Activities Calendar - What to Consider

When caring for someone, or for ourselves, having structure to the day can greatly help in our ability to manage it. When our day is disorganized, we may find ourselves stressed, un-engaged and maybe even feeling unfulfilled or disappointed. Creating a routine and having a calendar detailing the routine can be a simple change that goes a long way.

As care partners, sometimes things just may not go the way we want it to, and so it is easy to neglect using a calendar as it may feel too rigid and unrealistic. That being said, when done the right way, using a calendar has a multitude of benefits that come in various forms. It is important to know that a calendar needs to allow flexibility and is more of a guide on how the day is intended to go. Here are some ideas on how to create your calendar in a way that best helps you!

Individualized

The number one thing to consider is both your needs and your loved ones. Keep in mind personal preferences and habits and work your routine around this. If your loved one does not like waking up early, then it's best not to have certain activities early in the morning for them, but maybe you can use this time for yourself. If your loved one needs their morning coffee or morning shower, then incorporate that into their morning routine. Everyone goes about their day differently and so the "ideal" routine it the one that has both you and your loved ones in mind.

Be Flexible

Sometimes a calendar routine can be too rigid, and when things don’t go well it might be too hard to follow it exactly. Allow the calendar to be flexible and have alternatives. What does this mean? If you had "a morning walk outside," in the routine and the weather isn't good for a walk, have an indoor option that can replace it. Additionally, having options can be helpful for the days we don’t feel motivated. Somedays we simply don’t feel like going outside for a walk and if we try to force the routine we may end up in a bad mood for doing something we simply don’t feel like doing. Instead, having two or three options can help us feel more in control of our own day and how we want to spend it in that moment.

Get Others Involved

Routines work best when they are a routine, a good way to get others involved is to consider how everyone can assist in their special ways. From my own experience, sometimes a routine doesn’t stick because others are not informed or even considered when making the routine. If you loved one needs assistances with transfers having someone with experience and knowledge on transfers to be there during those times can make caring more easier to do, if no one is knowledgeable on safe transfers then safety becomes a concern and the activity might not be performed anymore.

Support the Calendar

What does it mean to support the calendar? If one of the planned activities is to do arts and crafts, make sure you have all the materials already in an easy to access container and a designated space already prepared. If the calendar planned for a walk outside, have any equipment ready such as proper shoes, assistive devices, jackets, caps, sunglasses or anything that might be necessary. Having everything ready so you simply need to start an activity makes things easier for everyone involved because it saves time and makes following the calendar easier to do.

Be Realistic

Sometimes when we start planning for daily or weekly activities we might over reach on certain goals. Although it is great to have a day full of engagement, it is important to be honest about how much time activities can take, and how much energy you and your loved one's have. I had the privilege of meeting one individual who loved walking outside daily, but sometimes they had moments where they wanted to drive. Walking outside sometimes took 10-15 minutes while other days it took close to an hour due to needing constant redirection on walking instead of trying to get into their car. Moments like these can take a lot of our energy and patience and so jumping into another activity right away might make us feel more overwhelmed. Make sure you have space and extra time between activities that consider any of these challenges. 

It is important that know that creating a calendar with a routine doesn’t have to be a big grand event, but more so a guide on how to go about the day. Creating a weekly or monthly calendar is also helpful as it keeps each day slightly different to avoid monotony but can also help you prepare for doctor appointments, any outings, and even holidays.