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Original poster

Do you have a five year plan? Is that a thing in real life? That real people do?

53 replies

MsCunk · 04/03/2023 20:29

If I went back in time to speak to my 2018 self, there's simply no way she would believe the 2023 reality. Too many changes to list, but include big ones like leaving a religion, divorcing, and coming out as lesbian.

I've no intentions of making any drastic changes within the next 5 years, but who knows really. My plans include getting a house in the country and possibly chickens. Ageing gracefully. Potentially more sleep, but this is never a certainty.

Do you have any firm plans you'd like to execute in your life during the next 5 years, or is this merely a terrible interview question and not worth one's time considering?

OP posts:
rootsandwings89 · 04/03/2023 20:34

Yes I've always had either 3 year or 5 year plans. I think it's a great thing to do to stay focused on what you want, you just have to make sure you live in the moment too. In the last 3 years I have relocated, bought a house, got a dog, had a 2nd baby, am studying towards a degree and got a job in the industry I wanted. In the next 5 years, I want to graduate, get a promotion, move to a bigger (hopefully forever) home, paid off all our debt and start travelling a bit more again.

I

chipsandpeas · 04/03/2023 20:39

i only have a 3-5 year plan when it comes to holidays

EmmaEmerald · 04/03/2023 20:39

I know a few very successful clients have had these, but I tend to assume they have them for business and personal goals, you can't factor in the random stuff.

MunchMonster · 04/03/2023 20:41

Yeah I have a plan for where I'd like my business to be, what studies I'd like to do and I think about what stage my children will be at school and how that effects my working and studying hours

SnapBang · 04/03/2023 20:42

Always

helpfulperson · 04/03/2023 20:48

as a PP I certainly have a 5 year plan for holidays. I also have a five year countdown plan to retirement at the moment, but generally no

Emptycrackedcup · 04/03/2023 20:50

If you don't have a plan, plan to go no where ... but also, life is what happens when you're busy making plans 💁‍♀️

ZebraKid71 · 04/03/2023 20:52

Not for me, I'm lucky if I can plan for the year! I've had three kids and 2 promotions in the past 5 years - none of which were really planned and i would actually be really happy to be in a similar state to where I am right now in 5 years time (just with no childcare bills and a bit more sleep!).

butterfliedtwo · 04/03/2023 20:52

Yes, I used to. Then covid hit. Now it's a month at a time. That's just life right now.

However, it's a good idea. Especially with businesses.

CherrySocks · 04/03/2023 20:56

I've had plans like that in the past, which gave me some sense of direction / structure - but life is a funny mixture of things we can and can't predict, things we can influence and things that happen.

BigLittleOwl · 04/03/2023 20:57

I don’t even have a tomorrow plan. Life changes too much to have a plan for the next 5 years. Goals, sure. But not plans

CherrySocks · 04/03/2023 20:58

Current vague plan - don't consider moving home until after the cats die.

byvirtue · 04/03/2023 20:59

I used to make 5 year plans in my twenties. I’ve achieved everything now and have zero plans. Quite happily living in the moment seeing where life takes me after years of relentlessly pursuing my goals.

surlycurly · 04/03/2023 21:01

I do. It's tends to be quite flexible though, to adapt to changing circumstances. I thinks it's good to have something to work towards. I do love a goal.

Cupofteaaa5 · 04/03/2023 21:02

Nope. I barely plan more than a few weeks ahead. The only plan I have is getting married next year, as we've booked a venue. I just live week to week, month to month.

Mademetoxic · 04/03/2023 21:04

I just wing life 🤷‍♀️ I've got plans to visit particular places within a certain timeframe but that's about it as far as plans go. 🤷‍♀️

Buildingthefuture · 04/03/2023 21:07

I do in my working life, but I’m self employed. I’m business planning at the minute and I looked back at the business plan I did 9 years ago, and I’m pretty much on track (slightly delayed due to sodding covid!). But, that’s business. My personal life? Not so much 🤦‍♀️🤦‍♀️🤦‍♀️

FatAgainItsLettuceTime · 04/03/2023 21:08

I have my next 2 promotions/pay rises plotted out, a qualification I will achieve and a list of home improvements I'll get done.

Soopermum1 · 04/03/2023 21:12

Financially, yes. For when my low rate mortgage runs out in 4 years time. I'm building savings to do work that needs to be done on my house and hopefully have some left over to pay off a little bit of the mortgage at the end of the term in addition to the mortgage payments. Rather dry, but I'm nearly 50 and need to tackle my huge mortgage, courtesy of ex H.

Paturday · 04/03/2023 21:15

Omg yeah definitely!

I’ve always had a 5 year plan of my own and me and DH have a joint one too! Along with daily, quarterly, annual plans etc. Never anything written down or formal but just a mental idea.

I’ve always achieved more than what was on my plans though. It’s a general guide for what I’m working towards.

Oneofakind1 · 04/03/2023 21:15

I always used to make 3-5 year plans - finances, career, family, home, personal and social life.

None of it ever happened! (Big things happened in my life that I didn’t foresee.)

Oneofakind1 · 04/03/2023 21:16

I used to write it all in a big book!

jay55 · 04/03/2023 21:16

Never had one. I don't even make New Year's resolutions.

Thestresssolution · 04/03/2023 21:16

I'll just be very grateful if everything is still the same tbh, I'm extremely happy. Like to have paid off more of my mortgage maybe. Have travelled loads in my life but still a few places left I'd like to see. Too many people around me having life changing news, getting to that age where there's a lot of bad health news too close to home and it's frightening.

rattlinbog · 04/03/2023 21:17

Always!