Help Your Future Self
A small step today, a big gift tomorrow
Written by Jess, Edited by Jenna
Recently, Jenna and I were in a group meeting with students, and they were setting an action item for the following week. One student said she wanted to start packing for the summer, as her internship was not in LA. She still had two weeks of school left and was dreading the packing, but she knew getting started now would make her feel better. Jenna and I immediately looked at each other and said, “help your future self!”
“Help your future self” is a phrase I say constantly. Often to myself!
The idea is simple: do something today that tomorrow’s version of you will be grateful for. Even if “present you” is not feeling the excitement, think about how “future you” might feel. A little mental trick to ignite the motivation!
Maybe it’s spending a few minutes at night making lunches for the next day (yay to summer and a break from school lunch!). Or spending a few minutes cleaning dishes at night so the kitchen is clean in the morning. Or laying out workout clothes for the morning. Or writing a to-do list for tomorrow.
Helping your future self also comes alive at work. Putting a meeting on the calendar a few weeks in advance (our calendars fill up quickly!). Or drafting an email to send later. Or making notes in a presentation for a future workshop.
When it comes to the job search, helping your future self can also be super valuable. Oftentimes, students want to jump in and start applying (and applying!) to open roles. Totally understandable. It feels productive. But is it? Taking some time to think about your strategy and future goals goes a long way. Also, thinking proactively vs. reactively in the job search makes a huge difference.
This can happen in many ways. Creating a tracking sheet of companies you are interested in, even if there isn’t an open role currently posted. Thinking through connections you may have at those companies and reaching out to them to learn more. Having an updated and targeted resume in case someone asks you to forward it. Updating your LinkedIn profile to really capture who you are and what you are targeting. Compiling a list of interview stories that you may come across in an interview. And actually practicing them aloud!
No doubt life is busy. And yes, thinking ahead and helping your future self is sometimes impossible. But when you can, the best gift you can give yourself today is a little help for tomorrow!
Next step:
What’s one simple task you can do today that future you would thank you for?