Ever find yourself gripping tightly to a plan — only for life to completely blow it up? Welcome to adulting. Whether you’re just trying to stay afloat or chasing big goals, there are three skills that can save your sanity: Planning, Pivoting, and Improvising.

This blog highlights these three skills and why knowing *when* to use each is just as important as knowing *how* to use them. Spoiler: Most of us default to just one, and when life demands another, we get stuck — or worse, spiral.

Planning: Your Roadmap

Planning is your power move when you know what you want and you’re ready to break it down into steps. It’s about mapping the path forward — goals, dates, timelines, actions. If you’re someone who thrives on clarity and structure, planning probably feels like home base.

Pivoting: Adjust with Purpose

Pivoting kicks in when the unexpected shows up — new information, missed estimates, or when you realize what you were going after isn’t quite right. A pivot doesn’t mean you failed. It means you’re flexible, grounded, and adjusting based on *what’s real* right now.

Improvising: Make the Call, Fast

Improvising is what happens when the plan goes out the window and you’re reacting in real time. It’s messy. It’s uncomfortable. But it’s also necessary when life throws things at you faster than you can process. It’s about acting with whatever tools and insight you have in the moment.

Real Talk: How I Got Stuck in My Own Plan

I’m a planner — it’s my default mode. So when life tossed me into a chaos storm involving work deadlines, travel, and a sudden eye injury with my dog that required a specialist, I resisted. I tried to force my plan to keep working. But here’s the thing — the plan wasn’t the problem. My attachment to it was.

The deeper stress I was feeling wasn’t just about logistics — it was about refusing to adapt. Once I caught myself, I had to make a choice: hold onto my “perfect” plan or shift into pivoting and improvising to actually deal with what was happening.

The moment I accepted that I needed to switch gears, everything felt lighter. I wasn’t less busy, but I was less overwhelmed. That shift — from clinging to control to responding with flexibility — made all the difference.

Know Your Default — But Don’t Get Trapped In It

Do you default to planning, pivoting, or improvising? None is better than the other — but getting stuck in the wrong one for the moment? That’s where overwhelm breeds. The magic is in knowing how to move between the three.

Dive into how and when to use each skill by practicing — mix it up and see how it goes.  You may be surprised by the results.  Remember, adulting doesn’t have to mean burnout.

Stay happy and healthy - Lee