Should You Plan Your Future?

With Elliot & Stella

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Does Planning Ahead Help Reduce Stress in the Long Term?

Elliot - Do you think planning ahead actually helps reduce stress later on, or can it just make things worse?

Stella - I think planning can help a little, but not too much. If you plan everything out perfectly, it can reduce stress as long as everything goes to plan. But we both know life never goes according to plan. Like, you can spend all this time working out the details, and then something happens—like you lose your job, or something unexpected comes up—and suddenly all your plans are ruined.

It’s like you feel like you’ve wasted so much time planning something that didn’t work out. It actually makes things worse because now you’re stressed about trying to fix something you thought was perfect. Sometimes it’s better to have a basic idea of what you want, but be open to changes.

Exactly. It’s easy to get caught up in the plan, but sometimes you need to let life surprise you. The problem with over-planning is that you get stuck in the mindset of thinking everything has to go a certain way, and when it doesn’t, you panic. That’s why I think you should be ready for changes. Having some flexibility can help a lot.

Passion vs. Money

Do you think teens should follow their passions or focus on high-paying jobs?

I’d say passion all the way. But at the same time, you can’t ignore the money side of it. Passion doesn’t always pay the bills, so it’s important to find a balance. Imagine working a job that really stresses you out and you end up unwell and unable to continue your job, you’d have no income coming in and potentially you would also have extra costs associated with trying to get yourself functioning again.

Yeah, it’s hard to find that balance. You can’t just follow your passion without thinking about the financial side of things. But at the same time, if you’re not doing something you enjoy, what’s the point?

And some people get stuck in jobs they don’t care about because they think money is the only thing that matters. But once they’re in that job, they realize that it doesn’t bring happiness.

It’s important to understand that just because a job is high-paying doesn’t mean it’s going to be fulfilling. Passions can also complement jobs, as not everyone is able to turn their passion into a career. For example, not everyone has the skill to play soccer professionally, even if they love it.

Fixed Plans vs. Flexibility

Do you think having a set plan for your future is a good idea, or is it better to stay flexible and see where things go?

I think flexibility is way more important. Sure, having a plan is great, but if you’re too stuck on one path, you miss out on other opportunities that might come your way. Life’s always changing, and it’s hard to predict everything that’s going to happen.

Yeah exactly. If you’re too rigid, you just keep going down a path that doesn’t really suit you anymore. Staying open to change helps you figure out what actually makes sense for you.

And also, opportunities sometimes come at random. If you’ve planned everything out already, you might miss that job offer or the chance to travel or even just something small that could open up your future in ways you didn’t expect.

Discovering Your Purpose

Do you think teens should spend all their time trying to find their “purpose” or should they focus on just figuring out what they like?

Honestly, I think it’s a bit of both. You don’t need to spend every second looking for your “purpose” like it’s this big thing you have to figure out. But it’s good to explore and see what you like doing. Your purpose might not be some grand thing—it could just be something you enjoy or something you’re good at.

Yeah, I get that. Trying to figure out your purpose sounds like too much pressure. I think it’s more about figuring out what makes you happy, and the purpose will come later. If you spend all your time stressing over it, it might just make things harder.

Exactly. I mean, you’re still growing, and you’ve got time to figure it out. It’s not like you’re supposed to have everything figured out by 18. You can have a purpose, but it might change as you get older and discover more things.

Do you think your parents have an impact say in what career you pick?

I think they can offer advice, but ultimately it’s up to you. They might want you to do something because it’s “safe” or because they think it’s the best option, but if you’re not into it, it’s not going to work out. It’s your life, and you have to be the one to live it.

Yeah, parents sometimes push what they think is best for you, but that doesn’t mean it’s the right thing for you.

Exactly. Parents can influence, but they shouldn’t decide everything for you. You’ve gotta figure out what’s right for you, and if that means going against what they want, so be it.