Being prepared can often can mixed up with being anxious because if you talk about planning ahead, people sometimes joke (or not) that you’re overthinking things… but there’s actually a big difference between being worried about everything and just being ready for what life might throw at you because the fact is being prepared is about expecting the worst, it’s about knowing that if something happens or changes, you’ll be ready to deal with it. With that in mind, keep reading to find out more.
Preparation Is About Reducing Stress
When you’re prepared, you don’t spend as much time worrying about things because you know where you and everyone and everything else stands, and you know what your options are. On top of that, you’ll probably have at least a rough idea of what to do if your plans change. The feeling of having a few things in place really can make everything feel so much easier, whether it’s one specific event you’re planning for, or just your normal, everyday life.
Paranoia, on the other hand, is when you’re waiting for something bad to happen (even if you don’t have any reason to suspect it will), so it’s quite different.
You’ll See It In Normal Ways
You might not always spot someone who’s prepared, and that’s because they’re not going to be shouting about it – they don’t have to. They’ll be prepared in quite normal ways that you won’t necessarily know about, like having some savings put away, for example, or they’ll keep all their important papers together, or they’ll have a list of emergency contacts, just in case they’re needed.
What’s great about being prepared like this is that it doesn’t take a lot of work to make it happen, but if you need those things to help you out of a sticky situation, they’re there and ready to do – what could be better?
Planning Doesn’t Mean You’re Negative
A lot of people tend to avoid too much (or any) planning because they don’t want to think about things going wrong – or they don’t want people to see them as negative and always looking for the downside of any possible situation.
That’s understandable, but the reality is that planning isn’t really about assuming something’s going to happen – it just means that if something did happen (and it sometimes will), you’ll know what to do and you’ll have a contingency plan in place. That’s a big difference because when you’ve got a plan, it means you’re actually able to enjoy the present more because you’ve not got that low-level worry in the back of your mind.
Relationships and Preparation
Preparation matters in relationships just as much as it matters in every other part of life, so knowing where you stand, having clear communication, and understanding your responsibilities are all going to be massively important if you want things to go smoothly. And once again, it doesn’t mean you’re expecting something to go wrong, but if something did – because you know life changes – you’ll be ready to keep going, which is vital.
That’s why some people decide that speaking to a family law attorney is a good idea right from the start, especially if they want a pre-nuptial agreement set up, for example. They’re not expecting a break up, but getting all the information makes a lot of sense.
Prepared People Handle Change Better
When something does change, whatever it happens to be, anyone who’s prepared in life is sure to be able to handle it better, and cope more with the outcome. Yes, they’ll still feel all the emotions, and they’ll still have a problem to deal with, but because they’re not also having to deal with total confusion, it’s easier to handle the initial issue. They know where to start, and they know who to turn to.
Change can make people feel really unsettled, and having some idea of what to do first, at the very least, is a good way to help yourself calm down so you can think more clearly and act decisively – not impulsively.
It Helps You Make Better Decisions
When you haven’t got to react to situations because you already have a plan in place, that means you’re able to think more clearly, and that in turn means you’re less likely to rush into something just because you feel pressured to come up with an answer. In other words, when you’re prepared, you’ve given yourself the time and space you need to make the right choices, and decide on a course of action that makes the most sense.
And don’t just assume this is something linked to emergencies – it can be used for financial decisions, careers, family, hobbies, and everything else in between. It’s a useful tool that can help you get where you want in life.
It’s Not About Controlling Everything
Being prepared doesn’t mean you’ve got an idea in your head about being in control of your life – as much as that would be a lovely thing, we can only go so far because there are so many outside factors that can get involved and have a say.
So the key is not to try to control everything, and instead to accept that you can’t do that, but at the same time you can be happy you’ve got the basics covered and you’re trying your best to get where you want to go. When you’re thinking along those lines, you’ll probably be more relaxed than if you just assume everything’s fine all the time.
You Don’t Have To Do Everything At Once
Preparation isn’t something you can get done in a day – it’s a slow process, and it can take a while before you really feel as though you’re done. And some people never feel finished, which is fine as long as they’re staying on top of things.
This can take a lot of pressure because you can do things bit by bit – you might start by getting your paperwork in order, for example, then you might think about finances, and then perhaps your longer-term plans, and so on. But the point is, there’s no rush.
