Preparing for the "Oh Darn" Factor

Life is predictably unpredicatable. Every day things happen that are out of our control. The only thing we can control is our response to these events. The more prepared we are for what I call the "Oh Darn" factor, the better we can respond to the unexpected.

Everybody has their own set of problems to cope with on a daily basis. I myself am a long time sufferer of a debilitating medical condition. Even though managing life's stresses is far from easy, taking a little time to plan ahead will make coping a little easier.

Here are things I find helpful:

Stock Up! Stock up on the essentials like bottled water, toilet paper, paper towels, canned goods, frozen meals. I sometimes do this to a fault, but running out of things like toilet paper adds unnecessary stress during times of crisis. Store extra doses of each family member's medications in alternate places like a fireproof safe or at a neighbor's house.

Create Buffers! Allot extra time for just about everything from commuting to work to weekly grocery shopping. This will ease your mind if you run into obstacles such as traffic or long lines at checkout. In fact, plan on interruptions. It will make it easier to deal with if you know you have extra time. Another trick I use is to plan alternate times for tasks that don't require appointments(for example, grocery shopping, cleaning). If you need to, recruit others to help you....or if all else fails, hire someone. Humans can be buffers too!

Write It Down! Be a fan of list making! Writing things down strengthens our resolve not to mention our memory! Schedule time not just for work, school and family committments, but personal time as well. Write down times for exercise, coffee with friends, reading. Treat these like appointments! Remember to be patient with yourself: forming good habits take time!

Resist the Urge to Overschedule! It seems like life is busier than ever. Technology has made it so it is possible to contact each other almost instantaneously via voicemail, email, and text messages. I love all these devices as much as the next person, but sometimes we need to simplify. Do we really need to wait for a crisis to occur before we begin enjoying our life?

Unleash Your Organized Me!