5 Steps to Help you Organise for the Unexpected
No matter how organised you are, unexpected events will always present challenges. And while being organised can’t prevent the unexpected from occurring, it can certainly help you manage how prepared you are to react, reducing your stress and overwhelm to help you better cope and move forward more effectively.
In this article, we’re going to look at some simple steps you can start taking right now to help you organise your home and life for when unexpected events come knocking.
“Life is what happens when you’re making other plans”
- John Lennon
But first, how to begin? Where to start?
First, make a list of “WHAT IFs” and talk them over with your partner/family. This can be challenging, but it doesn’t have to all be scary stuff, consider exciting possibilities, too!
Consider the examples below:
What if:
you couldn’t get to school to pick up the kids on time?
you are offered a job overseas?
an interstate relative becomes quite ill?
your child wins a scholarship?
there’s a natural disaster in your area?
The following steps can help you deal with your “WHAT IFs”.
5 steps you can take now
1. Get your paperwork organised
This is about creating easy access to what you need when you need - birth certificates, passports, insurance policies etc. People often keep more paper work than they need. Ask yourself:
“What’s the worst that will happen if I throw this away?”
Try these tips:
Cull down to only your most important records and documents.
Contact your accountant/lawyer for help deciding which legal or financial documents you need to keep.
Keep your ‘Vital Documents’ together in one place - birth, marriage, death certificates; passports, Wills, Power of Attorney. Important records to prove who you are, your wishes, and legal arrangements.
Make sure all family members & your trusted helpers know where your important documents are located.
A sealable suspension file box is great for creating a grab-and-go file for your important documents.
2. Get your technology sorted
Getting caught without the right charging cable is stressful. Your phone is the way you store and access so much help and information. Take some steps to get your tech sorted.
Try these tips:
Label and keep your cables and connectors in a central place.
Untangle messy piles of cables.
Keep spares of only the most important cables (i.e. phone) in your car or with your travel luggage.
Try using cable organisers for keeping cables compact and tangle-free.
3. Household systems & routines:
Set up a command centre or go-zone that will help with day-to-day home and life management.
This could include:
Daily paper work, bills, receipts
Device charging station
Calendar and weekly schedule
Keys, wallets, handbags
Kid’s school bags and accessories
Equipment for hobbies like sports, dancing etc.
Need help getting your household systems sorted? Check out our Home Systems Workbook to review and develop personalised systems for your household.
Your Command Centre:
Whatever furniture or storage solutions you choose to use keep them flexible so the area can adapt as your needs change.
4. Be prepared to travel
Family often live far away and we all love to travel, unfortunately crises can happen anywhere. These simple steps can help ensure you have easy access to what you need for travel, without the fuss and clutter.
Try these tips:
Cull clothes from your wardrobe that you no longer need, makes packing a breeze
If you tend to go up and down in sizes, keep out only the size you’re wearing now. Put other sizes away in labelled storage.
Use packing cubes to help keep the contents of your luggage organised when you’re travelling.
Prepack an emergency travel toiletries bag just in case. Keep a supply of your favourite hair or skin products in a leak proof pouch.
Check your local government information about how to prepare for natural disaster or evacuation.
5. Help your helpers
Part of preparing for the unexpected is having trusted people you can call on, should you need extra support.
Try these tips:
List five people you could call on if you need help in a range of situations.
Consider which of these you trust to share some of the key details of how your home and life work.
Check if they would be willing and able to help if/when needed.
Final thoughts
It’s not always fun to consider life’s “WHAT IFs”. The process can be overwhelming, and very easy to put off… but it’s a lot better than the alternative. And your future self will thank you!
Start small to avoid overwhelm. You don’t need to have it sorted straight away. Work through the tips at a comfortable pace, breaking them down into smaller, more manageable tasks. Tick them off as you do. Aim for progress, not perfection. Every little bit helps when you’re organising for the unexpected.
Summary: Key Actions You Can Take
Start with "What Ifs": List and discuss potential scenarios (both challenging and exciting) with your family to identify what you need to prepare for
Get paperwork organised: Cull down to essential documents, store vital records (birth certificates, passports, wills) in one accessible place that everyone knows about
Get technology sorted: Label and store cables in a central location, keep phone charging spares in your car, use cable organisers to prevent tangles
Create household systems: Set up a command centre for daily management with charging stations, calendars, keys, school bags, and hobby equipment
Be prepared to travel: Declutter your wardrobe, keep only current-size clothing accessible, use packing cubes, and prepack an emergency toiletries bag
Help your helpers: Identify 5 trusted people you can call on, share key details about how your home works, and confirm their willingness to help
Start small: Break tasks into manageable steps, work at a comfortable pace, and aim for progress over perfection
Looking for more help, ideas or encouragement?
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Home Systems Workbook – Simple activities to organise routines and reduce chaos ($9.95)
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