Threat #4: Being Disconnected From Your Future Self

Why Short-Term Choices Hurt Long-Term Security

When Diane retired at 66, she told herself she’d finally relax. She skipped her annual checkup, dipped into savings “just this once” for small splurges, and delayed updating her will because, as she said, “I’ve got time.”

But by 74, her reality looked different. Rising medical bills and a minor fall forced her to confront how short-term comfort had slowly chipped away at her long-term security. “I thought I was giving myself freedom,” she admitted, “but I was actually making my future self’s life harder.”

Diane’s story is familiar to many of us. It’s easy to care for our present self—she’s here, she’s real, she has cravings and emotions. But our future self often feels like a stranger.

Research Nugget

Psychologists call this future-self continuity—the degree to which we feel connected to who we’ll become. Research shows that people who visualize and empathize with their future selves make better financial, health, and lifestyle decisions. They save more, plan more, and take fewer impulsive risks.

When we lose touch with that future version of ourselves, we make choices that satisfy today but strain tomorrow.

Simple Tips to Try

This week, try one exercise to reconnect with your Future Self:

• Write a Note from Your 80-Year-Old Self. What advice, gratitude, or gentle warning might they offer you?

• Imagine Life 10 Years Ahead. Where are you living? Who supports you? What habits would make that life easier now?

• Make One “Future-Proof” Choice. Schedule a health checkup, review your savings plan, or organize key documents.

Each small action strengthens the bridge between who you are and who you’re becoming.

Anchor Question

“What would my 80-year-old self ask me to do today?”

Call to Action

Download your free Take Charge of your Aging Risks and Challenges—a short guide to help you write directly to your older self, reflect on what matters most, and make one small commitment this week that your future self will thank you for.

Take Charge of Your Future Risks 

Thank you for reading,

Carol Marak, Solo Aging Expert