Photo by Artem Podrez: https://www.pexels.com/photo/car-with-open-hood-8985969/
I love this definition by Brainly: “The metaphor “under the hood” refers to the internal workings or complexities of a system that are not immediately visible, often used in contexts like technology or mechanics. It emphasizes understanding the details that support the surface-level functionality.”
I must admit, knowing what’s under the car hood is not my expertise! Having those who know is important to me.
Thinking about the details that support surface-level functionality, now that’s something I love to discuss and tweak, as I keep learning. Am I doing everything I can to provide the details needed to dig into my life? Are you?
Life changes, accounts change, laws change, heck, everything changes! What am I doing to keep up with the changes personally, and how am I relaying those changes is what’s on my mind of late.
Step by Step
My plan for the last five months of 2026 is to pretend I am not me. I know that sounds odd, yet, if I take a look at the way I do things from an “outside view”, I will have a better idea of how to describe the step-by-step details needed for another person.
Let me give you an example. I have an organizer. That organizer contains, at a high level, the various high-level categories of my personal and business life. Hard copies of documents, id’s, policies, accounts, etc. are placed inside the organizer.
That’s great, but without describing that I use my phone or PC to access an app or a website, which then requires me to access an authenticator code from my phone even to reach the account, I am leaving a “gap” in my own process. Yikes!
I speak often about “autopilot”. Including the step-by-step is a way to bring what you do on autopilot to the forefront. I’ve heard it suggested to leave a “letter of instruction”. What I’ll be evaluating over the next five months is whether it would be helpful to create a “letter of instruction” for every account.
Why Would I Do This?
Well-written emergency instruction letters help eliminate guesswork. It gives a clear starting point to those you’ve selected to help you whenever needed.
It’s an emotionally overwhelming time whenever you’re tapped to help someone. When this is combined with an organized emergency binder of important information and updated legal documents, it creates a practical system that reduces stress and improves communication.
Photo by Magda Ehlers: https://www.pexels.com/photo/motivational-texts-on-steps-13246608/
I’d Love to Hear From You
I’d love to hear what you think about this approach? Last week, I wrote about back-ups. This process in my mind is to help our back-ups.
I also mentioned The Ready Room I plan to launch in the fall. It’s this kind of activity that I envision us working on together via Zoom for an hour at a time, every couple of weeks.
I know it’s difficult to carve out time for this “administrative side” of life. That’s why I want to provide a space where we may work on these types of activities together.
Do let me know what you think by sending me an Email. If you’d like to learn more about my work check out my website @ The Living Planner.
I’ve written my book for people who would like to consider planning for now and after a loss. The 2026 edition of Living Planner What to Prepare Now While You Are Living © can be purchased HERE.
Quote of the week: “What people remember most is someone who helped them in hard times.” Brian Norgard
May we prepare in advance of the hard times, Lynn
#Can’tPredictCanPrepare #CareForPeopleCareForBusiness