Feeling Stuck? Meet the “Where Do I Start?” Planning Tool
By Ailene Gerhardt, MA, BCPA, CSA®, Founder, Beacon Patient Solutions LLC & Navigating Solo Network
Host, The Navigating Solo™ Podcast
The most common question I hear from solo agers isn't "What should I do?" but rather, "Where do I even begin?"
Planning for the future can feel like standing at the base of a mountain. You know you need to get to the top, but the sheer number of paths -legal, medical, social, and residential - can lead to "analysis paralysis."
I created the Where Do I Start? tool specifically to lower the barrier to entry. It isn’t a test you can fail. It is a compass designed to honor your current emotional state.
How it works:
Acknowledge the Overwhelm: Instead of a rigid checklist, this tool meets you where you are today.
Curated Guidance: By answering a few simple questions, you’ll receive a focused starting point tailored to your immediate needs.
The "Surprise Me" Option: Sometimes, the best way to move forward is to let go of the "perfect" choice and just take one small, unexpected step.
Planning is an act of self-care. It’s about creating possibilities for your future self.
How to find your starting point:
Press the Get Start Button
Select an area that feels most important to you today.
Review the suggested next step (and the "why" behind it).
Decide how to track it: Act now, download a calendar reminder (ics file to import), or note it in your planner.
Reflect: Download the optional Note-Taking PDF to capture any thoughts or emotions that surface. (available to download in multiple places on the page!)