I am listing five because that happens to be my favorite arbitrary number for a listicle.
Just kidding!
The following insights have been drawn from my eternal struggle with these five elements.
I can also do more, but at some point beyond 5, you will either start losing interest or start building your own list in your head.
So, what are they? They are:
- Financial Literacy: You will ignore your dad’s sermons about savings and frugality when you’re young. But your mid-twenties would be the age you magically start understanding the importance of compounding and reducing debt, your 30s will be spent fantasizing about amassing a large fortune to plan an early retirement. To realize this vision, learning concepts like budgeting, investing, and debt management early on can significantly impact long-term financial well-being.
- Time Management: I share a love-hate relationship with time management. I will be extra early for the things I love, and would need multiple cups of tea and coffee for a task I have been dreading. However, as deadlines loom closer and opportunities slip away, you have to acknowledge your challenges and commit to being better. Learning to prioritize tasks, rewarding myself for the less appealing tasks, setting realistic goals & commitments and allocating time efficiently is essential for maximizing productivity and reducing stress.
- Emotional Intelligence: It’s only when you find yourself in the midst of a personal or professional setback that you realize the importance of life skills to help you navigate life’s many challenges and be resilient in the face of uncertainties. And of course, this is closely linked with mental health and well being. One thing that I learnt ( and found my learning reinforced through Inside Out)is the importance of sadness to appreciate happiness. I used to fake happiness when all I wanted to do was hide under the covers and cry out loud. Now I just do that instead of faking it!
- Career Planning: You may have been content with your chosen career until unexpected circumstances forced you to reevaluate your career trajectory. Suddenly, the significance of proactive career planning & transferrable skills becomes apparent. Exploring your passions, identifying your strengths, and setting clear career goals are essential steps toward shaping a fulfilling and rewarding career path.
- Fitness & Nutrition: From eating only home made food in childhood( thank my mum for that) to gorging on junk food throughout my college and early professional lives, I can vouch for the damaging impact of an unhealthy diet on your health and overall fitness. Sure I workout regularly but my untamed obsession with junk food persists.
So, these are the five things that people should imbibe in their lives before it’s too late, because unlike cats, we only get one life!
Fingers in symphony 