Send a Time Capsule to Your Future Self which will open in 50 years time

A time capsule is a great journalling tool you can use to raise awareness about the direction your life is taking, as well as capture your current thoughts and memories. More than that, it allows you to have this valuable knowledge delivered to your laptop, phone, contact lens implant in the future. Oh, did I mention it’s also a lot of fun?

In its simplest form, a time capsule is just a letter you write to yourself to be opened in the future. All you need is to write it and it email it to me and it will open in fifty years times. No matter how mundane your letter is, you’ll be amazed at its contents when you open it.

Take a Picture of Your Mind

To create a time capsule post, write a letter just as you would to your best friend. Be conversational and friendly; have fun with it. Write about whatever you want, but always remember to capture your current reality as thoroughly as possible.

Just like a photo is a snapshot of your body, think of a time capsule as a snapshot of your mind. Be aware that just like your body changes, so does your mind. Remember that each ‘version of you’ has its own wisdom. Things that we know we won’t forget are indeed forgotten as the different winds of change come and go in our lives.

Remember that when the letter is read, you, as you know yourself today, will not be around anymore. Your current self won’t be there to answer any questions. So, don’t focus much on predicting the future, but rather on describing your present time. Focus on capturing ‘how it feels to be me today’.

Here are a few specific suggestions to consider including:

• Lists of favourites. What do you like most today? What are your favorite movies, books, television shows, songs, moments, people, celebrations, surprises, lessons, quotations or achievements?
• Important questions and feelings. What are the big unanswered questions currently in your mind? What feelings predominate in these times? How do you feel about your life and the world around you? What do you enjoy about today? What are you thankful for?
• Goals and aspirations. What do you pursue today? What is the vision for your future life? What are the things you’re looking forward to? What are your hopes for your future self? How much or in what way do you expect to be different when you get the letter online in?
• ‘A Day in the Life…’. How’s your everday life? How’s a typical day at school? At home? Who do you interact with daily? What do you enjoy doing every day? 
• Highlights of the year. Which funny facts do you want to remember or laugh about in the future? What were this year’s 10 best things/worst things that happened to you? How would you describe this year in one sentence? In one word?
• Lessons learned and advice for yourself. What advice would you give to your future self? What important lesson did you learn recently and don’t want to forget?

Don’t Limit Yourself

Another interesting feature of the time capsule technique is that it’s very versatile. Use your imagination and make it fun by inventing your own variations. Here are a few suggestions to get started:

• Experiment with different formats.Instead of sending a letter, send a colourful mind map of your life, or maybe a drawing, a video etc whatever you can complete in the time you have and attach to an email.

Do It Today, Be Glad Tomorrow

While the idea of intentionally sending information to the future is not new, it’s a great fun way to provide yourself with valuable material for self-reflection.

The work you produce today will not appear online again until 2064.  Please send all work, pictures and files to me via school email to 

m.knight1.worldwar1@blogger.com 

put your name in the subject line and attach any photos etc you want to store for the future...

and we will see them again in fifty years time

Mr M.Knight