The 2024 Summer Olympics are here! Whether it’s watching special ceremonies, cheering on the athletes from your home country, or simply enjoying your favorite sporting events, there’s something for everyone this August. It’s hard not to admire the athleticism shown by the top athletes from all over the world. However, anyone can tell you that they didn’t get to their pro level overnight. It took them many years of hard work and effort, maybe even starting out small in the beginning before upping their trainings’ intensity levels. Nevertheless, these athletes were able to get over any initial fear or apprehension they had for training for such an impressive goal, and made the steps to reach where they are as we watch their performances today.
With their power, grace, skill, and speed, these athletes seem superhuman, and we can forget they are people like us. But what makes them able to reach their goals? Former Olympian Mia Hamm, a two-time gold medalist for soccer, once said of her training that “I am building a fire, and everyday I train, I add more fuel. At just the right moment, I light the match.” While we may not have the end goal to become the world’s top fencer or fastest sprinter, we can still learn how to overcome our own hurdles in order to take the steps for a safer and securer future for ourselves and our families.
What gets in the way of planning?
Unfortunately, procrastination can get in the way of us trying to reach our goals. There’s no doubt that we’ve all tried to plan ahead for our future selves at all stages in our life—studying for an exam, eating healthier, saving for retirement—only to meet the hurdle of procrastination.
According to researchers, there may be several reasons as to why we put off important tasks. One reason may be that we often downplay how difficult certain tasks in the future would be. An experiment by the Paris Brain Institute asked participants to fill out difficult and boring paperwork. The result showed that “the hallmark of procrastination severity was how much each individual believed the tasks would be less effortful in the future by making certain choices.”
Besides underestimating the amount of effort required to complete a task, the disconnect between our current self and our future self can also get in the way of planning. A marketing professor from UCLA noted that people who felt closer to their future selves had more money saved up. People that were more prone to procrastinate felt less connected to their future selves, which also led to them being less compassionate to themselves.
How can we get over our procrastination hurdles?
One way in which you can prepare for the future is by starting your last will and testament. This document allows you to determine how you want your assets to be distributed and taken care of in the event of your passing, which can be a big help to your family by freeing them of any confusion that can come with stressful times. A last will and testament also empowers you to nominate a guardian for your minor children and can lower the taxes on the property and money you leave behind. So how can you combat procrastination and get started on your preparations for the future? Let’s take a look at some ways to get over hurdles and apply these methods for your own future planning.
Firstly, as mentioned before, you can connect better with your future self—and those that will benefit from your planning. Envision your family in the future in the event of your passing. Imagine how different their lives would be if you thought ahead and had an up-to-date legal will and life insurance in place. Then imagine what might happen if you didn’t think ahead. Would they be able to keep the house you currently live in? Would your children be able to attend college? Would your spouse be able to afford child care? The more realistic and vivid the scenario that you picture, the more likely you may be to start your future planning now rather than later.
You can also keep your last will and testament in mind and remember the task at hand. After all, it’s hard to start something if you forget it in the first place! Setting reminders and small milestones to help finish your future planning ensures you’re reaching your bigger goal, adding more fuel before you light your fire. One way to start is by subscribing to the Protect My Family newsletter and following our social media, where you can receive tips, tricks, and reminders about preparing for the future!
We at Protect My Family want to help you overcome barriers that might prevent you from starting your last will and testament. That’s why we’re offering you our No Cost Law Last Will and Testament Kit that you can sign up for. Let’s beat procrastination today and go for gold!
