How to Stop Screwing Over Your Future Self
You have a one-way ticket to the future.
No coming back.
No do-overs.
No detours.
Every single day, you’re packing your bag for the future.
The question is: Are you carefully preparing for what’s ahead, or just throwing random shit in a bag and hoping for the best?
Because that’s just how some people pack.
Imagine this:
You’re about to be dropped on a deserted island.
You don’t know exactly what you’ll face, but you have time right now to prepare and pack everything you’ll need.
What would you do?
You’d study the terrain.
You’d learn about the climate, the dangers, the resources.
You’d bring tools, supplies, and a survival plan.
You’d prepare because your life would depend on it.
Now ask yourself:
Why should the future be any different?
Every choice you make today is something you’re packing for the future version of you that has to live with it.
But here’s what most people do: They pack blindly and assume their Future Self will figure it out.
The Future You Is Not a Stranger
Here’s the truth:
Your future self isn’t someone else.
It’s you.
But not the you standing here today.
It’s a version of you shaped by every choice you’re making right now.
Your future self will inherit everything you’ve done, or failed to do.
The hard conversations you had.
The opportunities you seized.
The knowledge you pursued.
The fears you faced.
And also…
The problems you left unsolved.
The excuses you made.
The things you put off.
There’s no escaping this.
Knock Knock...
Imagine this:
There’s an unexpected knock at your door.
You open it.
Standing there, staring back at you, is your future self.
He looks familiar, but not exactly like you.
He’s older. Wiser. Or maybe just tired.
He steps inside, exhales, and says:
"We need to talk."
You sit down across from him.
Then, he leans forward, unzips a suitcase, and starts pulling things out.
Some tools. Some unfinished plans. Some dead weight.
You recognize everything on the table in front of you.
The opportunities you took…or ignored.
The habits you built…or abandoned.
The knowledge you pursued…or put off.
The fears you faced…or ran from.
Future You looks at the mess, then looks at you.
"Is this really the best you could do for us?"
You sit there, silent.
He shakes his head, exhales, and zips the bag shut.
Standing up, he looks you dead in the eye.
"I have to go back now. And when I get there…I'm expecting things to be different."
And just like that, he’s gone.
The door clicks shut.
You’re left sitting at the table, staring at the things he pulled from the bag.
The wasted time.
The unfinished plans.
The weight of everything you avoided.
The air feels heavy.
Then it hits you…this isn’t just baggage…it’s your life.
And for the first time, you realize you don’t have to carry this weight any longer.
Are you Packing Time Bombs?
Here’s the thing, you don’t just pack tools. You pack problems, too.
And some of them? They don’t just sit there. They’re ticking.
When you pack for the future without thinking, you aren’t just leaving things for Future You to figure out.
You’re packing time bombs.
A hard conversation you ran from.
Instructions you never read.
A decision you avoided.
A goal left unchased.
And the worst part?
One day, Future You will unzip that suitcase.
They’ll see the wires. They’ll hear the countdown. And they’ll have no idea which wires to cut.
The Good News
The good news? You still have control.
But this isn't about making a generic to-do list or setting another batch of New Year's resolutions.
This is about strategic future-proofing in a world that's moving faster than ever.
Here's how to start repacking that suitcase:
Start with the Ticking Bombs
Before you pack anything new, defuse what's already ticking:
Digital Debt: Those thousands of unread emails, notifications, and half-finished digital projects aren't just sitting there…they're accumulating mental interest. Spend one focused hour each week clearing this debt. Archive ruthlessly. Unsubscribe mercilessly. Your future self's mental bandwidth will thank you.
Relationship Debt: Those difficult conversations you've been avoiding? They're not aging like fine wine. They're fermenting into resentment. Start with one conversation this week. Write it out first if you need to. Remember: Future You will inherit either the resolution or the regret.
Knowledge Debt: In a world where AI is rewriting job descriptions by the minute, your outdated skills are a ticking bomb. Identify one critical skill gap in your field. Then block out 30 minutes daily for focused learning, not passive video watching, but active engagement with the material.
Pack the Right Tools
Future You needs more than just motivation and good intentions:
Build a Second Brain: Stop treating your mind like a storage unit. Create a personal knowledge management system (try Kortex from Dan Koe, create a personal Slack channel, or something as simple as a well-organized Google Drive) where you capture everything you learn. Future You won't have time to relearn everything from scratch.
Automate the Mundane: For every repetitive task you do, ask: "Does Future Me really need to keep doing this?" Set up automated bill payments, email filters, and task reminders. Each automation is a gift to your future self.
Create Decision Frameworks: Don't just make decisions, document how you make them. Keep a decision journal. Write down your thought process, the context, and what you expect to happen. Future You will have a blueprint for better decisions, not just the outcomes.
Pack for Resilience
The future is uncertain, but you can make Future You antifragile:
Build Margin: In your finances, your time, and your energy. Future You needs room to maneuver. Start with creating a 2-hour buffer in your weekly schedule, not for productivity, but for responding to the unexpected.
Cultivate Adaptability: Take on one project outside your comfort zone every quarter. It's not about mastery; it's about developing the confidence to face new challenges. Future You will face problems you can't even imagine today.
Create Options: Whether it's building a side skill, maintaining professional relationships, or saving an emergency fund, options are oxygen for Future You. Identify one new option you can create this month.
The Real Investment
Here's the truth about investing in Future You:
It's not about perfection. It's about progress.
Every small action you take today compounds.
Start with one thing from each category above. Just one. But do it consistently.
Because Future You isn't some stranger who will magically solve everything.
They're you…just with either better tools or bigger problems.
You decide what they get.
Will your bags be stuffed with burdens or packed with freedom?
Whether you’re ready or not, your one-way-trip to the future is boarding now.
And when you arrive, you’ll have to live with what you packed.
It’s your move.
Run the hills.
Chas