Poet Robert Burns wrote, “The best laid schemes of mice and men often go awry.” While plans can make some things easier, it’s not good to rely too heavily on them. It can set us up for disappointment if something goes wrong along the way. While it’s definitely good to plan for some things, such as retirement and college, others are best left unplanned. It might surprise you how easily you can get by without a plan at all.
1. You’ll worry too much.
Plans are made for ultimately one reason: to see it through to the end successfully. If you’re worrying constantly about making sure your plan goes smoothly and just how you want it to, you might want to ease back on your planning. With some things, it’s easier to just let things go along. That way, you can relax and enjoy the experience.
2. You won’t see alternatives.
Often, plans are too rigid. They don’t allow for changes. Somewhere along the way, you might run into something that would work out better for you than what you had originally planned. Plans that are too rigid might keep you from making a better decision, simply because the alternatives aren’t a part of your original plan.
3. You might be disappointed with the outcome.
Your plans might get your hopes up too high. If you find yourself stressing out about what you’ll do if your plans don’t go as you want them to, you might be too disappointed in the event that they go a bit awry. Setting out on something without a plan gives you the freedom to simply look forward to the outcome, and you’ll rarely find yourself getting disappointed this way.
4. You could get too controlling.
It can be nice to take the reigns, but doing so too often can lead to major stress down the road. Let someone else take over for a while. You’ll feel much better, and you’re certainly less likely to feel the pressure of being in charge. Even the most controlling people need a break every so often.
5. It’s possible your plans will get derailed.
Things happen. That’s just the way the world works. If you have too many plans going on at once, it’s entirely possible that they won’t work out. Staying flexible allows you to modify your plans as needed, as well as ensures that your expectations aren’t too high.
6. You might get trapped.
Making too many plans could bind you. If your plans are set and something happens that necessitates a change, you might not be able to. Keeping things open allows you the luxury of moving things around if you need to. You never know what might come up, for good or for bad, so it’s always nice to have some wiggle room.
7. You’re more likely to feel isolated.
Plans could isolate you from your friends and family. Often, it’s not easy to keep others in your life if you’re too focused on seeing your plans through. Make sure you open up your life to others and their plans, as well. People are more willing to be around someone who doesn’t feel the need to be controlling all of the time, and simply letting others take the lead will show them that you trust them.
8. You might have less fun.
Let’s say you’re going on vacation and have everything planned, from sunup to sundown. If you’re worrying about making sure you stay on schedule, you’re not going to be able to have fun in the process. It’s good to have some things planned, such as transportation and hotels, but leave some things open. Go where the day takes you.
Featured photo credit: Teresa Robinson via flickr.com
