Creating Certainty in Uncertain Times: 5 Simple Practices for Finding Stability in Uncertain Times

Life does not always go according to plan. No matter how organized we are or how carefully we prepare, there will always be situations, changes and circumstances we simply cannot predict.

Over the years, I have come to realize that trying to make everything certain is probably a losing battle. There will always be things outside our control.

What we can do, however, is create small pockets of certainty within our everyday lives.

For me, certainty doesn't mean knowing exactly what is going to happen tomorrow. It means having certain things I can return to—my routines, my choices, my habits and the things that keep me grounded when everything else seems to be moving around.

These five practices come from my own life experience. They are simple, practical and, more importantly, things we can actually do.

1. Start With Gratitude

One of the simplest ways I create certainty is by starting with what already exists.

Take a moment at the beginning of the day and identify three things you are grateful for.

They don't have to be profound. It could be your morning coffee, your family, your home, your work, your health, a friend or simply the fact that you have another day ahead of you.

When life feels uncertain, our minds naturally drift towards questions such as:

What is going to happen?

What if this goes wrong?

What if things change?

Gratitude brings us back to something much simpler:

What do I have right now?

Instead of constantly looking towards what might happen, we recognise what is already here.

Certainty can begin by appreciating what already exists.

2. Make Time for What Recharges You

We all have things that recharge our batteries, yet these are often the first things we sacrifice when life becomes busy or stressful.

We tell ourselves:

I'll do it when I have time.

I have found it much better to make the time.

If you enjoy reading, schedule it. If walking clears your head, put it into your week. It might be music, painting, cooking, gardening, exercise, photography or simply having coffee with someone whose company you enjoy.

It doesn't really matter what it is. What matters is that it gives something back to you.

There is also something reassuring about knowing that a certain part of your week belongs to something you enjoy. When other things become unpredictable, these moments remain familiar.

Routine gives us something predictable to return to.

3. Create a Stability Timetable

I believe there is value in having certain predictable points in the day.

Your waking time. Your morning routine. When you exercise. When you eat. When you work. When you switch off. When you sleep.

This doesn't mean every minute needs to be planned or that we should become rigid about our routines. Life will interrupt them from time to time—and that's fine.

The idea is simply to create enough structure to give yourself a stable base.

I think of this as an Expansion Zone, rather than a Comfort Zone.

A comfort zone says:

“I don't want anything to change.”

An Expansion Zone says:

“I have enough stability in my life to deal with what might change.”

The purpose of certainty should not be to protect us from experiencing something new. It should give us a strong enough foundation from which we can explore, grow and deal with uncertainty.

Stability should support expansion, not prevent it.

4. Create a Distraction-Free Zone—and an Attraction Zone

There are times when we need to deliberately disconnect from all the noise around us.

Put the phone away. Switch off notifications. Step away from social media, emails, news and anything else constantly competing for your attention.

Create a period during the day that is genuinely distraction-free.

But I like to take this one step further.

It is not enough to decide what we want to move away from. We should also decide what we want to move towards.

I call this creating an Attraction Zone.

What do you want your attention to be attracted to?

A book? A personal project? Exercise? Meditation? Learning something new? Creative work? Planning something for your future?

Instead of constantly asking:

“What do I need to get away from?”

Try asking:

“What do I want to move towards?”

Where we repeatedly place our attention matters.

5. Exercise Your Power to Choose

This is perhaps the simplest practice of all.

When everything feels uncertain, make a list called:

Things I Still Have Control Over.

And don't overthink it.

What am I going to eat for breakfast?

What clothes am I going to wear?

Which toothpaste am I going to use?

Am I going to exercise today?

Who am I going to call?

What am I going to read?

Where am I going to place my attention?

How am I going to respond to what happens today?

Some of these choices may sound almost ridiculously small.

That's the point.

It isn't about the toothpaste.

It's about the power to choose.

When we are surrounded by uncertainty, it is very easy to become consumed by everything we cannot control. Sometimes we need to deliberately remind ourselves of what we still can.

There are still decisions I can make.

There are still things I can influence.

There are still choices that belong to me.

The power to choose—even in small ways—can restore a sense of certainty when the bigger picture feels uncertain.

Certainty Doesn't Mean Knowing What Comes Next

For me, certainty isn't about knowing exactly what tomorrow will bring.

None of us can guarantee that.

It is about knowing what we can return to when we don't know what comes next.

Our routines. Our choices. Our interests. Our relationships. Our values. The things that recharge us. The things that keep us grounded.

A healthy routine cannot remove uncertainty from life, nor should we try to eliminate uncertainty altogether. Some of our greatest opportunities, experiences and growth will come from stepping into the unknown.

What we can do is create enough stability in our everyday lives to meet that uncertainty from a stronger place.

Perhaps the goal isn't to make life more certain.

It is to become more certain about how we choose to live within it.