Things to Think About Annually
Many things happen annually in our lives and many of us have lists or reminders to ensure they get handled. Having a chronic disease can add some stuff to that list, so I thought I’d review what I am thinking about with my list.
Finances, Calendar, and Household
I start with everything with regular rollover or automatic renewals. I delete and cancel anything useless and add anything I’ve started or considered starting. This gives me a better idea of my cash flow budget for the new year. I get all my tax stuff together around the 15th of January and start a file to put all the documents in as they arrive. I know many are not required until February 28, but I get started as soon as I have all of them. The year goes by so fast that if I don’t do some planning, I get too many financial surprises and often put things off until they are more complicated to do or more advanced than I wanted them to be.
I also have my house cleaned by a housekeeper early in the year. That one deep clean allows me to focus on upkeep. With my elbow injury, I’ve been less able to do my chores, and I might need to get someone in again once a week or once a month.
Early in the year, I get all my regular doctor visits onto the new year’s paper calendar, using the medical portals for all the types of providers. I still have both an electronic calendar and a paper calendar. It’s not ideal, but sometimes there are good reasons to do it. In my case, I have to share my calendar with less technologically inclined folks, and sometimes, I’m out and about without my device. As someone with a chronic disease and who is older, I have plenty of doctor’s appointments to keep track of.
Bullet Journaling
I have been keeping a bullet journal for the last two years. This is a small notebook with essential things I want to keep track of. I put labels for the important stuff in my life: family, money, friends, medical, diet and supplements, books to read, visits to schedule, home, car, and a few other topics. I index those things and use tabs to label the various categories. Then, I put on my weekly calendar to review the journal and make a to-do list. This year, I will add things to start, things to stop, gratitude, and a future log with monthly blocks for 2026 so I can keep track of my commitments going forward.
This may sound too organized and tedious for you, but I enjoy it. Plus, lots of folks who bullet journal do it very artistically. It is so easy to be bored and yet know there are things you should pay attention to. This allows me to pick up that journal and find something to alleviate the boredom.
The pages about my IBM are more crucial than ever. My disease has progressed to a point where I no longer drive. I don’t go for walks alone in case I fall, and my muscle deterioration is getting worse. I like to research what assistive devices and clothing I might need sooner rather than later and keep track of how to get those things.
I try to make a list of fun things like short day trips or festivals to keep me feeling like I am still involved in life. Some festivals are at the same time every year, and I could plan better if I kept a list of them and when they are.
One of the lists in my bullet journal is visits to plan. I used just to let them happen and often wondered when the last time I saw someone important to me was. Nowadays, we can use FaceTime, Zoom, or Google Meet/Hangout, as it is more challenging to travel.
I know it can feel as though all we have time and energy for is the disease and our survival. But, with just a bit of planning, we can make our lives fuller and more satisfying as the years fly by.
“All we have to decide is what to do with the time that is given us.”
We have a bookshop store HERE where you can find books Linda has read or that look helpful for folks dealing with chronic diseases of various kinds. You may see links to those books in the text of our blog posts. We do get a small financial reward if you purchase a book through the shop, but the price to you is the same. It also helps support independent booksellers. Thanks!
This blog post is based on personal experiences and is not meant to provide medical advice.
Always consult your healthcare professional for personalized guidance on your health journey.
