Activity calendars, to-do lists help to keep things on track

As you get older, memory may fail you. A discussion may require remembering names, phone numbers, word spelling, an errand list, appointments, schedules and important dates. Also, you may need to recall where you placed items, money or memorabilia. Or you may want to recall when an event occurred.

To stay organized, an appointment calendar works great for noting appointments, schedules and events in the future. Even a daily to-do list can keep a senior on track. But all this is future planning.

It is important to write down what you need to recall. If you just met a new acquaintance, write down their name. Write down phone numbers/emails/ addresses you will need to use. If you are planning a vacation and need to list airline information for someone, write it down. How about a note to yourself on a project you want to remember. If you write on a sticky note, note pad or business card, you may need to remember where you placed your note.

As an extreme organizer, you keep a daily journal of events that occurred during a day. Maybe the lawn guy came, an appliance repairman called to reschedule, or maybe you got sick during the night or your grandchild got an award at school.

So many significant events happen during a day that never get noted. In a journal, which can be a large spiral notebook or a small ledger, you can write down significant matters you want to remember. Here you can list phone numbers for all your calls for the day, or new people you met today and you want to remember their names.

Also, in a journal you can write your impression of an activity or the results of an event. If so inclined, you can keep all your sticky notes in the journal. A small article can be taped in the journal for future reference.

So don’t stress wondering where you hid your cash when you took a trip, or guess when the repairman came by, or dig for receipts regarding an item you purchased, just reference your journal.

With the beginning of a new year, resolve to keep good notes in a journal about events that occurred, purchases, luncheon dates or just your thoughts about yourself or other loved ones.

Maria Ward has been a lifelong organizer applying techniques to personal life, business and learning. She worked as a professional organizer and was a member of the Houston professional organizers group. Now retired, she offers organizing classes at Lone Star College’s Academy for Lifelong Learning Program. Email mariacward@gmail.com.