A Year From Now, You’ll Wish You Started These 12 Things Today

Life can be so busy and stressful that you get bogged down in day-to-day tasks and forget to work on long term goals. It’s easy to think you’ll start on something tomorrow, next week, or next semester. Eventually those small bits of procrastination add up to years of putting things off. Being personally guilty of everything on this list, I can tell you from experience: start doing these things today or you will regret it a year from now.

  1. Planning a vacation. The spontaneous road trip or flight to the Caribbean gets increasingly logistically impossible as you get older. Start planning now so child care, time off from work, and pet sitting is all squared away early. This helps minimize vacation stress and you will save money on flights by booking early!
  2. Going back to school. Going back to school can seem overwhelming or financially impossible. But even if you can squeeze in one class a semester, you’ll thank yourself a year from now for getting closer to your goals.
  3. Taking better care of your skin. Take your make up off before you go to bed. Exfoliate. Moisturize. Wear sunscreen. Repeat. When it comes to skin problems, prevention is easier than treatment.
  4. Eating healthy. Your metabolism starts to slow down in your early to mid-twenties, so start adjusting your eating habits now before an extra 5 pounds sneaks up on you. You’ll look and feel better AND have more energy.
  5. Exercising. Don’t be that friend who has to bail in the middle of dodge ball because you’re in way worse shape than you thought you were. When the days of team sports are behind you, replace that exercise with other physical activities. Check out some #transformationtuesday pics for motivation to hit the gym today.
  6. Saving money. Saving money can be just as fun as spending it! Just kidding, that’s absurd. But future you will be so happy to have a little nest egg for moving, investing, making large purchases, or a cushion for if you hit a rough patch.
  7. Paying off debt. Some student loans and credit card balances seem to never decline. When the majority of your payments are going to interest, paying a little extra every month is the only way to see a real change in your balance and increase your credit score.
  8. Waking up earlier. Waking up just 20 minutes earlier adds up to an extra 121 hours a year! Think of all you can get done!
  9. Getting organized. Being organized helps reduce stress and keeps your household running smoothly. Your mornings will be worry free if your closet is organized and your keys are always in their designated spot.
  10. Reading. If you’re slightly horrified at your answer when asked when the last time you read a book was, then this one is for you. Keep a book in your purse for when you have a few minutes to kill on the subway or in a waiting room. Resist the urge to text everyone you know instead!
  11. Volunteering/interning. If the job search is bumming you out, it’s time to pad your resume with volunteer or intern experience. No one in your field of choice is going to care how hard you’ve been working at T.G.I.Friday’s, so trade in a shift or two for something that screams “related experience.”
  12. Taking “me time”. Self-care is often put on the shelf until a more convenient time. It may seem like a luxury you don’t have time for, but “me time” is essential in preventing exhaustion. Take some relaxation time now and avoid massive burn out later.
Holly Harris is a freelance writer, full time student, and mommy to a toddler sass monster. In her (nearly nonexistent) free time, you can find her lifting something heavy in her home gym or chugging vodka sodas with friends. She contributes to several other sites, including Elite Daily.
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