Dinner Calendar

 

At some point over the past 10 years or so (I don't remember when), I decided that I would use a wall calendar for meal planning and to write down things that need to be picked up the next time we go to the store. For my family, this has been the best solution for meal and grocery planning. 

For a while, we used promotional calendars I would get at work. Then, we would just try to find one we liked. We have had a good variety of calendars over the years. 

This year, I chose an obscure holiday of the day. It's been fun to look at each day to see what obscure thing could be celebrated that day. 

Back to Doing Lists

 Years ago, I would do to do lists to prove my worth. I would even add stuff just to prove to someone who didn’t believe I did much of anything that I was doing something with my day. (It was more necessary than it should have been.) It became a habit to make these lists, but I didn’t feel the need to complete it all everyday once that person was gone. After Chad and I got married, he would tease me about how specific my lists were and how they weren’t completed fully. (I would move the unfinished items to the following day.) I eventually learned that my worth didn’t depend on how many small tasks I completed around the house. I also learned that all I had to do was ask, and I could get help around the house. 

Here I am many years later trying to get organized and re-establish good habits. I have tried bullet journaling, but found it hard to keep up with for too long. I have done day planners, but the one I bought for this year had an awkward layout. I stopped using it halfway through the year. (I’ll get one that works better for me next year.) I have a notebook that my work sent me that I don’t have much use for and can use for my lists. 

This morning, I sat down with my notebook and made a realistic to-do list. The hardest thing in my list was reading my psychology chapter for an hour. (It is a lot of information, and I am not done.) Of course, cleaning eh stove is never easy, but I was able to get it done. The only thing I have left to do today is wiping the table which I will do when the family cleans for 10 minutes before going to bed. Overall, I would say it was a successful day. 

Where to Start?

I have been feeling the pull to be more organized. This has always been a weakness for me, but it has gotten out of control lately. Last week, I was set apart for a new calling which includes a blessing that helps with the calling and life. I was told that I would be able to organize be more organized along with other things. On my way to church this morning, they talked about the mood enhancing effects of cleaning and organizing. Then, one of the speakers talked about a blessing she was given when she received a calling that helped her months later, and I got the distinct impression that I needed to dig deep into the blessing I was given to help me with my life. This means that three times within a week that I have received a message about organization.

I’m not sure where to start. Noel is having friends over for her birthday next week, so the obvious answer would be to start with cleaning. I feel this is getting better as we do 10 minutes of cleaning each night as a family. I can add to that personally, and I will. Another area I need to work harder on is our finances. I used to be good at this, but that was back when I wasn’t allowed to have a job and had to figure out how to feed my family on very little money. This hasn’t been my problem for a while. I am at a point that I feel like my husband and I work way to had to feel this broke. Working on these two areas should help a lot. I don’t know totally how to get a handle on them, but I have to figure it out.