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Business Times: Start planning your life, not just retirement
Paul Heng
Sat, Mar 21, 2026
“A MAN who does not think and plan long ahead will find trouble at his door.” This quote is attributed to Confucius, a Chinese philosopher. Or put simply, if we don’t plan, we plan to fail.
I believe we have only one life, and that it makes sense for us to plan what we want to do with it, as best and as practically as we can.
Many tend to plan for their retirement years as a follow-up to their careers. Some may even argue that retirement is a low priority when they are focusing on their careers.
I offer a different perspective: We should consider our entire lifespan when we are somewhat settled in our career journey.
At that point in time, we should have sufficient life and working experience to start thinking about what we might want to do with the rest of our lives. The specific timing would depend on the individual.
Planning is somewhat akin to life insurance – we buy the policy before the need arises.
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A personal journey
While I cannot remember the exact timing, I started planning my life shortly after I embarked on my entrepreneurial journey as a coach. Then, I was supporting clients who had left their employers involuntarily. Many came to me not knowing how to effectively look for another role and how to cope with their sudden job loss. Some had big loans to manage with banks.
I recall thinking: “I don’t want to be in this situation, ever.”
Pondering the question “Who am I?” also led me to weigh my life priorities. I began looking at life planning as a lifelong project, not changes to make when something happens or when a corporate career ends.
Prioritising mental wellness and health in life planning
Planning begins with honestly answering the question: What kind of lifestyle do I want to have? The key aspects may vary between people, but I choose to focus on health, mental well-being, travel and social impact.
Health: Grand plans will be of no consequence if we cannot execute them due to poor health. With that in mind, I began my planning centred on health.
Since I was young, I have always enjoyed jogging outdoors. I believe regular jogging – at least twice a week – has kept my heart healthy and built my stamina. Regardless of my life stage, jogging will continue to be a priority in my life.
Mental wellness: It is a big part of our overall health, and is independent of age. Since the Covid-19 pandemic, mental wellness has become a top priority in the lives of many.
I often remind those around me: What is the point of employers or the government providing wellness programmes if we do not avail ourselves of them?
Besides keeping an eye out for unnecessary and harmful stress, I take short breaks periodically to rest my mind and engage in activities I enjoy, such as writing, reading and listening to music. Last December, I finally stopped procrastinating and enrolled myself in a poetry writing course – paid for by SkillsFuture. I like to believe that new experiences stimulate different parts of my brain and serve me well.
Travel: I find travelling enriching, educational and therapeutic. It frees my mind of my day-to-day issues, and allows me to focus on the trip’s activities – often planned by my dear wife Jane. I enjoy tasting different cuisines and conversing with the locals. Engaging in conversations allows me into the world of the people we meet on our travels.
An adventure I’ve always wanted to go on was to ascend the Tiger’s Nest in Paro, Bhutan, on foot. I checked this off my list just before Covid-19 hit the world. I figured I should do it while my legs allowed me to.
Ascending the Tiger’s Nest in Paro, Bhutan, on foot was an adventure the author decided he must go on while healthy, and he did. PHOTO: PAUL HENG
Touching others, one at a time: For over 20 years, I’ve been an active volunteer, both in Singapore and Thailand. I spent about a decade with the Make-A-Wish Foundation Singapore, and the past seven years with Dementia Singapore.
I am involved in areas such as board matters, human resources, fundraising and public education programmes such as Voices for Hope, which empowers clients living with dementia and their respective caregivers to share their journeys with others.
My volunteer journey began even earlier, when, as a new business owner I had to juggle work and volunteering with the Rotary Club of Bugis Junction. I learnt then that if I prioritise, I will manage.
While some may counter that being one’s “own boss” offers more mastery over time, my response remains: “You can always choose your involvement.” As the adage goes: Save the starfish, one at a time.
Life’s marathon
I have chosen to live my life the way I’ve led it for the past two decades or so. My conviction is that we should do what we want to do, when we are able to. Starting early means we get to enjoy the bonus of a longer runway, and more satisfaction.
After all, we will never know what tomorrow will bring.
Whatever life and lifestyle you choose for yourself, keep three things in mind: First, have a plan so you can live your life how you prefer it. Do the things you’d rather do – not just for the money – and when you want to.
Next, stay healthy. Do whatever it takes to mitigate risks of poor health or challenges such as dementia.
And last but not least, live a life of minimum regrets. As American philosopher Henry David Thoreau famously said: “Go confidently in the direction of your dreams. Live the life you have imagined.”
To that, I add: Don’t wait till your golden years to start.
The writer is an executive coach who volunteers actively with Dementia Singapore
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