Some people have a plan. They know exactly where their life is going. Do you have a friend who has a ten year plan? 'Well after my undergrad, I'll do my H-Dip and then I'll get myself a nice teaching job, hopefully close to home and then I'll find someone to spend my life with and we'll have 2.5 kids and go to Lanzarote every summer.' We all have that friend. 2, 5, 10 year plans are great but do they ever really go to plan? We all know that life doesn't go by our rules so why do we panic if we haven't figured out where we're going by our early twenties? Sometimes, not having a path to follow can reap the most rewards and knowing that taking a risk isn't necessarily a bad thing. You don't have to be scared of the unplanned.
1. Not Having a Plan Means You Don't Have to go Down a Specific Route
"When you don't know where you're going any road will take you there", Lewis Carroll had the right idea. You can take any direction you like.
2. It Doesn't Mean You're A Slob
People will assume that you just sit at home and watch Jeremy Kyle all day. And so what if you do from time to time! They're just jealous! You are one of the rare ones to realise that doing nothing loses its appeal after a while. You learn how to utilise your time instead of constantly abiding by a schedule. Sometimes being the underdog can have its benefits.
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3. More Time For Travel
You don't have to be rich to travel the world. There are so many different ways you can get around the world now. Even if you don't know the language, you can get work!
4. You'll Have Shitty Jobs
You'll work in terrible places but that's not really a bad thing. When you don't get things handed to you, you learn how to deal with assholes and how important it is to eventually do something you love.
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5. You'll Gain More Experience
When you're not in the same circle of people all the time you gain so much more experience by being with people with different social circles and backgrounds. You'll also realise how hard it is to actually get a job.
6. You Grow A Backbone
Knowing how and when to say no is an essential lesson in life. You figure out what you're willing to put up with and how much you're worth.
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7. Eventually People Will Respect You
At the beginning, people will probably make fun of your life. You will be called a waster. A lot. In the end, you are the one who is figuring out what you want in life before you have any real responsibilities.
8. You Can Do As Many Internships as You Like
Like working in shitty jobs you have an opportunity to do a wide range of internships of all varieties. You figure out the differences between work relationships and friendships. College degrees aren't gold dust anymore so you need to stand out of the crowd when you do figure out what you want in life.
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9. You Learn How to Stand on Your Own Two Feet
When you don't have parents or teachers or lecturers telling you what to do, you realise what it's like to be responsible for your own decisions. You figure out how to amend bad ones and you learn from the good ones.
10. You Realise What You're Good At
You have time to figure out your strengths and weaknesses.
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11. You Get To Be That Cool Cultured Guy
When you eventually do get your shit together, you will have actual life experience. You won't be that person to look back at your life and say, 'Oh I wish!' You have the time and the freedom to do whatever you want. Don't waste it! Take that opportunity!
12. You Get To Act Like Child
While everyone else is out there, fulfilling their lives with goals and ambitions. You can make a fort, or go and have a water fight, maybe play some dress up. Basically you can act like a kid and no one will judge you because they already think you're a waster. Little do they know, that this is all part of your plan of world domination. So go out and drink at midday on a Wednesday afternoon! Live your life the way you want to live it and don't feel pressured by other people's idea of what your life should be. The 9 to 5 office job can wait a little longer. You will have your whole life to be a respectable member of society with responsibilities.
