Finding Solutions

by | Sep 30, 2023 | conclusions

CONCLUSIONS  (Day 7 of 7)
(Need to start at the beginning? Day 1)

Wow, this has been an amazing week for me in terms of considering preparedness.

I solved a number of problems just by sitting down with paper and pen and thinking through what was going on (or not going on).

I had a couple of household problems and I realized I didn’t have the tools to fix them. I added a few items to my shopping list, and I’m looking forward to a work day.

I thought about winter (we have months of white and not a lot of outside activity (unless you really like the cold)). I considered bringing light and color into my home.

red flowers next to snowy window scene

I’ve gathered the games and puzzles. Still thinking about music and entertainment that might brighten up our days. This is still a work in progress because there are a number of facets to the issue.

How are y’all doing? Were you able to solve a few issues with a bit of preparation? What still needs a little work?

 

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Make a Plan

by | Sep 29, 2023 | resources

RESOURCES  (Day 6 of 7)
(Need to start at the beginning? Day 1)

So where do you go for help with preparation?

Organized friends are a double blessing. 🙂 Invite a friend over for coffee and ask them to help you brainstorm and then walk with you through the process.

friends brainstorming

I like Notion for organizing my thoughts and ideas. I have information organized by area of my life and I have individual pages for each project I am working on. (I particularly like Tiago Forte’s PARA style of organization).

And, of course, a part of the answer lies in the area you are working on.

YouTube is a great resource, as is the Google search engine. You can learn just about anything from helpful videos and articles.

I was having trouble keeping my garden seeds sorted. A few YouTube videos later and I am good to go.

Where are you working on preparation? Do you need knowledge? Do you need help organizing items? Do you need encouragement and a plan?

 

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Break It Down

by | Sep 28, 2023 | second try

SECOND TRY  (Day 5 of 7)
(Need to start at the beginning? Day 1)

So what preparations will you consider or work on today?

Let’s use the example of annoying your spouse because you struggle to be on time (and, of course, your spouse is one of those arrive-early folks).

woman running late

How would preparation help? What steps could you take ahead of time so that you can be more timely?

Pick out your clothes the day before, gather needed items, make any necessary decisions (how much time do you really need to get ready), and troubleshoot anything that might cause delay.

It will likely take some practice, but you can work through every part of your prep time and make it more thoughtful and timely.

 

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Too Many Facets

by | Sep 27, 2023 | road blocks

ROADBLOCKS  (Day 4 of 7)
(Need to start at the beginning? Day 1)

When it comes to shutting down preparations, my struggles usually revolve around overwhelm. There is too much to do or too many facets of the problem to deal with.

tired couple at Christmas

Say my sweetie and I are talking through how to handle and prepare for the holidays. There are family relationships to navigate, activity choices, gift choices, budgeting, ad infinitum.

The solution is, of course, to work through one area at a time (and you might not get it all done before the holidays, just make each year a little better).

What stalls out your preparation plans? What do you need to work on first?

 

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Practical Prep

by | Sep 26, 2023 | first try

FIRST TRY  (Day 3 of 7)
(Need to start at the beginning? Day 1)

Pick an area of your marriage and see if you can make it better with a little preparation.

Let’s pick something like growing as a lover as an example.

What can you do, starting in your bedroom, to make sex easier and better? Have a regular laundry day so that your sheets are nice and clean. (Do you need pretty new sheets?) What do you need for love making? Small cleanup towels, lube, or an egg vibrator? (Get a lock box if you have nosey kids.)

stack of small towels

Can you make your bedroom a special place for the two of you? (Maybe move your office space to another room.) The idea is to have a special place and all the items you might need on hand. You’re prepared and ready to go.

Then consider your overall sexual health. Get regular checkups, sleep well, eat healthy, and exercise, so you feel good and able to be sexual. Ladies, don’t forget pelvic floor health (here’s a program I like – Pelvic Floor Strong). Having babies and aging can be tough on your body.

All of these things and more can be done as preparation so that making love is easier. No looking for the lube last minute or being distracted by something on your desk.

 

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The Ease of Being Prepared

by | Sep 25, 2023 | self-examination

SELF-EXAMINATION  (Day 2 of 7)
(Need to start at the beginning? Day 1)

There was a season in my life where I focused on preparation. I gave serious thought to the different areas of my life and was forward-thinking in my plans and workload. I was astonished at how well most of my life functioned.

I remember saying to myself how I was never going to do things any other way. It was so much easier to go through my day all prepared and ready to address whatever situation.

scrabble tiles

Well, life happened and I’ve drifted somewhat.

I still do things in a fairly timely way, but I’m really going to think about preparedness this week because of the ease of that kind of lifestyle. It’s a lot less stressful and way more enjoyable.

How prepared are you? Is your lifestyle eased by preparation or do you struggle with always feeling behind? Do you get sideswiped by circumstances in your relationships?

 

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