6 Things You Can Do to Help Future You

Many of us fall into the habit of putting things off for a later time — procrastinating and saying, “That’s future me’s problem.” In fact, a staggering 20% of the population actively engages in habitual procrastination, and psychologists claim that it’s because we have a tendency to try and avoid doing things that we deem unpleasant.

Unfortunately, procrastinating and leaving things up to future you can have a massive impact on you, especially when it’s about your health. Procrastination has been found to be linked to a higher risk of cardiovascular disease and hypertension, and could trigger anxiety, depression, and rumination when done in excess.

Instead of putting things off for future you, why not do future you a favor? There are a number of things you can start doing today that will help you down the line — and they don’t even have to be all that involved or unpleasant! Here are just some of the things you can do to help future you:

Get enough sleep

You’d be surprised how much impact getting enough sleep can have on not just your body, but your mood as well. About 1 in 4 adults reportedly fail to get enough sleep every night, often due to poor sleep hygiene, chronic stress, and a more sedentary lifestyle. Getting enough sleep is easier said than done, of course — we live busy lives, and we may often
find that we don’t have enough hours in the day to do everything that needs to be done and get enough sleep. Practicing proper sleep hygiene — avoiding caffeine, alcohol, and nicotine
before bed; reducing noise in your sleeping environment; and maintaining a regular bedtime – can be a huge help in accomplishing this.

Declutter

Clutter — and mess, generally — can have a negative impact on your mental health. Clutter can annoy you, distract you, and cause feelings of stress, fatigue, and depression.

Decluttering may be something that you’ll want to put off for a later, but getting over the initial unpleasantness can help future you a lot. Decluttering reduces stress and leads to better sleep, too! However, it’s a long process that you’ll want to slowly chip away at. Take things one step at a time and slowly declutter your space. Future you will thank you for it!

Be more cautious with money

You may not realize it, but money (and worrying about money) can be a huge source of stress for many of us. By setting aside money for emergencies, managing spending, and making good investments, you can slowly ease financial anxiety.

A good rule of thumb is to build an emergency savings pool that can cover 3 to 6 months of essential expenses, and to make smart, cautious investments that are sure to pay off in the long run. Invest in a registered retirement savings plan (RRSP) and don’t withdraw the funds until you actually retire. This is to avoid the fees that are a result of withdrawing your RRSP early, such as higher taxes and administrative fees. Purchase a house when you can, but make sure that your housing payments don’t exceed 35% of your gross monthly income. This way, you can build better financial habits that future you can benefit from.

Don’t stop learning

The best thing you can invest in is yourself, and if you want to secure your future, you should never stop learning.

This doesn’t necessarily mean getting a post-graduate degree — although higher educational attainment has been found to lead to lower unemployment rates. After all, learning can be
achieved everywhere. From reading new books to experiencing new things, or even just engaging in conversations with different people, it’s possible to learn something new every day.

Go natural

It may be more convenient to rely on products made with harsh chemicals, but these can have long-term effects for both you and the environment!

Always opt for natural solutions whenever you can. Eat organic food and shop sustainably, as this can also help support local farmers. Choose natural cleaning solutions for your home, as using store-brand chemicals could wear on your furniture much faster than natural alternatives. Use natural beauty and skincare products too -- they may seem more expensive at face value, but the long-term savings and effects they'll have will have future you thanking you for making the switch!

Maintain your property

The importance of maintaining your home can't be emphasized enough. Whether you plan to live in it or are intending to sell it at some point in the future, a well-maintained home can
make all the difference.

Don't put off repairs when the need arises. Always clean out your gutters, fix leaking pipes, and unclog your bathroom drain. There's nothing more frustrating than realizing that you could
have averted disaster had you spent a few minutes repairing something when you first noticed it was broken. Maintaining your home, furniture, and appliances not only increases the value of your home, but also saves you headaches down the line.

By doing these things and tackling things as they come instead of putting them off for later, future you can enjoy the benefits of all your hard work.

Specially written for balancerealestategroup.com
By: Rosalie Jaen