Greetings, Dave
I’m 22 years old, enrolled in college, and I’ve already started saving money for my post-graduation future. My parents and I recently discussed my plans for when I acquire a real job and move out on my own. Though sometimes things can seem so daunting, they seem to think I’ll be alright. How do people prioritize and handle more mature obligations like marriage, investing, raising children, and everything else?
Kieran
To Kieran,
You’re right; if you consider all of these tasks as urgent, they might become overwhelming. You already know, though, that you don’t have to complete everything at once. Having a plan and looking to the future is fantastic, but you’re just 22. You have a lot of time to determine your priorities. Let’s just say that so far, you’ve done a fantastic job. Breathe deeply and unwind. Compared to most young people your age, you’re much ahead of the game, and you should be proud of what you’ve accomplished.
Now, all of the objectives you listed are admirable. While some of them can be daunting, you are not currently dealing with those. Completing college should be your first objective, in my opinion. You can then start examining the other items you stated one at a time when you graduate and start living alone. You can start saving for retirement as soon as you land a solid job. That first step might be a better vehicle if your car is on the verge of rolling over and dying. If you have a wonderful woman in your life, you may start thinking about getting married in the future.
Kieran, don’t let intimidation get to you. When you break things down into smaller parts and deal with each one separately, it’s usually easier to handle. How do you eat an elephant? is a humorous old saying that goes something like this. Bite by bit. Are you understanding me? It is impossible for anyone to accomplish four or five major tasks at once and complete them all to the best of their skills. List everything else in decreasing order of significance after deciding what is most important and placing it at the top. After doing this, proceed through the list, concentrate, and finish each one in order.
You’re a bright, driven young guy who has already achieved a great deal. I have a feeling that you can accomplish almost whatever you set your mind to!
Dave
