Musings

Back-to-school shopping, school supply lists, and back-to-school clothes, just the thought of them, warms my heart. Even when back-to-school clothes only meant new shoes, socks, and a couple of new blouses to go with the catholic school plaid skirt. I’ve always been a school person. For me, a calendar runs August to May. Perhaps it’s because a new start at the end of a semester allows for a reset of habits and learning. It is when I’ll sit down with my planner and review my priorities and focuses. Now that’s not what I was consciously doing while in school. It wasn’t  until I became an adult. But in hindsight, that is what occurs for me at the beginning of a semester, sort of a new year’s resolution time every few months. I thought I’d share what this “new semester” planning looks like;

Three  goals, sometimes new ones or continuation of previous goals. These are things I want to do or learn  – 1 for each priority

Body -for example, increase my activity level by adding more walk time or distance

Mind – usually related to reading and/or writing, such as books I want to read or  a new skill, for example my most recently acquired skill is crocheting. 

Spirit – Creativity, at the moment it’s learning to work with watercolors.

Once I know what I want to accomplish, I set up my schedule for the semester. ( image at left) Then I post it near my work area as a reminder of how my day goes. Granted, I do stay very flexible for the occasional breakfast or lunch date with a friend. My way of doing things has always been to be a planner. It gives me things to look forward to if I know today I’ll work on a consultant project and look forward to an art project tomorrow. 

As the phases of my life have changed so, have what I list as priorities and responsibilities to plan. When there were children in the house, planning included their schedule. That was when my calendar had a whole color coding system. Now that my children are adults and in another city, my calendar is mostly about me and mi amor of 34 years. Although he keeps his own calendar and overlaps it with our shared family calendar. 

I like observing how people keep a calendar and organize their life. One friend of mine saves a calendar on her computer but has to start with a paper calendar she carries. By the end of the year, it shows the wear and tear of her days. Another friend only keeps a digital calendar. She shares calendar requests and waits for people to “accept” or “decline.” As we all know, there is no one way to be organized. We discover what works and allow it to evolve with us. What works for you?