I am looking at the calendar and can’t believe it is the end of June. The time is FLYYYYING ✈️. Half a year is OVER. And that means in about a month, I am turning 40… To remind me of this special occasion, I received a letter from Deutsche Rentenversicherung (German Pension Insurance) stating my retirement will start in 2050. The letter also gave me an idea of how much my expected monthly retirement amount is, and let me tell you, these numbers were NOT uplifting. Certainly, working until 67 is something I simply cannot envision at this moment.
Even though I want to say, “Age is just a number,” but is it? Who from us wouldn’t have met people who are 20 but acting like 50 and people who are 50 but acting like 20? For sure, you can keep a young mindset, and if you eat and exercise well, have a healthy physique, but let’s face it: the older you get, the more challenging it becomes. OK, I know I am not turning 70 or 80, but 40 is considered mid-age for a reason. Here is what I have noticed when getting older:
- I am asking, “Am I running out of time?” more frequently in every possible context (career, finances, health, travels, home, family, etc.).
- Finances and retirement age. I feel like every decision I make now has to be a smart financial decision. There is no room to make a risky investment, quit a job without a plan, or spend money mindlessly -> this all makes it so much less fun. I have never been a huge spender, but I guess it is the thought of it that I always liked to play with.
- It is impossible to notice that I have less energy and more aches. Therefore, exercise is more important than ever for me (not that it comes easily). The only way to avoid painkillers is to move me daily for at least 1h. I am also starting to question if I should make all the long and exotic trips now.
- That’s a deep one: what am I going to leave behind? Also, does my life have meaning at all?
- I am starting to wonder how 20-year-olds perceive me I don’t know why this is important enough to write down here, but I cannot help to wonder if they think I am an old lady .
As always, I LOVE to give some tips in my blog posts. So here are a few reminders to anyone who is feeling they are running out of time:
- Be present. Time is relative. As we know, the future is not guaranteed. The only way to live to the fullest is to stay in the present. Thinking too much of the future (or of the past) is known to cause anxiety. Of course, you need to plan to a certain extent but be mindful of how much time you spend thinking vs. doing and enjoying the present.
- Check how many things you have on your daily to-do list. If we have more tasks than we can complete, we will always feel there is not enough time. Solution? Reduce the list by deleting, postponing, and delegating.
- Question what do you want from life, and when? Question why do you want these things by being brutally honest with yourself? Is this YOUR wish or somebody else’s?
- Are you clear on what your biggest goals are? Have you thought them through, or do you fantasize now and then without a plan of how to get there? We often start with a goal in our heads (hello, all daydreamers out there ) but never think that plan through till the end. Many loose ends can cause anxiety. Remember, the bigger the goal, the more milestones (sub-goals) it needs.
- What will these goals give you that you cannot give yourself now? Safety, love, connection, accomplishment – what do you desire?
- Get clear on your values and see if these are aligned with your goals. Knowing your values is a life-changing game that accelerates decisions and helps you navigate with much more ease.
- Reframe negative thoughts: instead of saying, “I am running out of time,” you can try, “I have plenty of time.” Instead of saying, “I hate not knowing what’s coming,” try, “So excited to see how it will play out!” Even if you don’t believe it, try it regardless, and see what you notice. Time doesn’t have to be your enemy!
- Accept that life is uncertain and not linear, and there is no way you can plan out your entire life. At the same time, this is the beauty of life.
- Stop taking life too seriously. Do things that you genuinely want to do. Have fun, laugh, and be silly.
- What is the worst-case scenario that can happen if you don’t achieve one of your life goals? For many, I can imagine having financial or chronic health issues, but if this is your fear, what can you do TODAY to reduce the risk of this happening to you? Why don’t you set up an investment fund or start exercising? If it is a goal like I never got to see Bora Bora, then what?
The future is unpredictable, but it is also in YOUR HANDS! Time flies, but YOU are the pilot. So, if you want to hit your goals, you need to take action and see how the anxiety starts disappearing.
Light & love,
Liis