Notations for Vitamins, Exercise, & Water
There are some habits that I like to be able to keep track of. In particular, habits I struggle with being — well, habits. Ultimately, what I would like to have for this purpose is tiny stickers with icons on them. (You know, like those little tiny round stickers that are used for reward charts.) But I can’t seem to find blank printable stickers that size, and having them printed is not inexpensive.
So I settled for the next best thing. I created my own symbols for these habits. Essentially, I selected “icons” that were quick and easy to write or draw. So, in the upper-right corner of each day’s Day-Timer page, I have a space set aside for these icons. I simply write “V” if I remembered to take my vitamin, and “X” if I exercised. Those are pretty easy. 🙂 For water-drinking, I draw a little outline of a cup — basically a vertical rectangle that’s a tad narrower at the bottom than the top — when I fill up my glass in the morning. For each glass of water that I finish, I make a line inside the cup outline. (This works because I’m not counting 8-oz. glasses; I think my glasses are 16 oz., so I can fit them all in one little cup drawing. You might need multiples if you’re using 8-oz. glasses, if you want to keep the symbol small.)
Notations on the Monthly Calendar
Similar symbols help me keep track of other things on my calendar, while saving space. For instance, pay day is marked with a “$,” rather than as “pay day.” Less-obvious marks, like darkened calendar square corners and dots, are used to denote more personal occasions. (This way I can find them easily on the calendar, but they will not be readily broadcast to anyone else looking at my calendar!)
That’s what works for me. How do you organize your calendar? Keep track of things? Save space?
You are good… really good. I don’t do anything like that but I can see the benefit for sure! Thanks for the tips!
I use a heart shape, with the last name of the couple, to denote an anniversary I want to remember. I put a balloon, with the person’s name, for birthdays. I sit down with my calendar at the beginning of every year, and transfer all these dates, so throughout the year I can see exactly what important occasions are coming up. Now, if I could only come up with a way to force myself to actually send a card, that would be perfect!
My husband and I used Natural Family Planning for a long time, and I still chart my cycles with those symbols, just on my regular calender. They’re generic enough that no one just looking at it will know what they are for, as you said, and I like to keep all my information in one place. It’s just one less thing to keep track of. If you’ve used it, you know what those symbols are. Please feel free to e-mail if you’d like more information!
I will have to try your icons, as eating better (including vitamins!) and exercising are high on my list of priorities for the coming year. Thanks for sharing!
I hear you on the cards! Thank you for sharing your notations. 🙂
I have a similar system for my grocery list, but it also applies to tasks in my planner. If I complete/purchase something, I draw a single line through it. If I “delete” it from the list, I draw a squiqqly line through the whole thing, so I know I didn’t do/buy it, but don’t need to. If I have to postpone it, I draw a circle around it, so I know to write it down again when it applies. Basically, anything on a list gets some sort of documentation so I’m not left wondering.
It’s always great to see someone with a system that works for them. That’s the key after all, taking ownership of your own planning. I love your expanded use of tiny symbols, another dimension to the ABC/123 concept.
Great work! If you could please check in from time to time and keep me posted on your success at our Facebook page, I would love it. http://www.facebook.com/pages/Day-Timer/97916338427. Thank you.