Personal Skills

Life maps – Why do you need one?

Most of us don’t live life according to a map. We float from one thing to another, which is great, because it gives us the flexibility to go with the flow and make the most of opportunities. There is, however, a downside to making things up as you go.

If you ever want to achieve anything big, like a trip around the world, building your own home, or working for Apple, you’re much more likely to get there if you know where you are going. Which is where life mapping comes in.

https://youtu.be/cY60PYu6qnA 

You are the one writing this story – you get to decide where your life is going to lead, so you need the skills to draw your map with confidence. There's no guarantee you’ll follow this map exactly - in fact, it’s highly likely that your map will change as you travel and grow. But it can still be a great reminder of your big goals and help you get back on track when you're feeling lost.

What is a life map? 

A life map is a visual way of plotting out what’s possible for your future. You have a starting place (where you are now) and one or more possible destinations (where you want to be) - then you need to fill in the gaps in between that tell you how you'll get from A to B.

You can come back to your life map anytime you have a decision to make about where you go next. Think of it as a tool you can use to keep you on track and heading in the right direction.

What should a life map include? 

Here's an overview of the things you can include in your life map. Remember, there's no 'right' or 'wrong' when it comes to life mapping, so just use these suggestions as a guide instead of hard-and-fast rules.

Big goals – Your destination options 

Is there anything you must do in your life? Any activity or challenge that you wouldn’t feel complete without? Big goals can be skills you want to master, a career you'd love to have, places you want to visit, or things you want to achieve. Whatever your goals are, they can all go on your life map.

A roadmap – The paths you can choose from 

It’s not enough to know where you want to go; you also need to know the route you plan to take to get there. This means you need to know what steps you need to take to get to your goals, including how long they’ll take and how much they’ll cost, as well as what you’ll need to do to get started.

Remember, there’s more than one way to get to every destination, so don’t just include the most obvious routes. Try to think outside the box and include multiple options, even if you don't think you'll need them (after all, you'll never know).

Ways of being – Your modes of transportation 

If you want to live your life according to a set of principles, then you need to add that to your life map. Do you want a life full of adventure, or spirituality, or do you want a life of service? Do you want to be famous, or wealthy, or calm?

You may already have a pretty established way of being, but if not, that’s OK - you can pick one or two that speak to you.

How to create a life map 

Creating your life map may take a little time, but we’re talking about fun stuff here and there’s no ‘right’ or ‘wrong’, so there’s no pressure. You don’t have to show anyone your life map if you’re not comfortable, so don’t hold back – put everything on there.

Your life map can look however you want it to. It could be colourful or plain, include pictures and quotes, resemble a mood board, or just use text and descriptions. There are no rules to follow, and the most important thing is that end result works for you. At the end of this article you’ll find a template you can use if you need a place to start, then follow these steps to fill it in:

Step 1 – Where are you right now? 

Take a second to note down where you are – how old you are, where you live, the things you like, and the things that motivate you. You could also include your job (if you have one) or any activities you take part in, and estimate how you’re going at school. This is your starting point, so it’s good to be clear about where you are.

Step 2 – Choose your destinations 

We recommend you try to cut it back to two or three destinations at this point – too many and your life map can become cluttered and unfocused. Once you have them, space them across your map.

You may want to add some details here, like what kinds of things you’ll be doing, where you’ll live, what kind of house you’ll live in, how much time you’ll spend at work, who else is in your life, or even what kind of car you’ll drive. Anything that’s important to this goal should be included here – be specific.

Step 3 – Build your roadmap 

For each destination, fill out a couple of routes that will get you there. If you need to finish school, get a VET qualification, or go to university, then include that along your pathway, and include details like how much the qualification will cost, and how long it will take to achieve. Most of the time you’ll be able to come up with a couple of pathways that end up at the same place, so don’t limit yourself to just the most obvious one.

As you get further away from your starting point (and closer to your destination) you may find it more difficult to be specific, but that’s OK. Just note down what you can. You may also need to branch out multiple times before you get to your destination, and that's fine too.

Step 4 – How are you going to get there? 

We each have our own unique way of tackling life, and that’s totally normal. Once you know where you are, where you’re going, and the route you want to take, then you need to work out how you’re going to make your way between the two.

For example, if you like to tackle life head-on, then you can factor that in – you may know that you’ll complete your degree in the minimum time required, and are prepared to put in the hours. Or if you value balance, you may choose to combine study with part-time work and travel, taking longer to get there but seeing more on the way.

Once you have your life map, what's next? 

Life maps aren’t static – they’re just a reflection of your thoughts and ideas at one moment in time. You can adjust your life map as you grow and change, or even scrap it completely if it doesn’t make sense any more. Life can often change around us, outside of our control, and you may need to factor these changes into your map along the way.

If you want to increase your chances of reaching the destinations on your map, we recommend telling someone you trust about your plans – but if you don’t feel comfortable, then you don’t need to share it at all.

We also recommend that you keep your life map somewhere safe and use it just like you would any other map. Refer to it when needed to keep yourself headed in the right direction.

Download the life map template 

Need help starting your life map? We've created a handy template you can use. Click here to download the PDF template.