Weathering the Storm: How to Create a Survival Plan for Hard Seasons
“In the midst of all the storms in my life I would like to know we are headed towards land..”
I wrote that statement in my journal on a Monday morning in January of 2022. At the time I felt I was drowning. I was overwhelmed and a lot of the circumstances in my life were out of my control and my day to day was in complete chaos. Luckily this season didn’t last forever and I did get through it. Unfortunately, it was much harder and more chaotic because I didn’t know then what I do now.
When the Storm Hits Without Warning
You need a plan for hard seasons. Without foresight and preparation your life will run you rather than you running it. Hard seasons are part of life, they can’t be eternally avoided and honestly they can be beneficial. Maybe not in the moment but most of them are an opportunity to learn something, something that can help us later on.
The trouble is when these hard seasons hit it’s usually without warning. They catch us off guard and if you are completely unprepared they can send you into a tailspin. If you get caught in a storm with no supplies and no end in sight you’re going to be pretty panicked.
Why You Need a Plan for Hard Seasons
Imagine needing an unexpected surgery. The doctor says it’s essential and it will need to be done immediately. Also there will be an 8-week recovery period and possibility of continued recovery later on.
If you’re like most people this news would be absolutely devastating. Not only do you need an immediate surgery you also have to take at least 8 weeks off of work, get someone to come help you at least part time and you may need even longer. This sudden surgery is now going to wreak havoc on your finances, your career and your daily life.
Now, this example is extreme but if I asked you what your next steps would be or what systems you had in place to help you during this time what would your answer be? Most people don’t have a plan in place for hard seasons because they’re too busy keeping up with the average seasons. However, by taking a few minutes to set in place a basic plan this unexpected surgery and any other hard season could be so much smoother.
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Introducing the Coping Map
So, what is this plan? I call it my coping map. It is your guidebook to weathering the storm and enduring survival mode. Hard seasons are typically very disorienting, they are large scale changes or events aht throw your daily life out of alignment. Things like:
- Losing/quitting your job
- Natural disaster
- Death of a loved one
- Burnout
- Home renovations
- Moving
- Pregnancy/postpartum
- Starting a new job
- Caring for a sick/elderly family member
- Major surgery/injury
Some of these seem bigger than others but everyone is different and each of these events is a hard season and has the potential to derail your daily life and push you into survival mode. That’s why you need a plan to keep you on track, give you some structure and stability as you navigate your storm.
How to Build Your Coping Map
The Coping Map includes several elements but the three primary keys are:
- The Right Questions
- A plan for Non-Negotiables
- Reliefs
Let’s start with the right questions. These questions will help you to develop your Coping Map and hone your plan rather than create chaos or distract you from your planning.
A question such as: What would my mom do in this situation? May give you some ideas but it isn’t guiding you towards the answers you need. Instead, the question: What is activating my Coping Map and how long do I expect it to last? Is going to give you clarity and direction. (You can find all the right questions and your own Coping Map Kit here.)
After you’ve asked the right questions and have the answers you need, your next step is to make a plan for your non-negotiables. These are the tasks/events you absolutely have to do.
- Cleaning
- Laundry
- Pick kids up from school
- Grocery shopping
- Cooking
All of these things must be done, but the question is how do they have to get done during this season? That is where reliefs come in. They are things you may not normally do or use but that make your life simpler and make keeping up with your non-negotiables easier. Using paper plates so you don’t have to do dishes everyday would be a relief. Having your groceries delivered instead of going to the grocery store, having a family come stay with you to help out for a while, or hiring a cleaner once a week would all be reliefs.
Your Coping Map should help you to clarify your season, set a plan for your non-negotiables and install several reliefs to simplify your daily life during your hard season. You can download your own free Coping Map Kit here to build your own plan for hard seasons.
Give Yourself Grace
It’s important to remember to give yourself grace during hard seasons. You aren’t failing because you use paper plates or give your kids extra screen time. You have a limited amount of energy and margin, during hard seasons that amount shrinks and you need to make adjustments.
Be kind to yourself and understand that these seasons don’t last forever. Making a plan for them gives you the time and space you need to weather the storm and not drown. I wish I’d learned this sooner and had applied it to the many hard seasons I’ve experienced. Storms don’t have to derail you; be prepared.
Download The Coping Map Kit for; the right questions, a list of relief suggestions, a survival mode rhythm builder, a non-negotiable plan worksheet and more.
