Contingency Plans

March 21, 2026

Managing this magazine and blog has been something I’ve really enjoyed, but it hasn’t always been easy to stay consistent. With everything I have going on in my life, there were times where I had to step back and focus on other priorities. Because of that, it was important for me to think about contingency plans, or backup plans, for when I wasn’t able to keep up with posting or working on my magazine.

One major situation was during spring break. I went on a long trip that I had been planning and paying for over a year. It was an EF tour with my school, so it was also educational, not just for fun. Since it was such a big opportunity, I wanted to fully enjoy the experience and be present, instead of stressing about deadlines or blog updates. Because of that, I wasn’t able to keep up with my blog or work on my magazine during that time.

Another big challenge is my schedule. I currently work around 30–40 hours a week, sometimes even more. On top of that, I take eight AICE/AP classes, plus two dual enrollment classes each semester. This makes it really difficult to find time to consistently work on my magazine.

Even with all of that, I also try to make sure I have time for myself. I like to have at least one day where I can rest, spend time with my family, or go out with my boyfriend. This is important for my mental health, but it also means I have even less time to dedicate to my blog.

Because of these challenges, my contingency plan was to accept that I might fall behind at times and then catch up later. Instead of trying to force work during important moments or when I’m overwhelmed, I prioritize my responsibilities and then return to the magazine when I can give it my full attention. This helps me produce better work instead of rushing everything.

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Overall, creating contingency plans helped me manage my time more realistically. Even though I wasn’t always able to stay consistent, I learned how to balance my responsibilities and still complete my work. This experience showed me that sometimes it’s okay to step back, as long as you have a plan to recover and continue moving forward.