London - The average woman’s plan for life includes meeting “the one” aged 24, having children by 27 and reaching the top of the career ladder at 34, researchers say.
Nearly two-thirds of those studied had a detailed life plan they try to follow – with targets such as passing their driving test by 19, living healthily by 24 and getting engaged at 26.
But despite “wanting it all”, one in two said they missed major milestones and nearly a quarter said events had taken them far from their original plan.
Researchers found six in ten women felt they were behind schedule in achieving their aims. Only a quarter described their life as “spot on” according to their plan.
The study of 2 000 women, commissioned by 3M’s Post-it brand, found participants completed milestones an average of six years later than they had intended.
It found other unfulfilled aims included women starting their own business and getting to their ideal weight and size, while a quarter are still hoping they will one day live by the sea.
Thinking Woman’s Coach and Post-it spokesman Jessica Chivers said: “We all hold dreams and certain aims we want for ourselves and very often we’re hopeful we’ll achieve these things by a certain age.
“For the big things in life there will always be an element that is out of our hands, but the results show that people clearly have a plan of when they would ideally like things to happen.
“The important thing is to keep goals front of mind and to acknowledge the small successes you’re having that are taking you towards the ultimate achievement.
“Making goals and writing down your dreams is a great motivator. Recognising that you are moving in the right direction is a spur to keep going, so our goals don’t become distant daydreams or things we regret never trying to do.”
Needing money, a fear they are now too old and lacking the bravery to “just go for it” were the biggest barriers to achieving their privately held aims, the study found.
In fact, where women had completed the milestones they’d always intended, they got round to them six years later than originally planned, results showed.
A dejected thirty percent of the study felt there were aims they had that they’d missed the chance to achieve.
And a fifth of women had an unfulfilled dream they felt powerless to realise because they don’t know where to start.
That’s despite more than a third describing themselves as “very organised” in nature, with more than half writing lists and making detailed plans.
In fact, 55 percent were of the belief that writing down your dreams is a good way of increasing your chances of achieving them one day.
Also among those dreams for women were retiring early, retraining in a different career and owning their own dream car.
Chivers added: “Writing goals down and sharing them with the people we spend the most time with is incredibly helpful.
“More than half of the respondents hold the belief that writing goals down and sticking them somewhere visible would help them stay on track, yet many people don’t - so the challenge becomes actually doing it.
“Writing down aspirations and keeping them fresh in the mind will help to make sure they don’t just become distant daydreams or even worse, something we end up regretting never trying to do.
“Getting clear on what you want to make happen and drawing upon the support of friends, family and colleagues can be invaluable too.
“Not only can they sustain us with encouragement, they can be another set of eyes and ears on the lookout for opportunities that help us achieve our goal.”
WOMEN’S KEY MILESTONES
Gained a driving licence: 19
First proper job: 22
Rent a flat by: 23
Life plan sorted: 24
Live healthier: 24
Meet the One: 24
Live with a partner: 25
Mortgage: 26
Engaged: 26
Married: 27
First child age: 27
Reach top of career ladder: 34 - Daily Mail