I’d planned to share a marvelous piece about making plans in uncertain times. Then Covid-19 hit. Suddenly, the advice in Dare to Plan by oncology social worker Hester Hill-Schnipper felt outdated. A closer look, though, revealed that by simply tweaking the specifics, you could benefit from her valuable insights.
“There is a great deal of discussion about the value of living in the moment, appreciating each day as it comes and trying not to worry about next month or next year. But it is important to believe in the future and to allow yourself to plan ahead in positive ways.”
Here are two examples of tweaking Schnipper’s tips or follow-ups to fit the times:
“Break the future into smaller chunks. “ Try replacing her follow-up (“If you have scans every three months, plan your time in 90-day blocks”) with “Find a time frame—whether a week or month—that doesn’t elicit anxiety or sadness, and then plan doable activities and celebrations for that time.” You’ll benefit from:
Mitigating the anxiety associated with thinking too far ahead for you.
Building your confidence in the short-term future.
“Shop as usual.” The follow-up still works if you’re flexible with the purchased items. In April, you can buy, say, sunshine-themed tea towels instead of a bathing suit. While anticipating the warm months, you might benefit from:
Mitigating grief
Celebrating the change of season
During times of uncertainty and loss, planning meaningful and joyful activities helps you retain a sense of authorship of your life. It affirms that life is good. It gives you reasons to hope for tomorrow.
Hester Hill-Schnipper, LICSW, OSW-C
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