Blog No 162 – Diary/Bullet Journalling

Towards the end of every year, I always look forward to a new diary. It’s the one thing that I do obsess about. The diary needs to work for me and I’m very particular on its layout.

Back in May 2016, I discussed about doing a bullet journal in Weekly Blog No 77 – Bullet Journal. Then in Feb 2017, Weekly Blog No 94 – Bullet Journal Update, I gave the pros and cons of bullet journalling.

I’m always trying to improve how I set up my diary. Last year I attempted to use technology on my iPhone. Mr Zebrakat and I share calendar, so we are able to be more efficient. Subsequently I still maintain a hardcopy diary.

A diary allows Mr Zebrakat and I to check each other’s availability. We certainly don’t have to call each other up to see if an appointment is ok. If there’s no entry on the calendar, it’s free to book. This works very well for us both, therefore we shall continue this proven method.

I still have a hard copy diary and I’m able to glance on the monthly spread to see what appointments etc I have. I haven’t mastered that on a phone as yet. I can’t always look either, as I could be taking a call on my phone. Having a hard copy allows me quick access whilst on the phone

In Weekly Blog No 4 – Monthly Planner, May 2014, I discussed using colour to hi light appointments etc and my planner/diary was looking like a sea of pink. I have maintained using colour, it allows me to scan a page quickly. Maybe I’m a little OCD as I’ve maintained using colour for different things. This year Ive used Washi tape, a method picked up from bullet journalling.

This week I sourced bullet journal stickers from rebelinkco on Etsy (link below) to organise me better. I will use the monthly spread for appointments all colour coordinated of course. Red for Royal Free Hosp, blue for GP and yellow for scans etc etc. as

Colour is an excellent method for me to scan quickly when I’m searching for something in my diary. I did relay on my monthly calendar a little too much this year and hardly used the remaining diary pages.

Birthdays and anniversaries etc will move to weekly spreads alongside bills, pets meds and ordering medication etc. I will therefore use my diary a little more. See the various stickers above. I shall continue to use technology, my diary and bullet journalling methods. Surely I can only be more efficient and organised than ever before, let’s see, I will give feedback towards the end of the year.

• Rebelinkco
• Rebelinkco

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Weekly Blog No 94 – Bullet Journal Update

Sometime ago I mentioned that I was going to commence a bullet journal in Weekly Blog No 77. I failed my attempt after a couple of months and here’s why.

• It was time-consuming drafting and redrafting pages.
• At times my pages look quiet childlike and although they were organised, I didn’t feel professional when pulling out my bullet journal to schedule an appointment.
• I was never ahead with my monthly calendars
• I was constantly going backwards and forwards, flicking through with pages. As my monthly calendar was always between other pages.
• I was becoming stationary obsessed for washi tape and colour pens etc

I want to explain to everyone even though this was not suitable for me, I do like the principal of a bullet journalling. I had no problem filling in the content of the pages, it was setting up the pages that was time-consuming. With the knowledge that I gained along the way. I have maintained a moleskin book for recording various other important information to me, which is my one stop shop.

I have listed books read including specific authors pages. Now when I’m out shopping I can remember, which ones I have read. I recently created a moving out list of tasks, which I’m able to refer too. I have a yearly record of energy bills etc so that i can track the costs. I have an instant list of medical appointments to refer too. Lists of birthday gifts given and received. All the things you don’t remember necessary or even log. Yes you may log some of this stuff in a diary, but youre not going to keep 2 years of dairies in your handbag to retrieve the information. As you see, I’m able to utilise my moleskin in a different way, all inspiration from a bullet journal.

I have seen some amazing bullet journals on social media and kudos to all those people for their effort, discipline and creative genes. Thank you to the bullet journal community.

Weekly Blog No 4 – Monthly Planner.

 

Monthly Planner

 

As a cancer patient or even someone with chronic illness your life can be full of medical appointments, whether it is blood tests, seeing your family doctor, undergoing investigative tests or meeting your specialist for a treatment plan/results.

As I am old fashioned at heart, you can’t beat a hardcopy monthly planner. I use a monthly planner, which shows over 2 pages so that I can track all my appointments. I also highlight them in pretty pink to make them more prominent from my other entries, like birthdays, alternative appointments and bill payments etc. My monthly planner can look like a sea of pinkness at times.

Last week I was hoping to have a week free of medical appointments in an attempt to do things with my husband on his weeks vacation. We were going to the garden centre to look at shrubs & trees, have tradesman finish final bits of work, review basement plans for changes, start rear yard fencing and even if possible do some fun things as well.

As a cancer patient you can suffer pain or side effects. No day is the same, nevertheless your life is not what it was in so many ways. Like any other illness you have to learn to adapt. On Sunday 18th May, I was experiencing some pain, which led me to hold my right side and at times i would also feel some nausea. The pain was progressively getting worst over the next few days leading me to do less activities. I was constantly seen smooching the couch so it was time to make a pink entry in my dairy to see my family doctor appointment for the following day.

When the doctor seen me and then touched me he sent me straight to ER (A&E in the UK). I was told it was a suspected appendicitis and I would go for a CT scan. After the scan, it was confirmed that I had a perforated appendix I was to be operated either that very day or the following day “Saturday” because I was a complex case. I was actually operated on the Saturday through an open wound and left with a jp drain from my stomach. I’ve had some ops in my time and this one has been the hardest yet. Appendix ops are usually a 3 day stay but I was kept in for 5 days. Sent home with various meds etc. I’m still waiting on the pathology report to see if it is Carcinoid Cancer affecting another organ. Fingers crossed.

My weekly challenge was to have a week free of medical appointments but I was just unlucky I guess. Pink will continue to flow in my diary.