Kelly’s Korner – Start Getting Things In Order Now [PICTURES]

WHAT WILL THIS UPCOMING YEAR HOLD FOR YOU?

Over the weekend, I started thinking about how close it is to the end of 2014.  I can hardly believe that this year is just about gone.  I started pondering all of the events that will be coming up, and thought about what next year is going to be like.

This is when I decided to make a decision on what next year is going to have in store. I thought I would plan out my year. For work, for pleasure, for kids...you name it.  By starting to implement things now, it can help you make sure you get those important dates in, that sometimes come sneaking up on you.

WRITE DOWN IMPORTANT SCHOOL DATES

Start jotting down all of your kids scheduled events throughout the rest of the school year first.  Plans for other activities typically need to be scheduled around these important dates...games...concerts...conferences.  Also jot down any vacation times they have coming, so that you can think about utilizing those times efficiently, whether you're planning a trip out of state, or just a weekend rendezvous.

GET A WALL CALENDAR

Start writing on the calendar the above important dates, vacations.  Now add to that YOUR vacation days.  It might be a good idea to highlight the days where you and the kids are off at the same time, maybe your schedule in yellow, the kids in blue. Color coding can help you make plans for the upcoming holidays as well as anything that you'd like to get accomplished next year.

CHECK NATIONAL HOLIDAYS, EVENTS, AND IMPORTANT DEADLINES

It's great to incorporate things like tax time, holidays, and appointments.  If you know that you need to schedule dental visits, check ups, a visit with your accountant...All of these dates will be important to your planning calendar.

WHAT ARE YOUR HOPES AND DREAMS FOR THE UPCOMING YEAR?

Now that you know what you HAVE to do....lets think about the other things that you WANT to do...From Thanksgiving to New Years, and next year's hopes and dreams. It might be that you want to take a summer family vacation to a cabin destination up north...Maybe you want to take a short weekend for you and your spouse to Vegas. Put these hopes and dreams in your calendar.  Are you wanting to go back to college?  When would you like to start?  When do you anticipate completing it?  It's okay to make plans ahead of time.

PLANNING AHEAD CAN CREATE MORE ACCOMPLISHMENTS THAN NOT

If you put your schedule, hopes and dreams in writing, you'll be more likely to complete the items on your mental list, as well as have a written documentation of all the things you accomplished last year.

SUPPLIES

•  Large Calendar.  The calendar should be large enough where you can write it vacations, important events, school events, and other activities. You still want to have room to write in all your hopes and dreams for the upcoming days, so make sure it's large.
• Pencils.  I encourage you to use Pencil...it's hard to write with pens on a wall hanging, and if you make a mistake you can always go back and change it. It would be a good idea, to tie a pencil to the calendar so that you always have a utensil to add to your calendar, and keep it nice and neat.
• Highlighters.  Different color highlighters would be good for permanent things, like kids vacations, your work days off...etc.
• Notebook.  You should always keep a small notebook with you at all times, to jot down ideas that come to you when you're at lunch, on break, or even at work.  When you have a great idea, write it down!  Then look back through your notes often to make sure you don't lose sight of things that could be great additions to your busy year.
• Sticky Notes.  Sticky Notes can help if you are trying to tentatively arrange something with other people.  Use the sticky notes, until they dates are locked and loaded. Then write them in on your calendar.