Empty Calendar While Stuck At Home? Record The Good Things!

A lot of us are stuck at home or stuck inside right now, and if you’re like me, facing an empty calendar might make you feel blue. I originally envisioned this post for people who spend most of their time at home due to chronic illness, and I hope this topic will be helpful to even more people while we’re experiencing social distancing and self-quarantine.

While staying at home a lot over the last three years due to my health, I’ve found it helpful to look at my blank calendar as an opportunity—it’s the perfect place to record the good things. After all, we don’t have to be busy to be joyful.

This post will help you brainstorm ways your calendar can help you look forward to the future with a sense of anticipation, and look back on memories with a sense of joy and gratitude.

I know not everyone keeps a physical calendar, but if you keep a calendar on your phone or computer, you can use these tips too. Families can use these tips when using the calendar to keep a schedule and sense of normalcy for kids. You could also use this post as a prompt for bullet journaling if that’s the way you prefer to capture what you’ve been up to lately.

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TIP: I hear people say they don’t want to write on a physical calendar because they’ll just have to schedule each event into their phone later. My solution? Take photos of each month of your calendar on your cell. I “heart” my calendar pictures so they’re easy to pull up when I’m scheduling anything. It’s a lot easier for me to get the big picture, especially if I’m standing in a doctor’s waiting room trying to schedule a follow-up.

 

 

Add More Joy To Your Calendar While Stuck at Home

You can add more joy to your calendar and life by:

– Getting creative when planning your day from home

– Looking forward to the simple things you can do

– Celebrating the ways you’ve had fun and connected with others

– Cultivating a sense of gratitude as you record memories

– Recording accomplishments and achievements

You can do this two ways while stuck at home:

– Add a sense of anticipation by looking at what’s coming up in your life. This might not look like a trip to the theater or a big night out, but there is still a lot to look forward to even though they’re not traditional “outings.”

– Reflect at the end of the day (or the week) on the unplanned things you did that made you happy. Capture those good things that weren’t originally on your schedule but that made the day special and brought you closer to those you loved. The idea is to celebrate the ordinary days.

 

Record The Good Things To Fill Your Calendar

 

Here are specific examples of the kinds of things I write on my calendar.

– Write down upcoming long-distance get-togethers. I note when I’m planning video calls or just regular ‘ol phone catch-ups.

– Write down phone calls in retrospect. If someone calls you out of the blue and you have a great chat, note in on the calendar.

– Write down shows you want to watch. (I do this partly so I remember! Hello, brain fog. I gave TV shows their own color on my calendar to make them easier to spot.) You can also do this in retrospect. Discovered a movie you love? Jot it down.

– Write down accomplishments. Sometimes I’ll note when I publish a blog post (I did this more when I was just starting blogging and found it a helpful boost of encouragement.) Accomplishments can be big or small.

– Write down other ways you keep in touch. For instance, I sent out some notecards to friends at the beginning of the month.

– Cooked or baked something special and shared it with your family? Write down that dinner date.

– You could also note when you finish a book you love. I keep a separate document for my reading goals, but your calendar would be a great spot too.

-Played a board game or finished a puzzle? Note it! (Even if it’s not that many pieces. I’m working on some of those with my family, and they totally count! 1000 count are fun too!)

– My mom and I try to make my doctor’s appointments a better experience by doing something fun on the drive home, like stop by a craft store when I’m able to. (Something to think about doing to make your day more joyful AFTER self-quarantining is over.)

– Write down when you make it to church or watch church service online.

– Received a card in the mail or encouraging email? Note it on your calendar.

– Worked on or completed a craft project? You know what to do!

– Write down notable weather. I always write snow on the calendar because it’s infrequent where I live. This time of year, I’m also writing down sunny and warm days. I am LIVING for more spring weather.

-Schedule a walk. I note when I’m able to make it outside to soak up some glorious sun.

I hope these ideas get you started on making your calendar a source of more joy!

PS Here are my tips for staying connected during stay-at-home orders, plus my tips for dealing with a sense of isolation.

I can’t emphasize it enough: the chronic illness community has a wealth of information and tips for coping during coronavirus lockdown. A lot of us have experience with infrequently being able to leave the house, or being homebound. Follow Chronic Illness Bloggers group on Facebook.

Stay safe out there friends! Praying you find joy wherever you find yourself today.

Do you keep a physical calendar? What do you write on your calendar to fill you with joy when you’re stuck at home?
Do you use a paper calendar or a digital one? Color coded or not?

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