Discovering YOU Magazine August 2017 | Page 7

DID YOU KNOW?

Mandy Moore's Advice

to Pursuing Life Goals

Article by Staff at Merck.com

(BPT) - You hear a lot about dreams in our society these days. Companies tell you to "dream big" or "dream fearlessly." Yet no one tells you to "dream prepared." And when you get down to it, this last idea may be the most important because it's the preparation that can help you as you pursue personal goals and life adventures.

In a 2017 online survey conducted by Kelton Global and sponsored by Merck of 2,013 women ages 18 to 40, the majority listed financial stability, emotional development, relationship security and career growth as their top priorities. Comparatively, only about 40 percent of those surveyed listed starting or growing a family as a current priority, regardless of whether or not they currently have children. When it comes to family planning, birth control can play an important role for those looking to prevent an unplanned pregnancy. However, among the 908 birth control users surveyed, more than one in four

women considered their birth control options for less than 15 minutes before making a decision.

For women, adventures are different and finding balance among all their priorities can help them be more prepared to take on what's next. That's why Merck teamed with actress and singer-songwriter Mandy Moore on Her Life. Her Adventures., an educational campaign encouraging women to know their options and set priorities, including talking to their doctor about family planning and birth control, to help them feel better prepared for whatever lies ahead.

".... setting long-term goals and having

a plan in place has helped me get to

where I am today,"....

Moore has been in the spotlight from a young age and as she has built her career, balancing her priorities has become more important than ever. "My life has been full of so many adventures and through it all, setting long-term goals and having a plan in place has helped me get to where I am today," she says. . "Whether it's landing your dream job, traveling to a new country, or pursuing your education,, the important thing is to plan, know your priorities