Since everyone’s been bemoaning the sorry state of the economy lately, I thought Lifehack’s recent post on how to “back-up” your life was particularly insightful.  Author AJ West says that you should never assume that what you plan today will work for you tomorrow.  Some of her suggestions include:

Back-up your career. Layoffs often seem to come out of nowhere, so find something you can do in lieu of your current job. Whenever you finish a big project, switch jobs or get a new title, update your resume right away. Not only will it save you time later, but it is always good to have it updated for spur of the moment career opportunities.  Have at least two months of salary in the bank in the event of a layoff, firing, or medical crisis.

Back-up your finances.  Plan for your eventual retirement with a savings account and or 401K or Roth IRA.  This is especially important for those earning a living in the blue collar or hospitality industry with companies that do not offer you retirement benefits.  Insure valuable items you have in your possession, and if you’re married, secure at least a small amount of financial independence in the event that you lose your spouse or things don’t work out between you.  Maintain a separate savings account and your own credit card. 

Back-up your personal records.  In the unfortunate event of a fire or technology malfunction, plan a day each month to back up your files on your personal PC, laptop and work computer.  Purchase an external hard drive, and then scan in and save important documents such as birth certificates, tax records, and work files. 

As West says, if you fail to plan, you plan to fail. You may never use your back-up plans, but like the flood insurance you purchased, it’s always nice to know you have it…just in case.