BRAYNK! Snooze. BRAYNK! Snooze. BRAYNK! BRAYNK! BRAYNK!!!
“Oh no, 7 o’clock already?” Your heart races and you jolt out of bed. Parents trying to refamiliarize themselves with back-to-school routines often encounter stress while getting the kids ready in the morning. The rushing often leads to a frantic and abbreviated routine.
You may find yourself looking for corners to cut so you can get out of the house as quickly as possible. Abbreviated timelines, hand-held breakfasts in the form of a banana or a breakfast bar replace a carefully prepared breakfast. We bark orders asking the kids to get dressed as quickly as possible.
When we finally head out the door, we race to the car and load everyone in. With one hand on the steering wheel and the other hand frantically trying to find the seatbelt, you pull out of the driveway and … BAM! Adrenaline fills you body. Desperately wishing you could go back in time to eliminate the actions that led to the crash, you wonder just how much the whole situation will cost in frustration and cold, hard cash.
The Best Way to Deal with an Accident is to Avoid Having One in the First Place
When we rush, Murphy’s Law goes into hyperdrive. Planning is the answer to our quest toward accident avoidance. After all; as the adage goes, “If you fail to plan, you plan to fail!” In the United States Army, combat leaders rely on “backwards planning” to develop a timeline to execute a mission. This method of planning is so effective that it could potentially eliminate that frantic feeling you encounter whenever you feel rushed.
How to Think Backwards
To start, think about your schedule – but in reverse. If the kids start school at 8 a.m., plan backwards the time it will take you to drive from your house to the school. For instance, if it takes 20 minutes to drive from your home to the local elementary, plan to get kids in the car by 7:40 a.m. If all goes well, you should be backing out the driveway by 7:40 a.m.
Once You’re on the Road
Continue “backward planning” from there.
- Calculate the time it takes to walk out of the house and load the car. For example, if it takes 5 minutes to load up, plan to corral everyone and start walking out the door by 7:35 a.m.
- Estimate the amount of time it takes to complete your morning ritual. This may include waking up, getting yourself and your children dressed, cooking breakfast, etc. Let’s say your morning ritual takes an hour and a half. If so, you should set your alarm for 5:55 a.m.
- Continue this process to plan bedtimes, homework the night before, and gym time.
- Planning this way will take some trial and error. But once you establish the timeline, you will enjoy peace of mind knowing you won’t have to rush.
If you fail to plan, plan on having frantic moments. And when those frantic moments hit you, or someone else who is in a rush crashes into your vehicle, call DG Collision Center. We will repair your automobile and get you back on track. And when it comes to driving, just one more word of advice – keep looking ahead!
About DG Collision Center
The “go-to” location for auto body repair and classic restoration in the San Gabriel Valley. People in the area already know that DG Collision Center pays attention to detail, provides courteous service, and works for fair and affordable prices. If you select DGCC to repair your car, our concierge service will help make your entire auto body repair process easy on you. We will even help you arrange for a rental car and deal directly with your insurance company. DGCC is owned and operated by Dan Hansen, aka “Dan Gogh.” Come by the shop 781 E San Bernardino Road in Covina, contact us via email today, call (626) 445-6630 or visit DGCollisionCenter.com.