Managing the conflict between living in the present and life in the future

I have been packing my furniture and person items for the last week now and without professional movers I'm not sure I would have made it through the week. I'm moving back to London to commence some postgraduate study in psychology and to work on building my business in the United Kingdom and Europe. However as the time draws closer to the leaving date and putting an end to my time in New York the more it is I reflect on the decision I have made and what it is I have actually done.

Living in New York was a lifelong dream and one of the best of my life. Great friends, vibrant city....it's an experience I would recommend for anyone. If you want to party, live an excessive lifestyle, eat and drink 24/7 then New York is the place to do it - plus unlike any other city I have lived in getting a taxi at 4am is not a problem. Therefore from a quality of life short-term prospective New York was a great place to be. However from a long-term perspective New York was not optimal for me - I had visa restrictions when attempting to build my business, education and living costs are astronomical, and the amount of money you spend in this city is crazy. I think the only thing I do that doesn't cost is my weekly run in Central Park. Also forget Manhattan real estate unless you want a shoebox in Harlem. Thus I considered that my move to London, whilst not the move I wanted to make right now, is actually based on a lifestyle I wish to create for myself in 3-4 years time.

Upon reflection I consider that many of my friends and colleagues in New York are in the same situation. Living in New York is fun unlike any other and it is easy to be bedazzled by the life you can lead. The decision for many to live in New York is based on the lifestyle they will have here and now. Though the experience career wise can also be invaluable it is not experience you couldn't gain in any other major city in the world - London, Hong Kong, Shanghai or even Sydney. Therefore the choice to live in New York is because of the fun and excitement. However is it the choice for many of us to make if we consider our long term aspirations? For some it is...however for many of us, after a certain number of years, it is not. Therefore the choice has to be made at some point whether to live for the present or the future, based on our wants and needs.

I believe the approach to take is to be conscious of why you are living the way you do, what you get from it and is there anything you need to change. Waking up one day and thinking you don't want to be where you are will lead to a rash decision. Rather you must know yourself enough to make short-term and long-term plans. As for me as I pack for London I'm not thinking (or trying not to) about the downside of leaving New York, instead I am concentrating on how great life will be by undertaking this move in the next few years and knowing the sacrifice is very well worth it.