𤨠How to plan in times of extreme uncertainty
Heading into an election and the kick off to the holiday season, we turn to the broader question of how we can all plan effectively amidst the crazy uncertainty.
đ Intro
With so much unknown and so little bandwidth, weâre all having a hard time envisioning a future, or even remembering what day it is! But making plans, even small ones, is good for our mental health. The uncertainty isnât going anywhere, but showing ourselves that we can envision a future in it will help us muddle through.
đĄPlanning in Uncertainty 101
Start small: Even making a plan for tomorrow, for something as small as a phone call with a friend or a dessert outing, can help us feel less paralyzed. Donât try to tackle a big thing until youâve knocked out a couple small things - a workout, a family dinner, a movie night.
Focus on what feeds you: Take 1 minute to pause and think about what is giving you hope and pleasure right now. Write it down. Do that. First or only.
Notice what doesnât: If certain activities or people are not giving you energy, and theyâre not mandatory, see if you can drop them for the time being.
No judging: Encourage a judgement free zone by starting any planning conversations with friends/family with a reminder that each family is open to choosing what is right for them and that everyone with respect that.
Postpone on purpose: If unmade plans (rescheduling an event, going on a family vacation) are taking up space in your brain, either get them done now or make a conscious decision to postpone thinking about them until a later date.
New rituals and traditions: If things canât be as we had imagined them, then letâs take the chance to reimagine them. Figure out what is most important to your family - is it being outdoors and active? Is it taking on a big project together? Is it doing an annual movie-thon? Then figure out what a new version of that can be for this year, or as a kick-off for years to come.
⨠Your Options
âď¸One small thing: Make one plan, now. A walk with a friend, a family outing, a âdateâ activity with your partner. Iron out the details asap (donât let a text chain about timing drag on for days), send a link if itâs virtual, put it in your calendar, and stick to it. If youâre especially flaky these days, make sure youâre not building in a way out like âletâs see how weâre feeling Thursday morningâ but rather, set yourself up for follow-through with a âsee you then.â
đ Regular planning: Give yourself the gift of a recurring plan - something you do once a week without much required logistics. Join a class, invite others to an ongoing social or creative activity, or set aside a weekly time for something special, like an hour of reading back-issues of magazines or taking one kid out to dinner. Again, putting it on your shared family calendar and doing logistics ahead of time will make it more likely youâll do it and let you focus on the fun. For example, put a link in to the calendar invite, schedule a weekly email reminder to friends so you donât have to write each week, or designate a bin or corner of the bedroom to toss reading material youâll catch up on during that special time each week.
đ¤ Scenario plan a future event: With the winter holidays around the corner and wanderlust at an all-time high, you might be feeling bold enough to plan a vacation or larger event. This can be overwhelming under the current circumstances, but it doesnât have to be impossible. Think about who will be involved, how intimate your interactions will be, and what kinds of scenarios you have to plan for. Could you rent a house near family so you can maintain distancing if merging doesnât seem like a good idea anymore? Can you book a flight that is refundable and sketch out a plan for an all-out stay-cation if flying is bananas in December? If youâre thinking of podding with friends or family for a vacation, take a glance at the survey below and/or share it.
đ ââď¸The âno planâ plan: The ultimate way to plan in extreme uncertainty? No plans. Lean into the fact that there is so much uncertainty youâre juggling with school, childcare and work. Be completely unapologetic about not planning kids activities, big social things or family get-togethers.
𧰠Tools
đ§ The âDid I Really Make a Planâ Checklist
Are the details (time, place) set?
Did I put it on the calendar?
Did I notify my family?
Did I make the reservation or add the link to the invite?
Did I set up any needed automatic reminders (emails to others, alerts on phone)?
â
COVID Vacation Planning Checklist:
Before:
Will we quarantine beforehand? For how long? How strict will we be?
Will we test beforehand?
How will everyone travel to get there? Is this travel considered safe?
During:
Will we stay under the same roof?
If not, will we go indoors together?
Will we share food?
Will we wear masks?
After:
How will we travel back?
Will we quarantine before returning to school/work/friends?