By planning ahead, we save ourselves the time and energy needed to tackle daily tasks. While we can’t plan for everything nor predict what the future holds, we can reduce daily stressors by taking initiative and preparing for some of life’s uncertainties.
Three and a half years ago I was unwed, childless and had a few major responsibilities: a mortgage, monthly bills, caring for my dog and going to work. Fast forward to today, I’m married, a mother and managing a business. While I’ve always been a self-proclaimed “planner,” the complexities of my new life forced me to be more strategic in how I plan. So in my quest to “prepare for the unexpected,” here is what I’ve learned:
- Plan ahead but not too far out. Keep a daily and weekly calendar. Earmark important dates but leave some free time in between.
- Keep it short and sweet. Briefly think through likely scenarios. Know your options but don’t necessarily act on them until you have to.
- Don’t be afraid to ask for help. Part of being proactive is to decisively make plans for something that may or may not happen. Those plans could involve employing the help of other people.
- Focus on what you can control. You can’t control other people or unplanned situations. Don’t lose sight of the big picture by focusing on things you can’t change.
- Be ok with failed plans. Don’t put too much pressure on yourself when things don’t work out. Failed plans are sometimes part of the plan – I’ll discuss this in a later post. 🙂
xo, April