Accentuate the Positive

I won something awesome from Light Refreshments Served:

The Woman's Success Planner.

Now, let me begin by saying that I am a planner addict. I used to spend so much time and money at the Franklin Covey store that I should have been part of their sales team. I love to write things down and check things off. I make lists and check them twice.

And this planner FAR exceeds anything I have ever used.

It is like it was made for my brain.

Example:

Monthly, pre-made lists of things to do. In February, for example, it reminds me that I need to change the furnace filters (never been done in the life of the house) and rotate the tires (do people actually do that?).

Weekly, pre-made lists of things to do--changing the sheets and sweeping the porch and cleaning out the fridge--and then a spot that says "Delegated to." It absolutely gives me permission to NOT do all of these things myself! And says "delegate" instead of "nag and whine!"

It has a focus for each month, and gives me ideas about meeting that focus. Like ways to connect with my kid, ideas for service, and things to pamper myself.

I freaking love this planner.

And even better? I am using it. Today and yesterday were as bad as it has been, nausea-wise, but Planner reminded me that I needed to make the bed. And I got to check it off by filling in a circle. (I LOVE filling in circles.) So I made the bed. And when I felt better for about ten minutes, I saw that I had designated "Plan FHE" as the number-one priority for the day. And that it was a task that could be done quickly (Planner made me note which tasks could be done quickly). So I planned it. And checked it off.

Did I get everything done today? No. But I got more than normal done. (Pregnancy normal. Not regular, functioning person normal.)

Planner also told me to come up with a major purpose for the week. I decided on "Staying Positive." Mindy Gledhill, who many of you know and I just stalk, has been posting five successes a day on her blog. I am totally stealing that. But because I am staying positive, I call it "learning from others."

1. Planned FHE with an activity
2. Made bed.
3. Did some laundry.
4. Made dinner, INCLUDING vegetables.
5. Got dressed, INCLUDING bra.


Dear internet police: I won this. I didn't have to like it. But I do. And I don't get anything for encouraging other people to buy it. But I should. Because I would like free things for telling people what to do. This is why I am looking into a career as an evil dictator.