“I want you to dream big because dreams make plans different than your average to-do list (and you are not average!)” - Mia

There was a long time where I really loved the idea “live today like there is no tomorrow.” I wasn’t a planner and I wanted to be more “fun.” But, the truth is I never did anything that daring or even extremely fun.

In my 20s and early 30s, I ate bad food and racked up some debt. I never paced myself. It was my last day, so why not?

When I turned 40, I started to consider this idea in more depth. I had changed my food in my 30s, and I wanted to see how I could apply that mindset to my work and money in my 40s.

I have the privilege of having a grandmother who is 101, and who I can still chat on the phone with and have great talks with. As she was approaching 100, I wondered, “How would I live differently if I knew I had that much time? What would I do differently today if I knew I wasn’t even halfway through my life? Why would I live today like my last day, if I could live today in a way that got me to 100?!”

Trying to imagine what your life will be like at 100, may not be useful (or easy to imagine), but looking ahead 10 years is doable and important. It sets you up to plan your todays in ways that make sense now and move you toward the life you want.

This is what I had done when I changed my food... just not on purpose.

This is why I always do an exercise with clients where we paint the picture of what life looks like in 10 years – before planning for meals this week, creating a 21-day checklist, or utilizing any of our many tools.

It is this specific practice that helped me lose 85 pounds 9 years ago, gave me the courage to write my book and go on the road for a year with 3 kids, and has me hydrating as I write this post.

Let’s paint a picture of your life in 10 years.

I want you to dream big because dreams make plans different than your average to-do list (and you are not average!)

At the end of this exercise, you’ll have a vision of the life you want, the one that sets you up to plan today that you love. When you plan days with this exercise as your foundation, you get more done, spend more quality time with those you love, eat well (and healthy), and just take better care of yourself.

You can do this … even if you have a busy weekend planned, even if your kids are on break next week. This is all about big dreams and doable chunks.

Step 1: Mark your Calendar

We crave space to think and dream and then we wonder why we cannot find it.

Block off 15 minutes on your calendar with “space” or “dream” for the next 5 days, or you can block off an afternoon to do this all at once.

This will be your time to answer the 10-year vision questions.

Literally block off the time on your calendar, because it’s so easy to think you’ll find 15 minutes when the day comes … end then you’re rolling into bed, exhausted, without having done it. Make space for what matters (here, time to dream) and hold that time for yourself.

Experiment with what feels great. You could:

• wake up 15 minutes earlier
• 
  
• 
  
• 
  
• set a time for 15 minutes before you start your work day
• 
  
• 
  
• 
  
• sit for 15 extra minutes at lunch
• 
  
• 
  
• 
  
• write while your kids draw
• 
  
• 
  
• 
  
• spend the afternoon at your favorite coffee shop
• 
  
• 
  

Feeling at all guilty about taking some time for yourself? I did and then I realized the importance, not only for me but for my kids. Free time, thinking time is the biggest thing missing from all our calendars. Making