Do you ever feel stressed thinking about your future?
Feeling nervous about starting new chapters in your life is natural.
But the fact that you’re thinking ahead is a great start.
You might already have clear goals and ambitions. Or you might still be exploring different interests and pursuits.
Either way, it’s never too early to prepare for the journey ahead.
In this article, I’ll explain 7 things you can do as a teenager to set the stage for a fulfilling future.
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1. Build communication skills
Learning how to communicate helps you convey your thoughts and opinions better. It also allows you to resolve conflicts, give and receive feedback, and persuade others.
The good news is that you don’t have to be an extrovert or social butterfly to be able to communicate well. Research has shown that it’s a skill that anyone can develop.
Here’s how you can work on building your communication skills:
- Practice active listening without interrupting or jumping to conclusions
- Stay focused on what the person is saying rather than thinking about what you want to say next
- Try to face the speaker, maintain good eye contact, and avoid crossing your arms
- Practice being brief and concise whenever you speak
- Put away distractions, such as your phone, during every conversation
Start by applying one or two of these tips to your daily interactions with others.
2. Set clear, actionable, and process-based goals
Goal-setting is crucial as it has a massive impact on life outcomes.
Here are some tips to keep in mind if you want to set effective goals:
- Set specific short-term and long-term goals. Shorter-term targets can be achieved within a week, a month, or even a year, while longer-term ones could take several years to complete. You may have big dreams and great ideas. The key to achieving them is knowing how to break these long-term goals into practical and smaller ones.
- Create actionable process-based goals. An outcome-based goal would be to “get selected for the basketball team.” Instead of focusing on these types of outcome-based goals, create process-based goals like “practice five specific dribbling drills for half an hour every day” or “run intervals for half an hour every other day.”
- Set up repeatable systems and processes. For example, if your goal is to learn a new language, your systems could include how to practice and immerse yourself in the language.
- Make sure your goals are realistic and achievable. Researchers have discovered that those who believe they can achieve their goals are more likely to achieve them. Try to have realistic and progressive goals that naturally become harder as you gain more experience and skills.
3. Nurture healthy daily habits
The health-related choices you make now will affect your well-being in the long run.
Good habits take time to build, so it’s never too early to start optimizing these core pillars of health:
- Exercise. It’s recommended that teenagers should exercise for at least 60 minutes on most days of the week. Explore different sports and workouts so you can find something you enjoy!
- Nutrition. Include more whole grains, vegetables, fruits, and healthy proteins in your diet. At the same time, limit your intake of junk food and food with lots of added sugars.
- Sleep. Teenagers should get 8 to 10 hours of sleep a day. Having a regular sleep schedule and keeping the bedroom dark, cool, and quiet helps to create a conducive environment for sleep.
- Mental health. Some stress-relief methods include breathing or relaxation exercises. You can also build a support system of friends and family you trust.
4. Cultivate an attitude of lifelong learning
Building a growth mindset is the best way to nurture the desire to learn. A person with this mindset believes that skills and positive traits can be learned and developed.
To develop this mindset and grow your love for learning, try implementing the following tips:
- Accept your mistakes and view them as opportunities to learn
- Embrace challenges and get outside your comfort zone often
- Cultivate the curiosity to explore different skills, topics, and hobbies
- Make time to delve into various courses and workshops
- Be kind to yourself in the way you talk to yourself about your shortcomings
- Be open and humble enough to accept criticism and feedback
5. Develop financial literacy
Financial literacy can be divided into several main areas: saving, budgeting, investing, and managing finances.
Some simple ways to get started on improving your financial literacy skills include:
- Creating a budget. Many experts recommend the 50/30/20 rule. This rule states that 50% of your allowance or earnings should go to needs, 30% to wants, and 20% to savings (as well as donations).
- Starting your own savings account. You can get your parents to go with you to a bank to start your own savings account. This can help you build the habit of saving and teach you to handle your money early on.
- Tracking your spending. It’s easy to go overboard when you don’t keep tabs on your expenses. You can use a personal finance app, spreadsheet, or even a physical journal to keep track of what you spend money on each day.
6. Gain work experience
Work experience is invaluable and will help you develop skills like teamwork, communication, and time management.
There are several methods of gaining work experience, including the following:
- Doing a part-time job
- Doing an internship
- Volunteering at a non-profit organization
- Offering services like dog sitting or babysitting
If you need help finding job opportunities, you can seek the advice of your school counselor, teachers, or parents.
7. Become a self-starter and build a strong work ethic
Many teenagers are used to depending on threats, consequences, and reminders from their parents or teachers to “force” them to do what they ought to. This mindset can continue into adulthood.
To counter this, you can start building a self-starter mindset and learn to keep yourself motivated and committed.
Think about meaningful activities you can start taking up. Do you want to learn a new language or pick up a new skill like coding or video editing?
Then, find online courses, articles, or resources to help you achieve those goals. Take the initiative to create a schedule and break down your goals into specific tasks or routines.
Along the way, be sure to celebrate your wins and progress. This will boost your confidence in your abilities, making it easier to be a self-starter in all your future undertakings.
Conclusion
It can be difficult and sometimes even scary to think about the future and the various paths you can take.
And while you can’t predict the future, the actions you take now can ensure you’re as adequately prepared for it as possible.
The changes you make now, though small, can add up and enable you to build a bright and promising future.
Of course, you can’t expect success overnight. But your future self will thank you for the steps you’re taking today to invest in your education, health, financial literacy, and more!
(If you haven’t already done so, download your free quick action guide below.)
FREE QUICK ACTION GUIDE:
Get your FREE copy of
12 Guaranteed Ways for Students to Improve Focus and Reduce Procrastination.
The guide has already been downloaded thousands of times, so don't miss out!
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