There are two kinds of people in the world — those who ask what the plan is, and those who make the plans. I am definitely one of the former while most of my friends are good at making plans, which is just as well, because if I don’t have people telling me what to do and where to go, I would spend three quarters of my day procrastinating about it and then the rest of the time thinking it is too late to do anything now, anyway.

I am the kind of person, who feels bold even if I suggest a venue for dinner. I am more comfortable going with what others want; whether it’s planning a holiday, night out or watching a film. And, that’s how I ended up on a holiday with my boyfriend, his friends [who can turn anything into an argument with each other] and their two young children on an island I’ve already been to four times now. It was, definitely, not my dream holiday scenario. So, I have vowed to say a no to such plans in the future and come up with something of my own. I am sure anything else would have been more relaxing and fun.

My reasoning behind not making plans has always been that making decisions is like taking on a responsibility [which, I mention every week, I hate]. For instance, if I tell someone I would like to check out a new restaurant and it turns out to be a disaster, then I feel I have let people down. Most days I stick to my simple daily routine [write in a café, go to the gym, meet my boyfriend for dinner] and that keeps my stress levels down.

But it struck me this week when I was talking to my brother — who I love to pieces but is even more hesitant than I am when it comes to making decisions — that not making decisions is sometimes just as consequential as making them.

OK, so when it comes to dinner plans, the other consequence is that I rarely get to eat where I want to [Indian, Lebanese and vegetarian restaurants] and instead have to dine at places my boyfriend likes [such as Japanese, Thai and Vietnamese] which is mildly annoying, though not that impactful on my life.

But when it comes to bigger plans, the consequences can be much bigger. My brother is stuck in a job he doesn’t like and instead of searching for something new, taking courses or writing e-mails to potential new employers, he’s waiting. Every time I talk to him, he says he will do something but he never does. It makes me want to [lovingly] shake him and shout at him and tell him he’s letting his life pass by him. But then I remember that I do the exact same thing.

What we’re waiting for is unclear — perhaps just the nerve to make a move. Because doing something proactive takes a lot of guts — it’s going to result in some rejection along the way and ultimately, it may change your life. It’s a big thing to prepare for and, frankly, it’s easier to think that you’ll do it another day. So that’s why people like me aren’t proactive.

I may not understand it when I look at my life but when I look at my brother’s life, I realise that not being proactive affects us just as much as it would if you took the bull by the horns and made some decisions of your own. You’re making just as big a choice when you decide not to leave the job/relationship/flat that you hate as you are when you decide enough is enough and make some changes.

By not changing anything, you’re making the decision to settle for what you have and put your life in the hands of others. It’s a much more uncertain gamble than if you went out and took what you wanted. Unfortunately good things don’t come to those who wait, they come to those who hustle for it. So that’s what I’m doing: hustling. Watch this space.