.

You see, a goal without a plan is simply a wish. So, if you want to make your future plans a reality, it’s important to set SMART goals.

Here’s an example:

Let’s say your goal is to be a business owner. This may sound great, but it could be more specific.

So, let’s revise it to make it SMART:

“I will start my own online store within the next six months. To do this, I will create a business plan, research the best e-commerce platforms, and save up $2000 to kick start my business.”

See how much better that sounds?

This new goal is specific, measurable, attainable, relevant, and time-bound. It gives you an action plan to follow. 

When you first start writing SMART goals, try just one at a time. That way, you can get a feel for how the process works. 

Need help figuring out which one to start with? Choose your top three goals and run it through the 10 10 10 rule to help you decide

5. Draw A Picture Of Your Future Self

This may sound a little bit childish, but drawing can be an effective way to plan for your future.

To get started:

• Sit down with a piece of paper and a pencil.
• Begin sketching a basic outline of a person.
• Add in any details you want, such as clothes, hairstyle, accessories, or anything else.

You can colour these elements or cut pictures out from a magazine and glue them on. Feel free to add any family members who will enjoy this future with you.

Once you complete the drawing, take a step back and really look at your creation.

• What does this image represent?
• What dreams and goals are revealed in your drawing? 

Use this picture as inspiration to plan for your future self. You can also get your kids involved and make this a family activity.

6. Create A Dream Jar

A dream jar is similar to a vision board in that it serves as a reminder of your aspirations, but instead of using pictures, you collect little things like trinkets or slips of paper with inspirational quotes written on them.

To make your own dream jar:

• Find a pretty jar or container
• Fill it with things that make you think of the future you want

Some examples:

• You might include a LEGO mini-figure of someone in your desired career path.
• Include a key to represent your dream home
• A keychain with the Eiffel Tower on it to express your desire to travel to Europe
• A slip of paper with your favourite inspirational quote

Whenever you’re feeling lost or unsure of your future, look inside your dream jar for inspiration. Pull out a few items and remember why you included them in the first place. 

Final Thoughts On Future Planning 

No matter where you are, it’s always a good idea to plan for your future.

By setting goals and working towards them, you can ensure that you’re always moving forward and making progress.

And remember, your plan can be imperfect. It can (and should) change as you grow and evolve.

Just keep revisiting your future plans and make adjustments as needed to improve your chances of success.

Do you have a plan for your future growth?

What are some of your goals? Share in the comments below!

Related Future Planning Resources:

• 125 Life Goals To Set and Achieve
• 70 Examples of Personal Goals To Set For Happiness
• 9 Types of Goal Setting Based on Different Areas of Life
• How To Set & Achieve Your Mental Health Goals