Habits: Day 5

Habit tip #5 is "Stay consistent". 

This is the hardest thing for me. No one ever looks me up in the dictionary and says, "Oh look it's Pillowfarmer!" 

I'm the worst. I'm the anti consistent poster child. You will find me under that! Haha. 

But creating good habits is never easy. 

So stay consistent. Remind yourself. 

And don't be too hard on yourself. This is my own personal advice. Because I mess up all the time and I need someone to tell me that I'm okay even though I mess up. :-) 

My week isn't super busy. My kids are gone with their dad for Spring Break. So it's fairly slow. But it's important to track my habit keeping. 

I'm pretty good at going to the gym, keeping up with my diet, reading and waking up on time in the morning! These are getting easier too. 

I think this is something to remember. Because good things are difficult things sometimes. It's not easy to create good habits, but it will be worth it! 

Here is a photo of my naughty baby Dixon! I'll check in again tomorrow! 

Take care

-Pillowfarmer

Habits: Day 4

Day 4 is "Remind yourself". 

One of the questions I'm always asked when people see my planner, "Why don't you just use your phone or laptop for that?" 

I like paper. Admittedly nothing makes my heart sing like the smell of paper and ink. I'm not a weirdo. There are lots of people out there like me. :-) And I know I am an avid follower of new technologies, but am drawn to keeping my schedules and feelings on paper. 

However, when those two worlds mesh...it's the best thing! 

I have been using my Reminders on my phone to tell me when to start or work on a habit. It could be checking my planner, taking medication or prompting me to settle down and read a book! I'm even starting a small list in my planner of things to remind myself of. I'm rotating them as I want to not burn myself out on the reminder thing. 

:-)

I can't think of any other way to remind myself of these daily tasks. So yeah! What did we do before technology? 

I guess it shows you that we have both and we can use both!  

-Pillowfarmer

Habits: Day 3

Look! 

I made it back!! 

I'll wait while you clap. 

I seriously have the hardest time sticking to anything long term. Having a place to write my "achievement" is a good motivator too. 

Day 3 of my Habit Tips is "Keep it Simple". (I so totally want to add 'stupid' to the end, haha). 

I am keeping it simple. 

Here are the Habits I want: 

Here are my goals for this week. 

I have not included all the habits I want. I just put down the ones I believe are manageable or reasonable for right now. 

I'm doing pretty good. I'm not anticipating that I will keep every habit, every day right now. For now, I'm just trying to create a habit...of my habits. 

:-P 

I am keeping it simple by not making difficult habits or an overwhelming amount of change. 

Keep it simple. 

-Pillowfarmer

Habits: Day 2

2. Check it daily. 

This is a skill. Haha! I am finding that the thing I admire in successful people is their ability to maintain a routine that contributes to their success. My husband is a creature of habit. Sometimes its borderline insanity how closely he follows a schedule. However, he is someone who hasn't missed a day of work in 6 years, doesn't get sick, isn't overweight, doesn't gamble or smoke and has no known health problems. I admire this for so many reasons. The number one reason is that he is happy. Number two is that he is successful in his career and has a good balance of home and job. Lastly it's that it comes easily him because of his habits and schedule. 

All that said... I am not really like that. So I must find my own way. 

That leads me to my planner and how I 'manage myself.' So here we are at How to Create Habits #2. Check it daily. It's simple. If you don't use a your tools you are a boat without a paddle. 

I want to be effective in my life. 

Everyday. 

Every way. 

My life with a husband, three kids, two dogs, two cats and a hamster is a busy one. We have band, cheer, drill team, soccer, dance, football and church. Sometimes I can't remember what day it is. And I do forget events and appointments if I'm not playing my A game. 

To be the successful person I want to be means managing myself. 

Habits are simply routines that we put ourselves through on a daily basis. Some of our habits are by choice. Some are by nature. They can be good or bad. 

I'm choosing as many good ones as I can! Today I completed 5 of the 6 habits I've chosen to work on. Yay! 

And to share a bit of what I'm doing...

I'm reading through a book on how to study the Bible effectively. 

It's called Living By the Book. It's older and was recommended to my by a friend who knows I like to study the Bible. 

I enjoy creating the habit of reading a book for 30 minutes a day! 

And to not completely be boring ho-hum. Take a look at my Corgi puppy Dixon! Look at the reception he gets with these ears! Haha! 

-Pillowfarmer

Werk it...haaaayyy, werrrrk it!

I am going to try my hand at HABITS.
You are so lucky because one of the things I want to make a habit, is journaling/blogging! You get to reap the benefit of that! haha.

After doing a lot of reading and researching, I decided to just to commit to 30 days of writing. So some of that will be on my blog and some of that will be in my journal. I haven't decided if I will share what I write in my journal YET, but either way, some blogging in a month is better than none!

Something I have really been hit in the head with is Habits. Creating habits, what is a habit, how to manage habits, break habits etc... I found a really good article from Lifehack about creating new habits. I managed to put it in my April monthly page.

My "plan" is to create new habits and routines for myself. I usually have a 'to do' section for the month of things I perpetually forget to do and they float from month to month. You can see here I have my notes on Goals and Habits, then my To Do's and the bottom corner is just a check list of Habits I want. I LOVE checklists, and will almost always complete a task if I have the power of that little box by my note! 

Part of my habits for this month is to check in daily with my planner to keep track of things. I use my monthly calendar in DIYFISH to track stuff. Track bills(when they are due and if I paid them. and right now..I also keep track of missed school days for the monster spawn. haha 

This side of the monthly calendar is the planning side. As in planned events. I will put some 'todos' in this section if they are SUPER important and need to be attended on specific days, but generally will only put holidays and events and appointments here. 

We'll check in with all this at the end of the month. The very first note in my list of tips to creating a new habit is "Commit to 30 days." So here you have it. 30 days of following me and my new habits! 

Yay! 

-Pillowfarmer 

Planner update!

I have pretty much given up on trying different planner inserts or planners. What works for me is Diyfish planner inserts and a six ring binder. I go between my Van DerSpek buffalo leather binder and my personal size ochre Malden. I use it religiously...it works for me just as it is, so I'm not trying any new things, even if I am interested in them. I sort of just shrug and move on.  Though, I do switch between daily pages and weekly pages. For April-June I am doing weekly. I do not have nearly enough room in the weekly pages, but it's always nice to have a different format. Plus, it really helps me to trim the fat! I have a tendancy to over track things and keep information that isn't very useful. Having limited space always forces me to utilize my pages. 

I am using the V.2.2 Do1P here. (or version 2.2 day on 1 page). I think once I begin school(that's right you heard me!) in the summer, I'll buy the Do2P. My biggest conundrum lately is trying to decide if I should do school, home and kids all in one planner or if I need to branch out and make a school planner. Part of me wants to keep them separate, but another part of me realizes that I will likely only use ONE. I'm a one planner at a time sort of person. 

And...I told myself to stop buying planner supplies. But I never listen to anyone. Not even myself! haha. But, I am getting better at using my supplies up, or passing them on if I'm not using them. Not to mention, some planner items from Target are SUPER cute, but they're really cheap. (yeah, I said it! I know, blasphemous.) I dislike that. I won't use them. Except their notepads. WHOOOOOO doesn't love an owl notepad?? They have good notepads and to-do list pads. Their sticky notes are CRAP. 

Here is me with my Corgi, Dixon. He's 3 months old now. Super fun and a pain in the ass most of the time because he's still a puppy and can't figure out how to pee at the right times. But, he'll get it. In the meantime, he's annoying. LOL. 

Okay. I really just wrote so I could write in my planner that I made a blog post today. You are welcome! 

-Pillowfarmer

Listed again

1. Lists always do it best.
2. Sometimes when I call people I will say to them, "Okay...Three things! Then I list what I need to discuss. I say, "Okay, number one..." 
3. The discovery has been made that I am a Personal size 6 ring binder kind of planner person. I have tried Arc, Midori's, A5 size etc...and I always come back to my ochre Malden or my black Van Der Spek. ALWAYS. It's like that song "Gravity" by Sara Bareilles. Something always brings me back to you personal size!! It never takes tooooo looong! 
4. I fell down the stairs like an old person. And now I know WHY old people are so cautious. I feel so cautious all the time. I worry about myself falling down the stairs and now I remind everyone I know to be careful going down the stairs. 
5. You're looking at a college student....I officially joined the college rat race and I am going to start back to getting my bachelor's degree this summer. 
6. I am also certifiably crazy. As where the fuck am I going to find the time??? 
7. There is a lot of official-ness going on around here because I am officially tired of my teenagers. I was never tired of my kids...but they somehow have all grown into teens and they're SOOOOOOOOOO annoying. (if you wonder where I got this phrase, ask my teenagers!) 
8. My hair is really long. I want to cut it...but I can't get a hold of my hairdresser. The fact that I am tempted to go Oasis Hair should show you that I feel desperate about it. This is a bad decision and though I verbally express that it is a bad decision, I still may go to Oasis Hair. 
9. Our house has a new member named Dixon....a lovely little Corgi puppy! He's going on 12 weeks now and he makes me appreciate my 8 year old sedate chihuahua. lol. 

-Pillowfarmer

My Tokidoki Dividers!

Here is a peek at the dividers I'm making for my planner this year. These are color copies of the Tokidoki calendar I arc'd. I took the pages to Staples and had them color copy them as I did not want to use the originals. I was worried I would ruin them and not have a back up. So I copied first, and like that I have the originals to use for another project if I like. There are 17 dividers and each has artwork on the back and front. That is 32 pages of Tokidoki goodness! 

I really am working on doing what works for me AND enjoying my planner as a creative outlet that lets me decorate and have fun with my stationary supplies. 

Systems are SUPER important, but having fun and enjoying what you're doing in your planner is just as important. 

I'll be posting again soon on my system and how I'm keeping it working for me. 

I think I am sticking with Pillowfarmer as my handle. It's weird. And unusual. Which I like. :) 

-Pillowfarmer OUT. 

Taking my own advice...

So I made a post about picking a planner and sticking to it. I...should take my own advice!

I printed out my September DIYFish inserts, then I realized...I HAVE NO PLANNER PAGES LEFT! I had purchased a year last October and now my year of Fish is over. :(
This occurred right about the time I sat down to write my weekly post on using your daily pages.

What happens next happens to all of us planner nerds. You begin to think and wonder if your system is working.

Well DUH.

Of course mine are working.

Wait.

Are they? Hmmmm. Trying to write a post about my daily pages and noticing my STRUGGLE each day to decorate and plan. It was really noticable that I use my weekly to-do and my monthly chart. However my daily is very sporadic.

Then I'm asking myself if I "need" these pages? Should I purchase whole new year with these if I'm not even going to use them?

Fast forward to a trip to Hastings.

When I came across a Tokidoki weekly planner I bought that sucker so fast it woulda made your head spin! I love cutesy, kawaii, japanese type sorts of items, and this is right up my alley. Size-wise it's a bit bigger than an A5. Which perfect because...*deep breath*

I plan on arc-ing it.

There.

I think I will probably use this system for a while and see where it goes. I like a lot of things about it.
Probably going to stick with it until the end of the year at least.

I know I should take my own advice...I give really good advice. lol.

OH well.

Pictures to come.

(PSSST!! Do you see the struggle?? Do you see our struggle non-planner people who read this page?? haha)

PS. I also don't know what/how I should refer to myself? I used to go by the handle "Pillowfarmer". But, in years past have also been known as "Wayword". I am having all sorts of identity crisis' aren't I??

-Pilloward.haha

Planners, Pantsers, & Trackers!

I used to believe there were two kinds of people in this world. Planners and Pantsers.
Planner people are those sorts that know what's up. They know what time an event is, they usually have some sort of calendar system and they always arrive early. :)
Then there are Pantsers. You know, people who fly around by the seat of their pants. They seldom arrive early or on time and they usually don't know what's coming next.
I'm definitely a combination of both of these...but I really want to be a planner sort of person through and through!
Lately I have discovered that the third sort of person who exists are Trackers. People who keep track of what they watch, eat, buy and do.
My husband has a notebook that is over 6 years old that has every movie, tv show and video game he's ever watched or played. And I have another friend who tracks all her online purchases in her planner and she loses weight by tracking her exercise habits.

So after you've picked your planner. You're left with picking a system!
I pick Diyfish inserts. There's a lot to be said for this system; you could devote hours to talking about how to use these! But, I am simply talking about my re-vamp and what/how I am using my planner.

I pick this system because I am a planner, pantser and a tracker. :)

Most people will almost always need or want a view of the month. Some people like their view to be a full page, half page, or like me a 3.75 x 6.75 page. Whatever size...it's a good idea to figure how to utilize this page. I use mine to plan upcoming events. This is the page I look to whenever anyone asks me to do something. I use color coding to mark my days with whatever is coming up. (I will explain my color coding later) However you plan, pants or track...this is a good page and place to just mark down that you're busy on any certain day. I know that on the 5-6th of this month my Mom was scheduled to have a defibrillator put in. I knew not to plan anything that day because I have a tiny square on that day reminding me to not double book myself. 

A nice plus to the Diyfish inserts is the monthly chart behind the main calendar page. This page is ideal for the tracker in all of us. I re-did this page because it was very jumbled and hard to read. I simplified things so you could see that the top half is explanations of my upcoming events that are also listed on my monthly view page.

My son (green) has ensemble practice and my daughter (pink) has cheer practice. These are revolving events. However, I outline the day they're scheduled and color in the box when they complete a practice. By keeping track of this, I could dispute lesson fees or mark their attendance should there ever be the need to do so. 

The middle part of the page are events that don't revolve, but rather they are one time events that may fall under the same category. Such as doctor appointments, open houses, or class dates. I color code these events and use the same line if they're the same type of event. For open house, I had one on the 17th and I have one on the 23 for two different kids. 

The bottom part of the page are true tracking events. My instagram posting, blog postings, going to the gym and when one of my kids takes a day off from school. I only use this as a reference usually. My kids will ask to stay home when they're feeling slightly ill and I can remind them that they have missed two days this month already and it's probably best to trudge through. This is really helpful for the kids that love to play hookey, because you can't dispute my monthly chart! 

If you don't use this sort of monthly chart, you could always make yourself a tracking page or a page for explanations of your blocked out dates on your monthly view. I use this because I like seeing what I've done and when. 

Our nutshell. 

1) Find a monthly view. 

2) Block out dates/times you WILL be busy. So not to double book yourself. 

3) Create an explanation page or a tracking page if your calendar is too small to go into detail as to what you're keeping busy with. 

Very small apologies for the length of this post, but there's so much thought that goes into how to effectively use this page I felt the words just coming out blah blah blah. So if you're still here...thanks! 

-Pillowfarmer

Ready? Ok!

Whats that saying about the journey of 1000 miles begins with the first step? Yeah. That.

Where to begin? 

Let's start with this squishy business that is my Black/Pink Buffalo Touch Me Leather Van der Spek!! It has 30mm rings...which basically makes my planner a fatty. I love this planner. It smells good. It holds a lot. Has nice pocket placement and wide pen loop. The essentials. 

Where to start? Pick a planner. Decide to use it. It helps if you love it. But even if you don't, DECIDE to use it. There's a difference between using a planner and collecting them because you like collecting binders. Both hobbies are equally fun and exciting. However, what I am writing about is using a planner. 

Some of the best looking planners are the ones that are well used and bursting at the seams with appointments and information. 

If we want to get anywhere with staying organized and on top of our lives, we must decide that we will use what we have available to us. 

From composition books to this awesome VDS binder, I have learned that to be really effective I have to decide to use my planner every day. Just like in a relationship, I talk to my husband every day. We check in. We talk. We discuss. We remind each other of all the things we want the other to remember. 

It's a sickeningly sweet parallel. But it's true. Say your vow. Promise to use your planner every day. 

I do. 

I also have learned that I can't cheat on my planner...with other planners. Oh my gosh!! We're so sealing the deal and going to the chapel to get married to our planners!! 

This isn't to say you can't have multiple binders! I will maintain my kid binders, recipe binders and fitness binders...but for all information and appointments regarding my life...THIS. IS. MY. BINDER.

This is where I find my stuff. Who I check in with. Who reminds me. I can't be jotting info into my Malden, my original and my VDS and expect to maintain the same quality of relationship...can I?

No. 

Gotta be faithful to recording your life..."all in one place". 

This doesn't seem like much. But oh. 

If you had a planner bug bite you at any time. You are sick. And you will want to own every planner you see on your Facebook planner group. 

And you will want to make new set ups for every binder you meet and you will start spreading your information to all your multiple planners and never really experience planner nirvana with that ONE planner. 

So aside from making planner love sound like marriage...my point. 

1. Find a book/binder/planner and decide to use it. 

2. Stay faithful to recording and planning your life in that one planner. 

More to come! 

-Wayword

Revamp

I have been going through some planner growing pains lately. I chalk it up to a few things. 

•Having a lot of information in too many places. 

•Not focusing on my main planner due to having multiple planners. 

•Not making my systems work for me, instead working around a system. 

I use DIYFish life mapping inserts exclusively in my planners. I have two regular calendars that I use in my meal planning and kids school calendar. Lately I have really been struggling with two issues when using these inserts. 

1) Foward planning

2) To-Do lists

Have you caught on yet that I'm muddling through my issues here? Lol

I am re-doing my planner system! There will be major surgery as I gut my planner and process my mistakes and figure out how to get this system to work for me. 

What I find super duper crazy is that these inserts worked great last year! I had no trouble with my system and everything ran smoothly and I won every planner nerd mom award there was. Haha. 

This does go to show that every so often if you're feeling overwhelmed or even disinterested in your planner it's possible you're doing it wrong. What worked for me last year...is now wrong for me this year. 

People evolve. How we think, process and go about our lives changes every single day. It's ludicrous to think our planning systems would hold up over time seeing as they depend on US to be effective with it. 

This isn't to say my inserts aren't working. I LOVE these inserts. It's also not to say that I need a whole new Malden in purple to get this train running again! Haha. No. 

It's a system that needs attention. 

Over the next week I'll be posting how I'm re-working my planner system. 

Here's to a fresh page!

-Wayword

Arc Madness

According to my arc planner group, I have been going 'arc raving mad'. I am a big fan of Staples line of notebooks. I am still using a ring bound planner for my all the time every day stuff. But for some of the other planners I have in my life, I am using the Arc notebooks. I do recommend these as an inexpensive option to ring-bound planners. 

Last year I was completely overwhelmed with paperwork, information and flyers from my kids' schools. This year, I was prepared with three Arc notebooks for each of my children. I keep a yearly calendar in each notebook along with school information and I punch any flyers or notes from teachers to keep inside. I'll post in more detail about these later. 

My favorite feature about the Arc notebooks is the sizes! They have a large notebook size, which takes the letter size papers 8.5 x 11" and a half sized notebook which is 5.5 x 8.5. This is my half size meal planner. I have been keeping sale ads, coupons, food budgets, menus and my grocery lists in this notebook. Our food bill averaged about $550 a month for the 5 of us. Using this notebook for the last three months, has brought our food bill down to $450 a month instead. 

Upon scouring the internet for printables for a menu and a complimentary grocery list...I just made my own using Word. I am really careful with my ink supply and my printer use! I love pretty colorful rainbowy pages. However, I am printing pages daily and I can't afford the cost of colorful pages. So here we are. :) 

This post is really my attempt to start posting more frequently. I have been MIA for a while. I get really busy with work and family. But, sharing my planner and different ideas for the home is important to me and I want to try to keep up with this. 

Okay...out! 

-Wayword

My Week 12

Here is my week 12!

I keep looking for trends, habits and weekly rituals that I use in making my planner pages. Sort of as an opportunity to figure out how I 'tick'. Everyone uses these DIYFish inserts differently! I love that. I see some people 'plan' with them. I see some use them as they 'journal' through their week. And some people who do a bit of both! I'm noticing that I'm a bit of both!

I can't seem to get through the week without decorating! I MUST have color!

It's been a constant since I discovered these pages to chart my progress with my diabetes and blood sugar levels in the bottom left corner. Lately I have taken to writing down some of the things I'm eating during the day. I do use an app on my iPhone for keeping track of my actual carb intake and exercise regime. But! I wish I could remember to write it all down. It's just not practical for me to yank out the planner, sweaty palms and all after I've run for an hour on the treadmill. lol. 

Consistently using the bottom right 'box' on the right page for a quote or an inspiring thought. I also use it for doodles. Some days at work I spend a lot of time waiting on hold on the phone. This is a GREAT time to doodle! I encourage people to look up pictures or doodles that you'd like to learn how to create or draw better and do this while you're on the phone or talking to someone. Obviously this day I used a post it...and didn't draw...but how inspirational am I? :D 

My long box on the left page/right side with the numbered times is my bullet journaling! I think I am utilizing this as a bullet journal section. I write what I did with an asterisk * and make check boxes for things I plan on during that time/hour of the day. I also use stars as an indicator of something I wish to keep and color code. I am still quite horrible about color coding my day...but I'm hoping the stars will help me when I go back to reference and color code for the week. 

Top 'box' on the right page/right side is my daily 'TO DO' list. I seldom do everything on this list! haha! In fact it's mostly just a wish list. Like, Sarah, you wish you could do all this! haha. I did pretty good on Thursday though! I was definitely Superwoman that day. Geeze. Good job Me. 

The top left box on the left page/left side is for quote/weather/mood. Sometimes I cover up the weather and mood if my quote is longer. I will sometimes use this space as a list section. List of things I love, books I should read, things I'm grateful for etc...and sometimes I just tape in a quote! 

I have really been focused on using my planner as a dieting tool. It goes with me everywhere! I write all my important secrets and plans in it! Why not utilize it as such? So, I'm working on adding a DIYFish insert section for my diet/fitness plans. 

And on that note, I have almost strictly starting using my Malden for ONLY DIYFish inserts. I still have my A-Z sections, but eventually whatever information I have in there filters it's way into a daily page, then it's logged into the color code section and then filed away for reference later if I need it. I have been using Evernote to keep information that I need to keep an eye on for daily/weekly references. Needless to say, that using these inserts does make your Filofax bulky...however, I don't need extra sections with me ALL the time because I can file them away under older pages with my color coding to find later should I need them. 

The only thing I'm feeling like I 'need' is the fitness section. But, I made the finance section work using my DIYFish inserts, so I'm sure I can make a fitness section work out too. :) 

So stay tuned for that!

Peace Love Plan Ahead!

Sarah 

Using Evernote

I love watching Carie Harling's Dispatches from the Frat House videos! She is a fabulous blogger and vlogger and gives such great detail and instruction on how to get the most out of anything DIYfish inserts or planners! She recently did a video about utilizing Evernote. You can view ALL her VIDEOS HERE! Trust me, grab some snacks and lock yourself away because she is one fabulous lady to sit and listen and learn from! 

So when I went to Staples and bought new Post It's, I purchased a pack that had a free premium month trial. 

I feel like if Carie buys army pants and flip flops, I'll buy army pants and flip flops.

 

Hehe. So far, it's working pretty well. I'm not sure how much I'll use it? But it's worth the pack of post it's I bought! ^_^

Really pushing myself to work out and stick to my diet. It's SO hard! I think about food all the live long day. And I hate working out. So I am working on changing my mind and my habits. 

Here's today's page. 

Ok. I'm out! 

-Wayword

Kawaii Stickies came!

I am noting that even when I print Sunday I don't usually use my planner on Sunday. I use it as in I reference it and add to my calendars and sync with the other planners I have, but I don't decorate or 'plan' my day. I sometimes don't decorate if I stay home from work either. I just do as I do and don't need to write everything down as I just get things done as I am reminded to do them. 

Here is Monday. I stayed home from work and played Diablo 3. I dropped the kids off at school and picked them up. Basically I pretended I was a stay at home mom again with no planner. :) I didn't decorate at all. But, that's okay. 

Here's Tuesday! I really had a lot going on once I started my week. It should be noted that I worked 10-12 hours each day AND I had stuff to do after I was finished with work. Sometimes I am so impressed with me. LOL. 

I had gotten my stickers and notecard paper that I got from an Etsy shop called Doodie Bear. I LOVE how it looks. It's so cute and definitely something that motivates me to open and use my planner. 

I really want to figure out how to print onto my inserts directly. Especially with my quote sections! But, for now I'm just printing out a page of quotes in Word and cutting them to size, then taping them in. It works. I really enjoyed doodling a few weeks back, but it takes a lot of time and sometimes I'm unable to finish what I've started. It's hard for me to let it go unfinished. 

Which leads me to working through the process of using my planner as function and NOT JUST AS SOMETHING PRETTY! Don't get me wrong. I love the prettiness of my planner. I love it. It forces me open it and use it and revel in how pretty it all is. But, over all that is the desire to have something that helps me function at 100% in my every day life. 

With that thought too comes the practicality of what I'm actually USING? I have the DIYFish inserts. They're everything! I use certain sections less since I have the inserts. I have been tempted to take them out for the sake of space. But, I love my sushi dividers!! And I cannot imagine taking them out...yet! :) 

Typical Saturday/Sunday morning. :)

Okay, back to it!
Peace, Love, Plan Ahead!

-Me

Difficulties

Things I find difficult; a list in random order:

• Remembering to blog. Even though I write it down and plan on it...I seldom remember. 
• Getting all the things done I want to get done. I make a list. I have a work list and an at home list. Can't seem to get it ALL done. 
• Staying focused on any one thing. I really appreciate re-discovering paper planners! However I really struggle with ADD. Every day is a battle to stay focused..even when it's written down and I know where to start and what needs to be done. 
• Keeping with my diet. 
• Not overspending my budget!! This means possibly buying a new purple A5 Malden and not really needing it! 
• Getting enough sleep every night. Hard time letting things shut down and off. 
• Waiting for spring! I am so done with winter! 

Week Eight with my Filofax

Here is my week eight in my Malden Personal sized Filofax! 

Even if I don't plan anything...or *gasp* don't use my planner every day, I still decorate and will include it in my week. Some days I simply don't have anything to do...or it's nothing SUPER pressing, so I don't need to write stuff down. I could use it as a diary I guess and log my day, but some days I don't feel like it. 

I'm still working on my water intake. However, I have read some articles that show that I do get plenty of fluids in the day! I just don't count them simply because they're not water. I do try for that 8 glasses, but I drink other things like tea and coffee and they count as fluids. I'm pretty sure I'm well hydrated by how much I have to pee. LOL. 

I liked this day. I had time to think and doodle. And look on the righty hand side there! I color coded!! Go Team Wayword! haha. 

I decided this day to start a 5k running program. I officially started yesterday, but having it written down in my planner has kept me accountable to actually starting! 

I included in my week, my medication intake. I take my medicine twice a day, and I fill the little needle up half way for the morning doses, and fill it all the way up for the evening! I NEVER forget my medication. Like ever ever. But, I do forget to fill in my little needle showing that I remembered. Have to work on that! 

I visited my mom this day. As well as went to the doctor. Nothing extraordinary happened really...Well, stuff DID happen. But nothing that I logged. There are a few medical issues I should probably write down on this day just to remind myself of when those occurred. And maybe subconciously I didn't want to ruin the beauty of the SUPER CUTE CLOUD WASHI TAPE!!! I got it from Joann's and was dying to use it. I did...but then I didn't write in it. Go figure. 

I menu planned this day and ran some errands. I played video games, ate food and basically layed around at my house. But, again, nothing that I had to write down. I like that about my planner. Some days it's my right arm and my left brain. Then other days, we chill. We chill because we're like that. 

Here is my life mapped out for the day, week and month of February 2014! This is what I love about the DIYFish inserts. So many many many things you can do and record. Okay, until next week! 

-Peace Love Plan Ahead! 

Wayword

Using DiyFish

Here I am, setting up for my day...still using DIYfish inserts. Now, I haven't really been plagued with "planner rash", where you aren't happy with whatever new set up you try. You're always itching for a new planner or a new system that will work. I genuinely have only tried the Filofax week on 2 pages and this new system from DIYfish. It's working for me, I haven't felt the need to change anything. I do get a bit of a hankering for...bigger rings? Simply because I want to carry more inserts with me. However I don't think there's any justification for this as I don't plan that far ahead and what I do plan for that far in advance is covered by yearly/monthly inserts that Fish has already implemented in her system. (I can talk myself out of anything! It's a gift. ) 

That's not to say that I am not still tweaking what I am working with. I added monthly tabs to my sides. You can also see that I added the clear color coding book marker as well to my system. This is useful...but like I said previously I STRUGGLE to use this. I know that someday when I want to go back and look at a particular thing the color coding will save me. But, for now I have to remind myself to mark my pages and to remember to code where it's needed. 

DIYFish has a Facebook group now! Very helpful group of ladies who seem to understand the ins and outs of this system. I admit we make it harder than it is to print and use...but there is a bit of a knack to it. I consider this system useful for someone who wants to track everything! And you LOVE to track everything! On the Facebook group, Fish herself posted a photo of the top of her Filofax. It showed numbered tabs for the months. I HAD TO HAVE THIS. (sometimes I don't talk myself out of things and I insist that I MUST have them.) Oddly enough, even though I called Korea and spoke to some very precise speaking Koreans, they would not sell me these tabs Fish uses. So I had to make my own!! Like what? LOL. They're actually not too bad, but instead of handwriting, I wanted to use my labeler to give it that professh look. :) 

These were the smallest tabs I could find the day I was doing this...and I don't mind the colors, so I went with it. However, I know that Avery makes printable numbered tabs, so I may go that route in the upcoming months. 

Overall, still using system. Still making it work. Tweaking. Changing. Lots of realizations about how I organize and plan. I'll post my last week, next! 

-Peace Love Plan Ahead Always!

Wayword