Your First 90 Days, Day 28: Planning for Storms

✨Day 28: Preparing for Turbulence: Your High-Risk Situation Plan

"The wise man builds his house on the rock, so that when the storms come, it stands firm." - Parable

For almost a month, things had been going smoothly for Wei. He had his new routines, his coping strategies, and he was feeling confident. Then came a week-long business trip. Alone in a hotel room in a strange city, with a different schedule and a high-pressure presentation to prepare for, all his old triggers came roaring back. He was caught in the storm without a plan.

It's one thing to stay on track when your life is stable and predictable. It's another thing entirely when a storm hits. On Day 28, we're going to become meteorologists of our own lives. We'll identify predictable high-risk situations and create a proactive plan to navigate them safely.

Identifying Your Storms

What are the situations that are most likely to knock you off balance and make you vulnerable to a relapse? These are your personal "storms." Common examples include:

• Travel: Being alone in hotels, jet lag, and a break from your normal routine.
• Holidays: Family stress, pressure to celebrate, and lots of unstructured downtime.
• Periods of Intense Work Stress: Major deadlines, conflicts with colleagues, or job uncertainty.
• Relationship Conflict: A major argument with a partner or a friend.
• Sickness: When you are physically ill, your willpower is low, and you are often stuck in bed with nothing but your devices.
• Major Life Transitions: Moving, starting a new job, or the end of a relationship.

Recognizing that these are danger zones is the first step. The second is having a specific plan in place before you enter them.

The S.O.S. Plan: Structure, Outlets, and Support

For any upcoming high-risk situation, create a simple S.O.S. plan.

1. Structure: How can you maintain some semblance of your healthy routine?

   • Example (Travel): "I will still do my 5-minute morning meditation. I will find the hotel gym as soon as I arrive. I will schedule a walk for the afternoon."

2. Outlets: What are your pre-planned, healthy escape valves for the inevitable stress?

   • Example (Holidays): "When I feel overwhelmed by family, I will go for a walk and listen to my recovery podcast. I will have a book ready to read. I will limit my time with my most stressful relatives."

3. Support: Who can you connect with? How can you leverage your tribe?

   • Example (Work Stress): "I will schedule a 10-minute check-in call with my accountability partner every day during this project. I will post on my online support forum before I start work each day."

Action Step: Plan for Your Next Storm

Look at your calendar for the next month or two. What is the next predictable "storm" on your horizon? A holiday? A work trip? A deadline?

Your task today is to create a simple S.O.S. plan for that one event. Write down one specific action for each category: Structure, Outlets, and Support.

By doing this now, when you are calm and rational, you are giving a gift to your future self. When the storm hits, you won't have to think; you'll just have to execute the plan.

Conclusion: You Are the Captain

You cannot control the weather. Storms will come. But you are not a helpless sailor. You are the captain of your own ship. You can read the forecast, you can prepare your vessel, and you can navigate the turbulence with skill and foresight.

By planning for these situations, you are dramatically reducing your chances of being caught off guard. You are turning predictable risks into opportunities to prove your strength and resilience. Tomorrow, we'll do a powerful exercise to solidify your vision for the future: writing a letter to yourself.