Attach a review point to the condition that makes a decision temporary. Record why the arrangement fits now and what would tell you it needs changing. At the review, use recent examples to choose whether it should continue, change or become an ordinary arrangement.
You choose a temporary arrangement because it solves this month's problem. Several months later, you are still following it even though the circumstances have changed. Nobody decided to keep it; the review simply never happened.
When making a temporary choice, write down why it fits now. Add a review date that matches the reason it is temporary. A change in work hours might need checking after a few weeks, while a seasonal arrangement can wait until the season ends.
Review the original reason
At the review, ask whether the problem still exists and whether the arrangement is helping. Look at one or two recent examples instead of relying only on how the decision felt when you made it.
You may choose to continue, adjust or end the arrangement. Record the reason for the new choice so that the next review has something concrete to examine. If nothing has changed and another review would add little, you can make the arrangement ordinary and stop treating it as temporary.
A temporary commuting arrangement
An illustrative exampleImagine sharing a commute while your usual route is disrupted. You agree to leave earlier and contribute to the travel costs. In your note, record that the arrangement solves a particular transport gap and that you will revisit it when the route reopens. During the review, compare actual arrival times and the effect on both people's schedules. The original reason may have disappeared, but you may both prefer continuing. If so, make a new agreement about timing and costs instead of silently extending the temporary one. If only one person benefits, choose an end point and confirm how the next journey will work. Keep the latest agreement beside the original reason.
Before extending an arrangement
Tick the steps as you work through them.
0 of 5 steps checked
When the review keeps moving
A calendar reminder helps only if it asks an answerable question. "Review transport" may be easy to dismiss; "Has the usual route reopened, and do we both want another week?" gives the reminder a job. If the relevant information is still unavailable, record the missing fact and set a new check tied to it. Avoid repeatedly renewing an arrangement without speaking to the other people affected. Where ending requires notice or another practical process, include that process in the plan before treating the review decision as complete.
Write a temporary-choice note
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