Talk About Attachment Planning

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Really big candy bar anyone?


You know how lazy I am right? It says so right up there. I am also very forgetful. I'm so forgetful that I can't remember if I'm organized or not.

I was on my way to a meeting a couple weeks ago and I started having a panic attack because I had forgotten to write down the address of the meeting before I left. I pulled out my planner to see if there was any hope for me and low and behold not only had I previously written down the address but I had googled detailed directions and I had a phone number in case I still got lost (which can happen because Google maps is not all knowing). I was prepared and didn't even know it!

I can't even tell you how many times my compulsive organizing has saved my lazy, forgetful behind. Many.

Question from a reader:

How long did it take you to become attached to your planner? I've
been trying for over a year, and I just can't seem to keep track of it, or
regularly turn to it.

I'm so over scheduled right now, and not
surprisingly, overwhelmed. I really need to keep organized so I don't forget and
regret.

Dawn

Let me start by saying it was not easy and it took years so don't lose hope.

I use a method I call Attachment Planning; wearing your planner, co-sleeping with your planner, and spending every minute of every day with your planner. The two of you cannot ever be separated by time or space. This will help create an unbreakable bond with your planner that will foster healthy dependence and security. I write everything in my planner that I can think of. Everything. I keep my planner in my purse and it goes everywhere with me; to the store, to the gym and even to bed. I wouldn't be able to do that if I had a big full sized planner. Which brings me to my next point.

Find a planner that will work for you. I'm sure most planners out there are good but I believe the most important feature of a planner is the size. Whether paper or electronic, if your planner is too small or too big for your needs then you won't use it. I have tried electronic planners and as much as I like gadgets and computers, paper works better for me. The number one reason is probably because it is cheap. Or I'm cheap. Whatever. Meet my old planner. Meet my new planner. My old one worked great but I like my new one even better and it's oh so pretty too.

You need quality and quantity time with your planner. Every day. Make it a habit. I did that over a year ago in January with Smart Habit Saturday and haven't looked back. I have a longer planning session with my planner every morning and every night and then I consult with it again several times a day as I make needed notes.

I need to address a very important issue regarding planners. According to the Gospel of Lazy, Thou shalt have no other planners above your ONE and ONLY planner. If you are trying to juggle five different calendars you are just asking for trouble. If you want to keep a calendar on the wall for your family to look at that is fine but things must be scheduled into your personal planner first and then transfered onto the family calendar, not vice versa. If you are a person with different planners for home and office and kids and it's working for you then just ignore me. Most people are not that talented.

Additionally - Thou shalt NEVER make plans with anyone without checking thy planner first. Though shalt NEVER leave thy home or office without looking at thy planner first. Thou shalt NEVER read thy e-mails or talk on the phone without thy planner right beside thee. Thou shalt NEVER overschedule thyself. If you are married then thou might also want to apply Stranger's Law in thy life.

Ok, enough of that.

I feel like a different person since I have finally made Attachment Planning work for me. Take the time to make it work for you too and watch it change your life!

An additional note.

My ten year old is obsessive compulsive about our schedule. He wants a repeated, detailed, play-by-play of every upcoming moment of our lives. This has always been annoying for me to say the least but it is getting worse as he gets older. Finally I had him (made him) buy a small planner this year where he can write everything down so I don't have to repeat myself fifty times. The added benefit is that he tells me fifty times a day what we are supposed to be doing and when. I'm not sure if I am contributing to his obsessive complusiveness or if I am helping it but we haven't missed a dang thing since.

Oh, and how do I get him to write things in his planner because he is as lazy as his Mom and doesn't naturally want to take the time to do it on his own? When he asks me questions about our activities I won't answer him unless he has his planner in his hands and is ready to write.

I know. I'm mean and I like to torture him like that.

What are you talking about this week?

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