On July 17, 2009, Chanel Reynolds’s husband, José, was struck by a van while cycling near their home in Seattle and died one week later. Just hours after the accident, Chanel realized that she was completely unprepared for what came next: What was the password to his phone? Were their wills legally binding? How much insurance did they have? Could she afford the house? And what the hell was probate anyway? Simply put, she didn’t have her shit together.

As it turns out, neither do most of us. We’re too busy and too overwhelmed, or we don’t know where to start. But here’s the thing: you can’t half-ass the important stuff, and hoping for the best is not a plan. Chanel learned that lesson the hard way—so you don’t have to.

Drawing on her firsthand experience; expert advice; and the unparalleled resources of her celebrated website, Get Your Shit Together, Chanel offers an honest, no-nonsense guide that provides step-by-step practical advice to make getting your shit together easier than signing up a kid for summer camp. In What Matters Most, you’ll learn how to

Prioritize: triage urgent items and create an it-can-wait or screw-it list.

Plan forward: create a will and a living will.

Cover your ass: update your (or finally get the right) life insurance policy.

Get your money sorted: start or grow an emergency fund and savings.

Make a “what-if” list: have a watertight emergency plan.

Round up details: track essential information, accounts, and passwords.

Grounded and irreverent, Chanel’s no-BS voice guides you through planning for life’s toughest moments with authority, candor, intimacy, and humor. What Matters Most will help you get the important shit done to avoid unnecessary suffering and confusion before and after disaster strikes or life suddenly goes sideways.