Planners

journaling, tracking, and recording

January 3, 2016

OMG.  Today was exhausting.  About that 1/2/15 post where I noted that C had bronchiolitis?  Apparently it’s a yearly thing, only this time it’s worse.  He is on his first oral steroid course and I have a sinking suspicion it will not be the last.  AGH.  After 4 days of really smooth sailing with the kids, today was admittedly awful.  Both up at 5:30a (C couldn’t breathe, so I can’t blame him, and then his crying woke up A) and then most of the morning spent trying to soothe/calm and then at the pediatrician’s office . . . followed by an amazing display of hyperactivity for someone still breathing more than once per second.  Thank you prednisolone.

At least he doesn’t look sick here in the slightest

ANYWAY.  I wanted to write a quick response to a reader question from yesterday, which was whether I keep a personal (i.e. not online) journal.  I did in 2015 more consistently than ever before, but . . . I think I am going to essentially abandon the habit.  I did a lot of really repetitive writing and then ended up with a bunch of random musings that I feel are only worthy of . . the recycling bin, really.  And that is where they will go.  This year, I will do more documenting in my planner (something I did more and more of last year), and I am also using a Rituals for Living Dreambook (bought off of kickstarter last fall) to do more long-range planning and vague “thinking-out-loud” sort of journaling.  Of note, I have not mentioned this or reported on it yet because I need more time to see how it works out for me 🙂  But it is pretty.

In addition, I have a 5-year diary with several lines per year (given to me a couple of years ago) that I try to write down funny things that A&C say or do, or milestones, or just random events of the day.  I was not very consistent with it last year, but if it takes 15 years to actually fill it up, I could see how that would make it even more interesting.

5 year diary – entries from yesterday & 1 year ago

Random things that I like to record these days:
Movies seen
Books read
Musical artists or songs that I like
Blogs/sites/apps to try or that I like
Meals, both special & the everyday/mundane (not in a quantitative way, but in a qualitative one)
Noteworthy podcasts listened to
Social events, etc
Workouts (longstanding tradition – and I love looking back at old training records)
Little special happenings, like getting a note (esp on paper!) from a friend in the mail

Do I need to track any of these things?  Absolutely not.  Am I crazy/OCD/eccentric?  No/no*/if I am, I’ll own it.  The process of putting these things on paper makes me notice them more, bringing into focus the more fun details of life.  And oddly, knowing I will write these things down seems to add to the pleasure of actually doing them while they are happening.  A reverse anticipation, almost.

About to go to bed — 11 miles in the AM, as my race is 3 weeks away.

* Maybe some OCPD tendencies, but thankfully I don’t think I’m rigid enough to meet criteria

6 Comments

  • Reply Marci March 10, 2019 at 7:11 pm

    I love that 15 year journal! I started a file box a few years ago where I collect greeting cards, anniversary cards, other memories in a year. Maybe I can add a paper with special memories. I keep a few in my annual to-do notebook. Very happiness project-esque!

  • Reply Ana March 10, 2019 at 7:11 pm

    also, I just noticed that picture of naked C swinging off the treadmill. hilarious!!

  • Reply Brittnie March 10, 2019 at 7:11 pm

    Have you heard of Lara Casey’s Power Sheets?? I am considering ordering a pack. Bought her book and super excited to dig in.

    I use Goodreads for recording books I want to read. . . it keeps record of books you are in process of reading and ones you complete (can add date so at end of year you can see how many/which books you read).

  • Reply Young March 10, 2019 at 7:11 pm

    How long do you keep your old planners? I kept track of read books, movies, family trips, and wanted music in my Erin Condren planner. I even pasted my baby’s ultrasound picture in an Erin Condren that I had during my pregnancy year. This year, however, I’ve switched to a Maybook agenda which is very pretty and MUCH lighter/slimmer…. but definitely missing all the options and flexibility of something like an ECLP or Hobonichi. I am so torn and whenever you write about your Hobonichi it makes me want to run back to a larger planner like an ECLP! Haha!
    You don’t carry your planner to places like the zoo or kids’ museum etc., do you, or do you?

    • Reply theSHUbox March 10, 2019 at 7:11 pm

      i threw out all of my old ECLPs but i have kept the last 2 Hobonichis. Something special about these ‘early kid years’ that compels me to keep them, i think. at least for now. (they spark joy!).

      definitely don’t carry my planner on kid outings 🙂 it stays on my desk. i do however bring it to work every day, it’s sort of my ‘dashboard’ as i go throughout the day.

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