We prepare for big ones , but how about a swarm of small ones all in one wrong day !

It has happened to me a few times now.

Starts with some call, jump to car , solve the problem, but two problems arise meanwhile and a phone call comes from family about something while colleague is waiting for some report, and you finally discover while driving your son to his evening course that gauges of BOTH gas tanks on the truck are indicating south. I was just too distracted by the events to notice gas being depleted.

An earlier one I had a flat for the x-th time and was mad about the type of wheels on the truck that do not take tubless tires ... I had to leave what I was doing and stop at some shop to change the wheels and install tubless. Thus adding another task/distraction costing some time & cash, while I was late for another dozen TO-DOs , not to mention going back to office !!

The worrying part is that no alarm siren were heard at some point to pack the BOB or extra emergency whatever. It was not a volcanoe eruption or such . It was seen as 'normal day' and things unfolded in an energy/cash/time sucking black hole. And the swarm of precipitatining TO-DO's, fatigue, lack of cash, work their way to put you in a tight spot .... you want to pull your hair.

I have tried to be prepared for such a day, but do not seem to have suceeded. Sometimes it unfloded when I didn't even have my EDC(?) bag. I had my wallet OK, but not the bag where I keep "other" stuff.

That is why I have added some emergency stuff in my normal work bag. Stuff like emergency cash , gum, medication pouch .. etc. But still, it is more worrying to me than any "BIG ONE" that might happen.

Has anything like it happened to you sometimes?
Any gems of wisdom you have gained afterwards ?

Edit to add :

First thing .. CALM DOWN.
It won't get better when you are pulling your hair.

Second. Take notes. Really !
I have written some notes in some of those bad days, and used them to add necessary stuff in my EDC ( like gum !! ) when I thought it helpful. Gum was in my seconday ( flat ) wallet, and yesterday I was 100% glad I had it even when both EDC bag and work bag were not with me!!.

Any more ?

Here is my methodology.

* STOP: Stop, think, observe and plan.

* Remain calm.

* Take notes.

* Get help. Delegate whatever you can.

* Prioritize.

* Wherever possible, work on a single thing at a time.

* Fly the plane first. In other words, some tasks require your full attention and you should not allow your attention to wander when performing those tasks.

One of the problems with chaotic days like this is the lightning speed with which events unfold. They make you (wrongly) decide to lighten up and drop some weight. You leave your bag somewhere because it is a city environment and for the last x-days/weeks you didn't have to use your firestarter, or even the multitool. Why lug it around ? You would return later to pick it up. Right?

When your bag is a few miles away from you, it is the time that you need some of its contents like duct tape or extra pen.

You can't really plan for days like that -- there are too many wild cards.

Just stop and prioritize as best you can.

If your kids are able, have them do some of the stuff. It's good experience for later in their lives.



BE GLAD! It doesn't sound like you could have fit it in!

Sue

I'd change my last name from Murphy to something else...kidding you.

If one thing is giving you fits, change it. Sounds like you did that with the truck tires.

Make it a routine to always gas up on a certain day of the week. Regardless of what the gauge says, get gas on Tuesday morning before work. Or in your case, gauges.

The to-dos - how many can simply be blown off and not much happen? Sometimes people get disappointed in what you can't do. Figure what is the bigger problem, the most important of them all, and do that. Then work down your list. If something doesn't get accomplished, such is life. You prioritized and did what you could.

yep, I tell my wife every pay day to top off the tank weather it needs it or not. She's went a month and a half without getting gas.

Yes, I've had similar days, but I won't claim to have gained any wisdom...

Apparently, you have:



Always sound advice.



This is exactly why I've adopted Nomad's "notebook protocol" (see thread here) on a daily basis: Important stuff on the front, trivial scratch notes and details on the back. Pull off one corner as you fill the pages - that makes it easier to open on the freshest page.

It has helped me getting more organized, remember all those trivial small stuff I've promised my DW to look into and keep things running smoothly. I've got a fairly good memory, but it is of little use when I'm stressed or fatigued.


I consider this routine no less than an important survival strategy. Equally important, it keeps things running smoothly and less stressful in my daily life. And it is incredible useful for those extra challenging days - like the one that inspired your original post.

HATE those domino days! All the little things will get you just more often than the big one.

Harmless speaks with wis om, notes notes and more notes. Add that to Chisel's excellent advice to stick to your routines as much as possible, and you're further ahead than most.

Car breaks down on the way to work? Take your EDC and GHB. Gas tank running low but you're running late for work? Fill it up. Etc. When this go wrong it may just be the start. Try to nip it in the bud and do the best you can to keep up.

Not all of the "slings and arrows of outrageous fortune" deserve to be treated as emergencies. When everyday stuff starts to seen overwhelming, consider looking the other way through those binoculars and shrink those mountains back to molehills.