Future vs. Present-oriented mindset

Mastering the art of mindset: Achieving balance in work and life

You often hear phrases like “Life is short” or “You only live once.” And you also hear phrases “"Failing to plan is planning to fail” or “A goal without a plan is just a wish.”

It seems reasonable to follow either side. Life is full of conflicting advices. You wonder which one to choose.

These are the typical sayings of two kinds of people: one who loves living in the moment and one who loves making plans? We all have different ways of approaching life, and these can be boiled down to two main mindsets: present-oriented and future-oriented.

Both mindsets have their pros and cons, and can significantly affect our personal development and career choices. The trick is to find a balance that suits you. In this blog, we'll look at how to use these two mindsets to enhance your productivity and happiness. So, whether you're a "live-in-the-moment" or a “future-looking” type, read on to find out more!

What are the differences?

People with a future-oriented mindset have a focus on the future and a drive to achieve their long-term goals. They prioritize their actions based on how they will affect their future.

On the other hand, people with a present-oriented mindset prioritize actions based on what will bring them the most pleasure or satisfaction in the present. They focus on the here and now, rather than the future, and prioritize immediate gratification.

Let's discuss how these mindsets affect both your personal and professional life.

Pros and Cons

Present-oriented mindset

People who focus on enjoying the present moments often share these common traits.

Pros

• Life Enjoyment: They often experience greater joys in their daily lives by fully immersing themselves in the current moment. You will see their frequent updates of their lifestyles on social media. The COVID-19 pandemic has led many people to reevaluate their priorities and seek out more meaningful experiences in their lives. There has been a recent shift towards prioritizing experiences and personal fulfillment over material possessions, particularly in millennials and Gen Z.

• Flexibility: They are are often more adaptable and spontaneous when it comes to change. It’s their strength to help them easily and quickly adapt with the new requirements in any matters. Flexibility is a valuable trait. In the workplace, it can help them navigate unexpected changes and challenges, making them invaluable members of a team. In personal life, it can contribute to a more dynamic social life.

• Detail-oriented: These individuals have a tendency to concentrate on the current tasks and, in order to complete them competently, they need to pay attention to the details. This can result in high-quality and precise output.

• Strong interpersonal skills: They tend to be outgoing and skilled at building social connections which makes their personal lives more vibrant. They can also easily form strong relationships with their coworkers at workplace. They can be highly effective at collaborating with others, building strong teams, and resolving conflicts.

Cons:

• Financial instability: People with a tendency to prioritize present enjoyment may overspend and fail to plan for the future, leading to financial instability. This is a common trait among this group of people, who have an unlimited desire to meet their lifestyle demands. Moreover, this trait is dangerous when unexpected events occur, as they may have no financial preparedness. The Covid-19 pandemic two years ago is an example of such an event, which caused sudden job loss for many people.

• Lack of long-term planning: They may struggle with setting long-term goals and planning for their future, both professionally and personally. This can lead to a lack of motivation and direction in the long run. Without a career roadmap, it is easy to become complacent in one's current position or miss out on potential opportunities. In today's world, nothing is secure or stable, including one's current job. Without a long-term plan for retirement or building a strong financial foundation, they may face financial issues that later on can cause frustration and feelings of being stuck in life.

• Tendency to procrastinate: Because present-oriented individuals are more focused on the moment, they may delay important tasks until the last minute. This can result in missed deadlines and lower-quality work.

• Difficulty with big-picture thinking: They can be good in quickly solving immediate issues but they have difficulty in seeing the bigger picture or thinking strategically about their work. They may struggle with envisioning how their work fits into the larger picture or long-term goals of the company or their career. This can make it difficult for them to advance in their careers or achieve their larger goals.

People who are focused on the present may be well-suited to jobs that involve interacting with people and require quick thinking and response. Examples include sales, customer service, hospitality, and creative fields.

Looking out into the world, we can find interesting examples of successful people with present-oriented mindset.

Mihaly Csikszentmihalyi, a psychologist and researcher, is known for his work on "flow" and the importance of being fully engaged in the present moment. He emphasizes the value of pursuing activities that bring a sense of flow and enjoyment, and he encourages people to focus on the present rather than worrying about the past or future. His research has shown that being in a state of flow can lead to greater creativity, productivity, and well-being.

Serena Williams, one of the most successful tennis players in history with 23 Grand Slam singles titles and 14 Grand Slam doubles titles. She has a remarkable ability to stay focused on the task at hand, regardless of the circumstances and distractions, both on and off the court. It also helps her to train the mentality to perform in the high pressure. For her, nothing matters more than winning, and she puts in her best effort in every match, always striving to achieve her goal.

Future-oriented mindset:

Future-oriented people tend to have a natural inclination towards planning, analyzing data, and setting long-term goals. Here are some pros and cons of future-oriented people.

Pros:

• Critical thinking skill and strategic planning ability: They have a clear vision of what they want to achieve, and they know how to plan and take the necessary steps to get there. This makes them valuable in many fields, including business, engineering, and law, where the ability to think ahead and anticipate potential challenges is highly valued.

• Self-discipline and motivation: As they have a clear vision and long-term goal, they tend to be highly self-disciplined and motivated. It makes them effective leaders who can inspire their teams to achieve challenging goals. They set high standards for themselves and their team, and they have the focus and determination to see things through to the end. This quality is particularly useful in fields where the ability to motivate and lead a team is essential, such as business, management, and entrepreneurship.

• Financial stability: Due to their long-term financial goals and motivation, future-focused individuals are more likely to make thoughtful and deliberate spending decisions, avoiding impulsive or short-term choices that could derail their financial plan.

Cons:

• Over analysis dependence: Future-oriented individuals may rely heavily on analysis and planning, which can lead to analysis paralysis. They may spend too much time analyzing, planning, and meeting, then don’t have enough time taking action. This can result in missed opportunities or delayed progress, especially in fast-paced environments.

• Discomfort with unexpected changes: They may struggle to adapt to changes which deviate from their plans as they have a strong focus on their long-term goals. This can be a disadvantage in fields that require flexibility, such as the creative industries. These people can be perceived as rigid and inflexible with changes.

• Struggle with work-life balance: They may prioritize their long-term goals over enjoying the present moment, which can lead to neglect of their personal life, health, and relationships. They may become overly focused on achieving their long-term objectives, sacrificing their overall well-being in the process. A clear trait of this group is that they prefer working and saving money rather than spending on social activities or entertainment.

Jobs that may be suited to future-oriented individuals include those that require planning and analysis, such as project management, strategic planning, financial analysis, or research. They may also excel in leadership roles and positions that require specialized knowledge or expertise.

Observing the world, we can find some examples of highly successful individuals who have a present-focused mindset.

Elon Musk, the founder of SpaceX, Tesla and Neuralink, is known for his futuristic vision and long-term planning. He has set ambitious goals for his companies, such as revolutionizing industries in space exploration, electric cars, artificial intelligence and making humanity an interplanetary species. He is known for taking risks to achieve those goals. His future-oriented mindset has helped him to become one of the most successful entrepreneurs in history.

Jeff Bezos, entrepreneur and founder of Amazon. Known for his bold vision and long-term thinking, including his focus on developing new technologies and business models that have transformed the retail industry. He had a clear vision of the future of e-commerce, and he worked tirelessly to make it a reality. Despite facing numerous challenges and setbacks, he remained committed to his long-term objectives and persevered through difficult times.

It is clear that both mindsets have advantages and disadvantages, whether in professional or personal life. Both mindsets always exist within a person, but the prominence of each one can vary. Based on the Eisenhower Matrix (also known as the Urgent-Important Matrix), I recommend using different mindsets for different activities to maximize outcomes while managing time for other activities in life.

Eisenhower Matrix

This matrix can be illustrated in this picture.

This matrix categorizes tasks into four quadrants:

1. Urgent and Important: Tasks in this quadrant are high-priority and require immediate attention. To handle such tasks with maximum efficiency, it is essential to approach them with a future and present-oriented mindset. This involves careful planning, prioritization, and focus on ensuring the most effective use of time and resources.

2. Important but Not Urgent: Tasks in this quadrant are also high-priority but do not require immediate action. They may not have an impact in the short term but will highly affect you in the long term. It is recommended to allocate specific time slots in your calendar to prioritize thinking and planning over day-to-day activities.

3. Urgent but Not Important: Tasks in this quadrant are low-priority but require immediate attention. These tasks should be approached with a present-oriented mindset, which involves staying focused on the task at hand and avoiding distractions. It does not require you to directly do everything, but delegation can be a help in this case.

4. Not Urgent and Not Important: Tasks in this quadrant are of low priority. Simplify the task, minimize the time and effort spent on it, and delegate it to others if possible. This will free up more time and energy to focus on tasks that are more important and require more attention.

In today's fast-paced world, it's easy to feel overwhelmed and bogged down by a never-ending to-do list. It's important to remember that not all tasks require the same level of focus and efforts, and being able to prioritize and allocate your resources accordingly is key to being productive, avoiding burnout and achieving your career and life goals.

Prioritizing between urgent and non-urgent tasks, as well as important and unimportant ones, can help you reduce stress, gain clarity in direction, and experience a fulfilled life with loved ones. Prioritization is a powerful tool for achieving productivity and fulfillment in both your personal and professional life.

Remember:

"Plan for the future, but live in the present.

Plan to discover your purpose, envision your goals, and create a roadmap.

Live by staying focused, acting with agility, and bringing your plan to fruition.

Work-life balance is the art of prioritization."