Mastering the Art of Planning for the Unexpected: A Guide to a Balanced Life
Let me introduce you to a transformative calendar trick that has changed the way I deal with last-minute invitations, demanding bosses, and maintaining my peace of mind. The best part? This technique has actually reduced my anxiety rather than added to it, making me a more effective leader for my team.
I want to share how I manage stress and minimize anxiety by planning for spontaneity—yes, you read that right. As a leader, I learned early on that intentionally planning to reduce anxiety helped me become a better leader for my team. The technique I’ll share also helped me feel less guilty about saying ‘no’ when I needed to, allowing me to say 'yes' more often to my family, friends, and the activities that bring me joy…and to feel less resentment towards my manager when faced with last-minute requests (okay, they feel more like demands 😆).
Understanding Spontaneity
First, let’s clarify what I mean by spontaneity—I’m talking about anything unexpected or unpredictable, whether desirable or undesirable. It could range from your child asking to play as soon as you get home from work, to someone on your team calling in sick before a big presentation, or encountering unexpected traffic due to a road closure (you know, from that construction that’s never ending).
These moments often catch us by surprise, forcing us to make decisions: do I join my child’s playtime, ask my boss to delay the presentation, stay late at work, or trade family time for the weekend hustle?
Here’s the thing—such moments don’t have to surprise you. While timing can catch you off guard, the occurrence itself should not.
Taking Back Control
You have more power over your reactions and preparations for these situations than you might realize. Want to know the technique that has empowered me to take back control? I schedule them. Yes, it sounds crazy, but hear me out. If you know what you want in life—your ideal relationships, career ambitions, and team vision—why not schedule the time investment on your calendar to make it happen?
I mean you give calendar space to that dreadful ‘meeting that should have been an email’ and we both know you have more important things you’d prefer to spend time on.
Imagine blocking off one hour per week to save for playing with your child. The day and time don’t matter; simply add it to your calendar. The best part is, if you don’t use that time as scheduled, you can move it or make a spontaneous choice to ask your child to play. Over the course of a month, that’s four extra hours spent with your child, and in a year—you’ll have dedicated an extra workweek (plus overtime) to playing with your kiddo.
Building a Prepared Team
What if you set aside an hour each week to review team presentations together, encouraging each person to practice presenting in front of the group? This proactive approach ensures your team is prepared, minimizing the stress of last-minute changes.
This technique is a game-changer for my community, offering a solution that can save time, reduce stress, and prevent meltdowns.
Adapting to Life’s Unpredictability
Now, you might be wondering about unpredictable things like traffic. While you can’t predict the precise timing, you have a pretty good idea of your town’s traffic patterns. Give yourself more credit. You can also block time for the moments when life simply ‘happens’. Remember, your calendar events aren’t set in stone—you can edit them (thanks Google for building in that feature)..
If the concept of time blocking is new to you, check out my blog post about why I ditched the to-do list for a simpler, more functional alternative. Allow yourself to reclaim control over your time and what happens in your life. Block time for what you desire—your hopes, your dreams— and what you know is most likely to occur.
Knowing Your Time Needs
You might ask how to determine how much time to block or how to accommodate unanticipated occurrences. Using the Design Your Harmonious Life System™, I guide my clients through the Three B Method™—my personal framework for safeguarding my vision, goals, and sanity against life’s unpredictable twists.
Check out this special offer to get started with this system.
Remember, I am always here to support you. Until next time!