top of page
sestringel

When Plans Change: Tips for Handling Surprises

Sometimes, things don't go the way we expect them to, and believe it or not that's okay! What seems like a setback might turn out to be just what we needed. Even if that isn’t true, there are ways to handle a change in plans without feeling overwhelmed and stressed. Today, I want to take some time to talk about what to do when plans fall through and how we can handle it without falling apart.


1.      Be Mentally Prepared. Always expect for something to go wrong with the plans. This may sound like a defeatist attitude, but I’ve been trying this one recently and it really does work. Instead of expecting things to go smoothly, always expect at least one thing to go wrong. That way, when it inevitably pops up, we are aren’t surprised to see it and handle it with minimal disruption and drama.

 

2.      Be Flexible. Life is full of changes, surprises, and sometimes disappointments. When plans change, being flexible looks like being able to handle different feelings and situations without getting too stuck or upset that everything didn’t work out exactly as planned. It helps us adjust, open up to new ideas and still be in the present moment without worrying about what went wrong or how things could have been different.

 

3.      Take a Deep Breath. If we feel disappointed or frustrated, try breathing in for the count of four and exhaling for the count of six Breathing helps calm our mind and makes it easier to think of a solution. Remember, it's okay to feel a little sad or frustrated, but even when we feel these feelings we can find ways to move forward.

 

4.      Talk About It. Sharing our feelings with a trusted friend, family member, therapist, or coach can be helpful. They might have good ideas on how to make the new plan even better or offer perspectives we may not have thought of previously. It's okay to ask for support and share what's on our mind.

 

5.      People Pleaser? It's Okay to Say No. Sometimes, we want to make everyone else happy, but it's important to remember that we can't always please everyone. If saying yes to everything is making it hard for us when plans change, it's okay to say no. Our well-being is as much a priority as the project, plan and everyone else’s well-being too!

 

6.      Embrace Imperfection. I know this t-shirt is everywhere, but despite our best efforts no one is perfect and we need to stop trying. It's okay if things don't go perfectly. Embrace the imperfections and learn from them. Sometimes, the unplanned, imperfect moments, if we relax and embrace them, can become some of our best memories.

 

Question for Journaling:  Think about a time when your plans changed unexpectedly. How did you feel, and what did you do to handle the situation? If you could wave a magic wand and go back in time, is there anything you would do differently if a similar situation arose again.

 

 

Struggle with change? It's ok - we all do to some extent, but when we find ourselves getting overly upset it's time to take a look at things we can do to help lower our stress. Click the button above to schedule a time for us to chat about what we can do together to create change for you.


2 views0 comments

Comments


bottom of page