Three Things You Can Do Today for the People You Love

I spend a lot of time thinking about what happens when life changes unexpectedly. Not because I believe we should live expecting something bad to happen, but because I've seen what a gift it can be when someone has taken a little time to prepare.

We tend to think being prepared means having an estate plan, and having the right legal documents in place is certainly important. But a will or trust isn't going to tell someone how to unlock your phone, where to find your insurance information, or who to call when they suddenly need help. It's often the ordinary information about our lives that becomes extraordinarily important when someone else needs to step in.

The good news is that you don't have to organize your entire life this weekend. Start with three things.

1. Make sure someone can access your phone and primary email.

Think about how much of your life runs through these two things. Your phone may be needed for two-factor authentication, and your email can help identify bills, accounts, appointments, contacts, and important communications.

Make sure someone you trust could access them in an emergency. Store the information securely, and most importantly, make sure that person knows how and where to find it.

2. Make sure someone knows where your important documents are.

Your will, trust if you have one, Powers of Attorney, insurance policies, deeds, vehicle titles, and other important documents don't necessarily need to live in one place. But someone should know where to find them.

If they're scattered between a safe, filing cabinet, attorney's office, and online accounts, simply make a list of where everything is located. You don't have to reorganize it all. You're just leaving someone a path to follow.

3. Write down who to call.

If someone suddenly had to step into your life, who would they need to contact?

Take ten minutes and write down the names and contact information for the people who know important pieces of your life. That might include your attorney, financial advisor, accountant, insurance agent, doctor, or a trusted friend or family member.

Again, this doesn't need to be a comprehensive directory. Start with the handful of people who could answer questions, locate information, or help someone figure out what comes next.

None of these things requires an entire weekend or a perfectly organized filing system. You could start today with a single piece of paper.

Write down how someone you trust could access your essential digital information. List where your important documents are. Add the names and phone numbers of the people they might need.

Then tell someone you trust where you've put that piece of paper.

Preparing for the unexpected doesn't have to mean living in fear of what might happen. To me, it's quite the opposite. It's a small way of taking care of the people we love.

A little preparation today can create a lot more space for the things that matter when life suddenly changes.