So... Why Do Things Feel a Little Unstable?

Lately, there’s been a new word making the rounds: polycrisis. It sounds academic, slightly dramatic, and conveniently vague, but it’s actually useful. The idea is simple: instead of one big problem, we now have several smaller (and not-so-small) problems happening at the same time, feeding into each other.

Think about it. Geopolitical tensions, economic pressure, supply chain fragility, rapid technological shifts—especially with AI—and a general sense that systems we assumed were stable are… not quite as solid as advertised. The recent Atlantic piece on the AI boom makes a sharp point here: we’re pouring massive resources into building the future while the present is becoming increasingly unpredictable. That’s not necessarily a contradiction, but it is a risk because systems don’t fail in isolation. When multiple pressures stack, they amplify each other. And that’s where the discomfort starts to be felt, because of the instability, because of the constant adjustment. The kind that slowly forces you to pay attention.

What should we do?

The first real move isn’t to make more money, it’s to need less of it. Not a glamorous idea, but a powerful one. The lower your baseline expenses, the harder it is for external chaos to knock you over.

If your life depends on a very specific level of income just to function, then what you have is a very delicate setup. Reducing that pressure, even slightly, creates breathing room. And in uncertain times, breathing room is everything.

Cash: The Most Boring Advantage You’ll Ever Have

Cash is not exciting. It doesn’t grow impressively, it doesn’t make you feel clever, and it definitely doesn’t get attention. But when things get shaky, it quietly becomes one of the most valuable things you can have.

Cash buys time. It buys options. Most importantly, it keeps you from making desperate decisions, which is where real damage tends to happen. Economic crises bring with them a lot of pressure. And pressure is what pushes people into making mistakes.

Become Useful and the Economy Will Notice

At some point, the focus has to shift from effort to usefulness. When money tightens, people stop paying for things that are simply nice or interesting. They focus on what solves real problems.

If what you do clearly helps someone save time, make money, or reduce stress, you’re in a strong position. If it doesn’t, then it’s time to adjust. Not dramatically, not emotionally, just strategically. Being busy has never guaranteed relevance, and during a downturn, that gap becomes obvious.

Multiple Income Streams

Yes, in an economic crisis having more than one source of income helps. No, that doesn’t mean turning your life into a chaotic collection of side projects.

What you’re aiming for is stability through structure. One main source, one additional stream that can grow, maybe one small experiment. That’s enough. The goal is to not be fully exposed if one of the streams weakens.

Prepare a Little

Preparation matters, but it doesn’t need to be dramatic. You don’t need extreme measures to handle moderate disruptions. A small buffer, extra essentials, basic backups turns potential problems into minor inconveniences. It’s not about expecting the worst. It’s about making sure small disruptions don’t become bigger than they need to be.

The Internet Is Not Helping You Right Now

If you rely on the internet for your sense of reality during uncertain times, everything will seem like it’s collapsing at once. That’s the nature of the medium, urgency gets attention.

The problem is that constant exposure to that tone distorts your judgment. You start reacting to noise instead of responding to actual conditions. Staying informed is useful. Immersing yourself in panic is not.

Most People Lose it

Economic pressure reveals behavior. Some people panic, freeze, or overcorrect. Others stay relatively calm, adjust early, and keep moving.

There’s no perfect strategy that guarantees success. But avoiding obvious mistakes—especially under pressure—puts you ahead of most people. The difference is rarely intelligence. It’s composure.

What's the Strategy? Stay in the Game.

There’s a tendency to think you need to predict what’s coming or make the perfect move. You don’t. You just need to stay functional, adaptable, and in control of your decisions.

Economic crises come and go. The people who navigate them best aren’t the ones who saw everything in advance, they’re the ones who didn’t fall apart when things became uncertain.

You don’t need to outsmart the system. You just need to avoid being taken out by it. No dramatic moves required. Just fewer bad ones.

In these unstable times just be prepared, be safe.

Thanks for reading. Abrazos.

Diego Rojas