The philosophy of ‘Carpe Diem’ or living in the moment, has become a lifestyle for many; some of them state that planning future does not bring any benefits but takes invaluable time for nothing. Credible as it may seem, I would strongly oppose this notion due to the importance of thinking about the future.
Admittedly, problems may arise if too much attention is paid to the future. My opinion is that overthinking is anything but beneficial due to the fact that it can trigger the psychological issues such as stress and anxiety. These are the common symptoms of depression – a long lasting disorder; once obtained, challenging to prevent. People who overwhelmingly think of the future should realize that they don’t have control over the future but the present, so it is more viable to pay more attention to the present and enjoy it.
Futile as it may seem, the act of future preparation is of a paramount importance due to several compelling reasons. First and foremost, the future is never certain, and no one is able to guarantee stability. To be more specific, one can be infected with disease and get hospitalized; one can lose their job because the organization went bankrupt; and unprecedented accidents may occur that can change the trajectory of one’s life. People, therefore, should have their safety net prepared: it can be in the form of personal savings in case if they get fired. To take a real life example, COVID-19 pandemic bumped into the lives of many, in 2020, but hardly anyone was expecting this to happen – some were not properly ready for quarantine, so struggles did they experience. Another argument signifying how important it is to prepare for the future is that it can facilitate self-growth and development. I view acquiring new skills – such as learning languages and coding – as something that can ensure the social mobility and readiness for future challenges. University consciousness at an early age, for instance, may help to save a spot from a pool of prospective candidates simply because the applicant has been preparing for crucial tests(IELTS and SAT) along with ECS(extracurricular activities) since the childhood. As a result, improved social status can be expected.
To conclude, I strongly disagree with the idea that living solely in present is a right course of action because it is crucial to prepare beforehand to the possible accidents and it can foster the self-development, advancing through the social ladder. However, I do acknowledge the potential negative consequences of overthinking of the future.