A well-run organization has crisis management plans that allow them to be prepared to handle emergencies as wisely and safely as possible. For example, schoolteachers may have Go Bags with emergency first aid supplies and practice fire drills with their students. However, we can’t create a drill to prepare us for life challenges like a cancer diagnosis, a mental health breakdown, of the prospect of losing a parent. How, then, can we be prepared to face a crisis?
We need a strong foundation
When trouble strikes, we go into survival mode. We tend to operate in autopilot because we don’t have bandwidth for planning, thinking, or willpower. If we’ve established a foundation of healthy habits and positive lifestyle behaviors, we’ll have a better likelihood of continuing in those healthy habits when crisis strikes, and those healthy habits will help us cope.
I think of it like this: When we’re in survival mode, we’re making withdrawals from our physical, emotional, mental and spiritual selves. If we go into a tough situation “bankrupt”, we’ll struggle more to weather the storm, and we’ll be more susceptible to burnout, meltdown, and depression.
Therefore, just as it’s a wise habit to set money aside for a rainy day, it’s wise to build up a cushion of deposits in the various facets of our life. The stronger our foundation, the easier it will be to stand firm and weather the storms of life.
Be prepared for tomorrow by living intentionally today
We can’t predict when a crisis will occur. We can’t prevent unexpected disasters from happening.
But we can live intentionally during non-crisis seasons, so that when troubles come, we are starting from a strong foundation of healthy habits and wise disciplines. We can intentionally make deposits to our physical, mental, emotional, and spiritual health “accounts” during good seasons so we have something to draw on with challenges come.
Every small healthy choice you make is a deposit toward your overall well-being and resilience.
Preparing your physical self
Science shows that taking good care of our body through things like eating right, exercising and sleeping will positively impact our ability to cope in a crisis. We all know the basics of physical health. We simply need to do them. Consistently.
Where might you need a bit more intentionality with your physical self-care?
Preparing your mental and emotional self
Most crises are very draining on your mental and emotional resources. How intentional are you at restoring these reservoirs? There are many ways to make deposits in these areas. Here are a few suggestions: Participate in a hobby. Enjoy outdoor activities. Play with your grandchildren. Spend time with good friends. Engage with beauty through art, music, nature, poetry, photography, etc.
How can you make more intentional time to restore your heart and head?
Preparing your spiritual self
What habits do you have in place that keep you connected to God and his truth? For example, activities like prayer, meditation, and attending a Bible study. These are often referred to as “spiritual disciplines.” Here are two concepts about spiritual disciplines that have helped prepare me for supporting my mother through her last days.
- A single quiet time is not sufficient to keep me connected to God throughout a typical busy day. Like medieval monks, I benefit from a habit of returning my focus to God several times throughout the day—and I use the alarm feature on my phone to remind me to do it. Just a few minutes several times a day helps me maintain a more even keel instead of getting sucked into a quagmire of anxiety.
- Spiritual disciplines are long-term investments, not quick fixes. Each act is a small deposit, and their effect adds up over time. I don’t always feel better (or more joyful, more “connected” or whatever) after prayer or meditation or worship, but I believe that my time was not wasted. I am obediently and confidently investing in my spiritual well-being and trusting God to transform me and provide for me.
Preparing your lifestyle
How do you practice wise boundaries and intentionally add white space (i.e. buffer) into your lifestyle, so that when a crisis strikes, you are not already stretched too thin? Are you intentional about investing in self-care? In uplifting relationships? In establishing wise boundaries? Or in living with purpose and integrity?
Where might you want to practice wiser lifestyle decisions?
Preparing your work life
A friend of mine was amazed that I’ve been able to maintain blog posts during this time of crisis. The reason I’ve been keeping up with my blog is because I’ve developed a habit of working ahead. Once upon a time I was scrambling every Monday to come up with a post for Tuesday. Then I discovered it was better for me to write several posts at one time.
This habit meant that when I suddenly needed to drive to the hospital every day, it was a welcome relief to know I didn’t have to worry about next week’s blog post.
Are there tasks in your home or career work life where you can work ahead? Every bit of margin you create at work will pay dividends when you suddenly face an unexpected problem.
Where do you need to invest in building a stronger foundation?
Are you prepared to face a crisis? Have you been making healthy, intentional deposits in all the facets of your life and well-being? Or are some facets “in the red”?
What is one thing you can begin to work on today that will help some aspect of your life move from the red into the black?
Choose one small thing, and DO IT today.
