10 Things to Add to Your Hobonichi
Before January!
Lisa demonstrates how to start using your Hobonichi before January!
First of all, you can start in December!!!! Secondly, this will help to eliminate all of the post-it notes, scraps of paper tucked into pockets and purses, or random notes or voice memos to yourself to “don’t forget this date”, which can be a great relief!
1 – The usual birthday and anniversary events
2 – Household Maintenance
Furnace or air conditioner checkup – schedule this early in the season so that there is no urgency. Discovering that your air conditioner needs work during the first heat wave of the spring/summer will always guarantee that the service techs are busy! Schedule this in the off season and you will thank me later!
Switch ceiling fans – change the direction of the air flow for summer and winter.
Car insurance – if you have any insured vehicles that are seasonal, like special cars, ATVs, mororcycles or anything like that, schedule when you add or remove full coverage. We have a car that we only drive during spring, summer and fall, and scheduling when to change the coverage has helped us save money and know that we are covered appropriately.
3 – Schedule annual health appointments
Mammogram and annual doctor appointments – don’t put these off!
Dentist, eye doctor, skin checkup – these may be as needed, but try to schedule these at your convenience, in advance so that you can always take care of your health.
Don’t forget your pets! Schedule pet checkups, shots, etc in advance. Ask your vet what the slower times of the year are, and see if that will work for your schedule.
4 – Trash/Overflow days
I know that this one seems random, but make sure to log your trash days, or overflow/bulky items pickup days. Ours are monthly or quarterly for the large overflow items. This also applies to any yard waste pick up days, if your area offers that.
Holiday schedule changes, especially if you are traveling over any holidays are also important to keep track of. If you live in a community with A Home Owners Association, you definitely want to keep track of off-cycle trash days so that your trash and recycle bins are not left out too long.
5 – Taxes
Monthly or quarterly tax filing submissions should be logged in your planner to make sure that you do not miss these dates.
HSA contributions or Flex spending deadlines are 2 things you do not want to miss.
Accountant deadlines to submit your documents. Fin out what those dates are and plan backwards to ensure that you have everything assembled and ready to go before your tax person needs them.
6 – Student Loan due dates
With many student loan repayments starting up again, make sure that you know what your due dates and correct amounts are, and enter that into your planner.
Tuition payment due dates, or housing applications or due dates are very important, and you do not want to miss these deadlines!
Financial aid submissions or disbursement dates are also very important to keep track of, so enter these into your planner now. Most colleges and universities have deadline calendars available on their websites to allow you to plan for this far in advance.
7 – School events for younger children
Ah, yes, keeping track of ALL of those activities feels like a full time job sometimes!
School field trips seem to pop up out of nowhere, and this includes signing and returning the permission slip, so ask your teacher, or check the school calendar for these dates.
Parent/Teacher conferences are usually scheduled at least once a school year. Definitely enter these now into your planner.
Musical events – band or chorus performances or practices also require a lot of tracking, so write these into your Hobonichi planner now, if the dates have been provided.
School events for older students or adults
Tuition payment due dates, or housing applications or due dates are very important, and you do not want to miss these deadlines!
Financial aid submissions or disbursement dates are also very important to keep track of, so enter these into your planner now. Most colleges and universities have deadline calendars available on their websites to allow you to plan for this far in advance.
Semester start and end dates are important to enter, as well as school holidays that offer a day off from classes. As a former college professor, I have had students complain that they showed up for class, not realizing it was a holiday lol.
Paper and project deadlines are sooo very importnt to keep in your planner, so once your syllabus has been released, enter all of those due dates immediately. Many teachers do not accept late work, or do with a large penalty, so you always want to stay on top of deadlines.
8 – Goals
Break down your annual goals into quarterly, monthly, weekly mini goals, and break those down further into tasks that you can schedule. Losing 25 pounds, or saving $1000 in a year usually cannot happen all at one time in December, so map out your best path to success.
Financial goals, such as a savings goal or paying down credit card debt are often managed best if you break these down into weekly or monthly tasks.
The recently trendy “no buy or no spend” months are easily managed if you track each day that you are successful with this. Don’t break the chain! Or if you are considering trying this for a month, keep track of what you DO spend for a month, and see where you are perhaps overspending. This is a great thing to track in your planner.
9 – Sporting Activities for family members
Sports activities are wonderful for the mind, the body, and they can instill many long lasting habits, but they often include many dates and events to track.
The beginning of a sporting season includes pre-game activities like upgrading sports equipment, checking the fit of your shoes, gloves, bat, uniform etc. all before you actually show up on the first day.
Add to your planner all of the games, both home and away.
Practices are just as important, and if you share carpooling duties with other people, you absolutely need to keep track of when it is your turn to drive everyone.
Testing dates, special events, or if you are helping at a game like in the concession booth or taking tickets should all be logged in your planner now.
10 – Date nights or weekends
Lastly, not not least important, is the planning of special dates with the people who are important to you.
Plan a special outing with your spouse or significant other. It can be fancy, it can be casual, or something in between. Just make the time for each other to do something that you both enjoy.
Important friends should know that they are just that, so plan a girl’s night out, or a guy’s poker night. Have another couple or two over for dinner, and have everyone bring a dish to share. Make the time for the special people in your life, and it will recharge you.
Routine dates with children can be very beneficial to both of you. When school activities and work tend to take priority in your daily or weekly lives, try to schedule out some quiet time. Have a one-on-one special time with each of your children and reconnect. Simple things like going for ice cream, taking a walk together, or making a meal together can really make a difference.
This also applies to your parents as well. If you live nearby, schedule an outing or get together. If you live too far away, schedule a time to call or have a Zoom call to stay connected.
A date with jut yourself is also something that I strongly urge you to schedule now, and put it in your planner. Some alone time will do wonders for many people, whether it is an hour at a coffee shop, some time at a bookstore, or just a walk in nature, enjoying the scenery. Do not neglect your own needs, and the best way to do that, is to schedule it!