Set and forget

There are a lot of things in life you can set and forget. Think monthly bills, direct debits and that electricity plan you signed on to. Regular parts of life that you probably looked into when setting up and haven’t given a second thought to since. And why would you? If everything is ticking along nicely, it’s one less thing on your plate.

Often it takes some kind of change to make us go back and have another look, whether that’s a change in finances, the breakdown of a relationship or even a health scare. The funny thing is that when we do go back and have another look, a new and often better option is available. We just didn’t look into it sooner.

So what else in life do you have on set and forget? I’ve often heard people say that ‘getting cancer was the best thing that happened to me.’ Now we know they’re not talking about the illness itself but sometimes the experience can bring with it a heightened sense of awareness to what’s really important in life. Maybe it leads to a change in how they spend and prioritise their time.

What if mid-life is our time to reevaluate our priorities; an excuse to look at what’s working for us and what brings joy to our lives?

How do you spend your time and how do you want to spend it? Maybe instead of waiting for something drastic to happen, the unsettling shift we feel at this stage is actually life giving us a nudge to relook at our values and question if they still hold true. People grow and change over time so it’s not unreasonable to suggest that what we want in life and truly care about will also change.

What have you put on set and forget that doesn’t serve you well anymore?