How to Plan for the Future in Times of Uncertainty
The past year was marked by a series of devastating historical events. The global pandemic has forced the world to isolate itself, police brutality has become more visible than ever, and polarizing political leaders have fueled conspiracy theories and wreaked havoc on the streets. Anxiety and unpredictability quickly became the norm. And when it seems that the future will forever remain unknown, planning your life becomes less and less possible. But there are still ways to prepare for your future, even in times of great uncertainty.
Make a render board
While they are rooted in business practices, it is increasingly common to develop a vision for your goals in your personal life as well. The Vision Board is a creative way to represent your future based on your shared life goals. It’s a fun, stress-free activity that involves cutting out images from magazines and aligning them on poster paper. The board helps you visualize your overall direction in life. It’s even easier to create a digital visualization board – you can cut and paste images to create collages on your computer using Pages for iOS or Microsoft Word for Windows.
Focus on what you know
As a Virgo, I am most comfortable when I feel ready for what lies ahead. And if I can’t predict it, at least I can plan it. Planning ahead and preparing for what is known can actually ease the stress of worrying about the un known. A study by North Carolina State University found that subjects who did pre-planning experienced lower levels of daily stress than those who did not. First, acknowledge the truth about your current situation. Christelle Van der Elstarchive of MIT Technology Review notes that acknowledging the uncertainty of the present is critical when thinking about your vision for the future:
Remove the blinders. The Covid-19 pandemic has shown how quickly the world can change. These massive disruptions are not as rare as one might think. Disruptive change may appear to appear suddenly and without warning, but the threat has probably always existed. We may have underestimated its potential value or decreased its likelihood. Developing a broader view of what might happen in the future will encourage you to rethink your own deeply ingrained assumptions.
Once you acknowledge the truth about your current and potential future circumstances, take the time to assess your own plans and capabilities. You can’t plan the kind of European vacation you envisioned this year, but you can plan a weekend in a lodge nearby.
Take it slow and be flexible
While planning can distract you from your current stressors, looming insecurity can trigger stress even before you even begin the process. Plan the next day, then the week, and then stretch out to imagine the next month. Start with your vision and set smaller goals for each day. I highly recommend using the Passion Planner method. After you assess your larger goals, break them down into quarterly goals; then goals for the month, week and day; and then individual tasks that you can work on to achieve your daily goals. By breaking down your goals into smaller pieces, you can make changes as the new day brings new challenges.
Don’t run away from uncertainty, but plan for multiple realities. Strategic operations company Coraggio group advises: “Rather than limiting yourself to plans that only work in one situation, think about things that can be adapted to different futures.” Play a few situations on paper and be flexible. Try not to get attached to one single plan, or you risk going unpunished if your circumstances change. Be open to turning or even canceling. Keeping this mindset in mind while planning will help you prepare for any changes that may come your way.
Recognize your limits
Be kind to yourself when making a plan. Here and now, there is already a lot to be processed. Self-motivation is one thing, but being too ambitious for goals can make them seem overwhelming or unattainable, frustrating your efforts.
Take breaks from your planning session. You don’t have to agree on many complex details of your vision in one sitting. Blue Cross Blue Shield urges: “If you feel anxious, breathe for a minute. Remember that what we know now may not be true tomorrow. ” Plan your planning for a few days or months.
I am doing a combination of planning and scheduling. Review your monthly calendar and schedule specific dates. You can structure them mathematically – for example, every ten days or so. Lesson planning also makes sense before the holiday; for example, a three-day weekend will give you more time to focus on yourself. I like to plan regularly and Sunday is my planning day. Every Sunday morning I sit down and plan the week. Create a regular planning habit that’s right for you. And don’t let planning get overwhelming – the present is overwhelming enough.