Even here at Giftie Etcetera, the new year means some tweaks to my planner. The most critical change is that I am moving back to a running to-do list.
Showing posts with label calendar. Show all posts
Showing posts with label calendar. Show all posts
Monday, December 26, 2016
How to Set Up a Planner
As the New Year approaches, plannerds everywhere are setting up day planners.
Even here at Giftie Etcetera, the new year means some tweaks to my planner. The most critical change is that I am moving back to a running to-do list.
Even here at Giftie Etcetera, the new year means some tweaks to my planner. The most critical change is that I am moving back to a running to-do list.
Monday, May 23, 2016
The Importance of Using a Planner in Crisis Mode
I almost have no words for how hard last week was for me and my family.
Friday, February 5, 2016
How to Use a Planner for Work and Real Life
I have trouble using two planners. I double book things, miss things, and get confused if everything isn't in one place.
Wednesday, November 11, 2015
The Many Ways to Use a Planner to Battle Anxiety and Depression
***This post may contain affiliate links. See my "Disclaimer" link for additional details.***
Confession time...I'm currently wearing brown nail polish. Honestly, it's more a dark bronze than an actual brown, but no matter.
What matters is the reason why I'm wearing such a dark, difficult-to-ignore nail polish.
Confession time...I'm currently wearing brown nail polish. Honestly, it's more a dark bronze than an actual brown, but no matter.
What matters is the reason why I'm wearing such a dark, difficult-to-ignore nail polish.
Monday, November 2, 2015
3 Common Reasons for Planner Fail (and How to Overcome Them)
Planner peace is so elusive.
People want a way to keep their lives in order and record their thoughts and to dos.
But time and time again, they fail.
Don't be one of those people!
People want a way to keep their lives in order and record their thoughts and to dos.
But time and time again, they fail.
Don't be one of those people!
Friday, July 31, 2015
How to Take Control of Your Time With a Monthly Planner
Somewhere between micromanaging every single moment and not knowing when the party even starts, there is a sweet spot of time management.
I think I have found my sweet spot!
(Check out my new inserts for this academic year. So much pretty, right?)
As much as I discuss planning tasks on this page, my monthly calendar spread is the heart of my time management success.
Here are some of the features of my monthly calendar planner pages that make it easy to use and effective for managing my time.
I think I have found my sweet spot!
(Check out my new inserts for this academic year. So much pretty, right?)
As much as I discuss planning tasks on this page, my monthly calendar spread is the heart of my time management success.
Here are some of the features of my monthly calendar planner pages that make it easy to use and effective for managing my time.
Wednesday, July 29, 2015
Using the Limited Space on a Monthly Planner Spread Efficiently
Monthly planner spreads are set up like a traditional calendar.
At least in America, weeks start on Sundays (though weekly spreads in America usually start on Mondays). The squares are really too small to pack any significant amount of information on them.
I've devised a simple hack that makes the most of a monthly spread so that all necessary information can be captured on the page.
At least in America, weeks start on Sundays (though weekly spreads in America usually start on Mondays). The squares are really too small to pack any significant amount of information on them.
I've devised a simple hack that makes the most of a monthly spread so that all necessary information can be captured on the page.
Monday, February 16, 2015
How to Control a Out of Control Medical Crisis: Our Adventures in Epilepsy
We've been struggling with my 6 year old for about a month and a half now. He seemed really sick. Tired and lethargic, forgetting things, and suddenly not doing any school work at all. I didn't know what was wrong.
I did know that four different people (two teachers, a parent volunteer at school, and the receptionist) contacted me with genuine concern. I knew he was forgetting stuff, being uncooperative about his worksheets even though school is easy for him, and sleeping all the time.
I brought him in to the doctor.
They tested, at my urging, for mono. No mono.
They tested, not at my urging, for cancer. No cancer. I cried a lot after I got that result.
I was relieved. I almost didn't go to the follow-up visit. I almost just stayed home and left him at school. But it was too late to cancel the appointment, so I showed up to avoid the "missed appointment charge."
Epilepsy.
The sleep-deprived EEG confirmed seizures - frequent ones. An MRI is scheduled, but since his are generalized (on both sides of the brain), he is at low risk for a brain malformation or tumor.
I did what I do. I began studying and planning.
I didn't know that 1 in 10 people have had seizures. I didn't know that seizures could be hard to see (but easier, now that I know what I am looking for). I didn't know that some people - about 1 in 1,000 - die from seizures. I had a lot to learn.
I also had a new, long to do list.
An MRI to schedule with the nursing staff. School excuses to turn in. School excuses to acquire. Prescriptions to fill. Support groups to join. Education to pursue. Teachers and school personnel to notify. Meds to give, twice a day, exactly 12 hours apart. Blood work to draw on a regular basis. Follow-up appointments. Etc.
The diagnosis of epilepsy had my life spinning out of control.
I needed a plan. I needed my planner.
Here are the steps that I used to control the out of control medical crisis my baby is facing. I hope it helps some of you, whether you are dealing with epilepsy, cancer, or some other diagnosis.
1. Get a planner.
I prefer paper. It is simply easier to write down notes and look at my entire month at once on paper.
My Surface Pro 3 allows the same ease of writing, but is not always portable or charged for doctor visits. Also, some medical facilities and tests, especially sleep-deprived EEG areas, do not allow electronics.
But for those using technology, just make sure more than just a calendar is available. A place for notes and easy note-taking is essential.
2. Have a space for appointments.
Monthly planning pages are great. I don't just need to know when the appointments and blood draws and such are scheduled. I also need to know about other things, like when the school field trip is so that my kid never has to miss something fun for an appointment that could be scheduled some other time.
3. Designate a section of the planner for a log of everything dealing with the diagnosis.
I used my Project section and created a project called "Child's Name Medical."
In that section, I put:
*lists of current medications and dosages
*medical history
*running log of seizures, doctor's appointments, phone calls, and tests
*lists of things I would like to do, like sending the school nurse a link for a free epilepsy training or joining the local epilepsy walk in Baton Rouge on March 28th
*questions for support group or for upcoming doctor's appointments
*uplifting statistics
4. Have a task list.
I add all tasks to my regular errands list or task list. In my planner, I use the weekly pages for this purpose.
5. Relax. Schedule time for that, too.
I have been overwhelmed by the outpouring of love, support, and prayers that we have received. We are at the beginning of this journey, but people at the end of it, seizure-free for many years, have taught me that epilepsy can be controlled in most cases.
But I haven't relaxed much. So, yesterday, my husband and I got a trusted sitter and had a hibachi and movie date.
Those who read my blog all the time know that I am very open and honest about my struggles and successes (and, sometimes, complete failures...yikes). But it took a while to write this post. I needed that time to relax, first, and step away from the problem.
If you know someone with epilepsy or another serious health condition, or a family member taking care of them, please share this post. Maybe I can make someone's life at least a little bit easier.
Etcetera.
I did know that four different people (two teachers, a parent volunteer at school, and the receptionist) contacted me with genuine concern. I knew he was forgetting stuff, being uncooperative about his worksheets even though school is easy for him, and sleeping all the time.
I brought him in to the doctor.
They tested, at my urging, for mono. No mono.
They tested, not at my urging, for cancer. No cancer. I cried a lot after I got that result.
I was relieved. I almost didn't go to the follow-up visit. I almost just stayed home and left him at school. But it was too late to cancel the appointment, so I showed up to avoid the "missed appointment charge."
Epilepsy.
The sleep-deprived EEG confirmed seizures - frequent ones. An MRI is scheduled, but since his are generalized (on both sides of the brain), he is at low risk for a brain malformation or tumor.
I did what I do. I began studying and planning.
I didn't know that 1 in 10 people have had seizures. I didn't know that seizures could be hard to see (but easier, now that I know what I am looking for). I didn't know that some people - about 1 in 1,000 - die from seizures. I had a lot to learn.
I also had a new, long to do list.
An MRI to schedule with the nursing staff. School excuses to turn in. School excuses to acquire. Prescriptions to fill. Support groups to join. Education to pursue. Teachers and school personnel to notify. Meds to give, twice a day, exactly 12 hours apart. Blood work to draw on a regular basis. Follow-up appointments. Etc.
The diagnosis of epilepsy had my life spinning out of control.
I needed a plan. I needed my planner.
Here are the steps that I used to control the out of control medical crisis my baby is facing. I hope it helps some of you, whether you are dealing with epilepsy, cancer, or some other diagnosis.
1. Get a planner.
I prefer paper. It is simply easier to write down notes and look at my entire month at once on paper.
My Surface Pro 3 allows the same ease of writing, but is not always portable or charged for doctor visits. Also, some medical facilities and tests, especially sleep-deprived EEG areas, do not allow electronics.
But for those using technology, just make sure more than just a calendar is available. A place for notes and easy note-taking is essential.
2. Have a space for appointments.
Monthly planning pages are great. I don't just need to know when the appointments and blood draws and such are scheduled. I also need to know about other things, like when the school field trip is so that my kid never has to miss something fun for an appointment that could be scheduled some other time.
3. Designate a section of the planner for a log of everything dealing with the diagnosis.
I used my Project section and created a project called "Child's Name Medical."
In that section, I put:
*lists of current medications and dosages
*medical history
*running log of seizures, doctor's appointments, phone calls, and tests
*lists of things I would like to do, like sending the school nurse a link for a free epilepsy training or joining the local epilepsy walk in Baton Rouge on March 28th
*questions for support group or for upcoming doctor's appointments
*uplifting statistics
4. Have a task list.
I add all tasks to my regular errands list or task list. In my planner, I use the weekly pages for this purpose.
5. Relax. Schedule time for that, too.
I have been overwhelmed by the outpouring of love, support, and prayers that we have received. We are at the beginning of this journey, but people at the end of it, seizure-free for many years, have taught me that epilepsy can be controlled in most cases.
But I haven't relaxed much. So, yesterday, my husband and I got a trusted sitter and had a hibachi and movie date.
Those who read my blog all the time know that I am very open and honest about my struggles and successes (and, sometimes, complete failures...yikes). But it took a while to write this post. I needed that time to relax, first, and step away from the problem.
If you know someone with epilepsy or another serious health condition, or a family member taking care of them, please share this post. Maybe I can make someone's life at least a little bit easier.
Etcetera.