I used to function on a three year turnover. After about three years, I’d start to feel stale in my life and my work - and even my relationships - and make a change. In my late teens and early twenties this wasn’t really a problem. People expected me to fleet around to different cities (err countries) and different jobs. It’s generally accepted as a time of self-exploration, so explore away.

However, I knew as I got older this would have to change. What took a while to click for me, was that this would actually be a shift from short term goals and short term rewards, to longer term ones.

1. Dive in - don’t overthink it

I’m aware how this is about to sound but… I did not think buying a house would be such a long term goal. I have the mindset that you can always sell or rent a house and it doesn’t tie you to a place permanently. Which was how I approached our home purchase, which also happened to be a renovation project. I innocently and blissfully thought we’d smash out all the renovation within a year, whilst hiring ZERO help (we re-wired the electrics of this house ourselves). LOL to that version of myself. I just want to give her a little hug and say, “aww isn’t that a sweet” and then smack her in the head.

So without really realizing it, I threw myself into the deep end of one of my biggest long term goals to date. It was not a conscious decision - it was actually the furthest thing from. After a turbulent few months, we looked a house ‘for fun’ and before we knew it we were home owners.

But I don’t know if I would have done it had I thought too hard. If I hadn’t dove in head first, and had more time to analyze the finances or really understand what it took to do a full renovation, I likely would have stalled or backed out.

Make the plunge into a new long term goal. Dive straight in, even if you haven’t thought through every detail (or any detail for that matter). If you’re hesitant or reluctant, you can easily think your way out of it. Even if you go in starry eyed and figure out the details later, sometimes that has to be the way to make a big change.

2. Hone in on a five year plan

Now I’m not saying you have to stick to it, but you need to at least know which direction on the map you’re heading.

After you’ve done #1 and taken a long term goal plunge, it’s an opportunity to thing of how your other life goals fit into that. Sit down and envision where you want to go in career, relationship, family, hobbies, location, etc. in the next few years. Get clear on this, and then move towards those things.

Holding a few key goals first and foremost has been the thing that’s helped propel myself and my husband forward. When we feel stuck, or at a crossroads with a decision, we check in with how it relates to our five year goals. Does it get us closer or not?

3. Focus on bigger pain, bigger gain mindset

If you want bigger things in life, they’re going to take more. More time, more effort, more discipline, etc. It really is that simple. Tap into this mindset when it gets hard.

4. Stay steady

It’s a hard transition, and won’t be nearly as fun as living for the next fun thing around the corner.

I was someone who saved up money to spend it all on travel. Someone who took a jobs based on whether they were in a cool country. Transitioning to someone who stays in a steady job and slowly builds up my skillset so that my next move will catapult me further than before - it hasn’t been easy. Refer back to your five year plan, focus on the bigger gains to come, and just keep your head down.

Also, if I keep doing what I’ve always done, I won’t get anywhere new. Be committed to getting somewhere new.

Are short term goals better than long term ones?

To be determined! I have yet to see these long term goals fully pan out for me, but I do know that they have given purpose to the mundane in daily life.

Although I’m the last person who will tell you to put away all your money for retirement (example being: my life), you do need a few north starts to guide you. Things that go beyond saving up for your next vacation. These are what actually make the mundane meaningful: when daily life leads up to something bigger. It also forces you to examine if that mundane actually is building up to your bigger goals. If not, then you can change things up.

At the end of the day, it’s all about balance. Short term goals keep you excited and engaged with your life. Long term goals ensure those short term ones are adding up to something meaningful.