Love having a physical Diary again

I have tried digital planners but I like to plan physically because for me it enters into my mind better and stores it and I think its a science. I would love to study the mind and find out if writing is better rather than digital? I wonder what results I'd find? 

It is good to get a pretty diary as for me it helps to use it. I no longer use Filofax and use a physical book type diary. I have a wall calendar and I have found it more functional for me and its seeing it in front of me making it easier to remember what is happening and its there in plain site. 

I have my sons terms dates near by so having it on a pinboard aswell as a diary more simple and a notebook and using paper. I recycle. I am still using Notion but have two lists and that's it and I get satisfaction ripping paper up. I use the Notebook APP but that is for any codes or things and brief notes and trying to use my phone less. 

In browsing on google I asked "Is writing things down better than typing them up all the time?"

The response was: Writing things down by hand is better for memory, learning, and conceptual understanding, but it is not necessarily better "all the time" depending on your goals. Neuroscience studies show that the physical act of handwriting activates broader, more synchronized electrical patterns (such as theta and alpha waves) across multiple regions of the brain—including motor, visual, and language circuits—which helps encode new information into long-term memory. Typing, by contrast, is faster and more efficient for capturing large volumes of text verbatim, but it engages fewer neural circuits and often leads to shallower, more passive cognitive processing.

I have used Google Calendar which I do need to alter and is good as its free and Notion is good but I find I am using it less and I like to use online tools for blogs and creating my books, but not all the time because too much screen isn't good. 

Yes google calendar I use but just reminders but I find it clogs up my email and with Notion it doesn't and it is free if you use it for personal use rather than business. 

So tell me do you prefer a physical diary still?

Please use the comments box below.

Many thanks for reading,

Carrie X 

My Favourite Thing Is Planning and Going Through my lists

I love it when it is time to plan for the following week. We are away next week and so it is time to plan for our trip. I am a bit worried because I have a Kidney Stone that isn't causing me pain but can, so not sure if  I will need surgery or not. 

It was sad to hear that someone I knew as a kid lost someone with cancer and its heart breaking and reminds you how life has to be lived. My lists and plans keep me going. 

I feel it is good set up and rather than having fear I look forward to my plans. It makes sure I don't forget what I am going to buy at the supermarket in terms of food. I do a list of things I need to buy and what I want to buy and packing list. I have one for next week when myself, husband and son go to the Isle of Wight and that we pack ready and going to use one suitcase for my son and my clothes and things and my husband will pack his stuff in a holdall and that we remember phones, chargers etc. 

I enjoy ticking things off. What can wait and to do instead and adding to the list and changing it on my mood and something else crops up.  

One of my friends used to write down the TV programmes she wanted to watch and when they were on using, before the internet, the TV times or radio times. I find it fulfilling and helps me manage my time and it empties out the mind and I think of in Harry Potter when Dumbledore, empties his thoughts and mind in a well and feel that what a list does. 

I have to have lists easy accessible by putting them on the wall, in a diary or notebook. 

It is just helps me function better and that everything is there that I want to get done and just keeps me sane and not going out thinking I've forgotten something or forgot to pick something up. 

Are you the same? Please a Comment Below. 

Many thanks for reading,

Carrie X  

I am all about lists

I love a list. Honestly I am a list nerd, if there is such a thing. I have a list of things that I want to do and need to work on, on a piece of paper in my wordsearch book. I often will do things that I have listed for ages but it is because it helps me to organise and separate tasks. 

                                                  

Yes I will often do things not on a to list but will take note of what I have done so ends up on a list. 

My mum is the same. It helps to revise my daily and weekly plans and stay in my brain even if it is not urgent but is noted should I have a gap of time to do it. 

I stores online where you can create a wish list and list of what I want to write and book ideas, blogs and finance. You name it is listed somewhere. 

My nan would write a list, my grandad and would watch the horse racing on TV and keep a list of who won and it just was embedded in me and I find it a functional. A good start to the week is having a list. In my journal I will write down what I thought was good on some days and what was the highlights of the week and that I keep notes of my son school events and just helps to remind me, having so much to remember. 

I do have lists on Notion too, but I am finding that I am using it less and may unsubscribe but will see. I have gone backwards and forwards with it and so not sure if I will continue. 

I have created my own templates to organise my weeks using Google Docs, but find it easier to write and not use these either and I love a notebook. I like a scrap piece of paper and after my laptop dying if written down it can't go missing and is stored without my laptop crashing. I like to carry a notebook too. I have used my phone but often runs out of storage and so it just easier for me and can jot down things as I go. 

It is good to have written and feel people are so consumed with technology. I have found since using my laptop my writing is bad and so I like to write. It helps my handwriting and it will always be my thing, 

I see people use their phones on Youtube to Pastor, on a Podcast or a video, but for me I like to write and have specific notebook and plenty of paper to write and how I function. 

Many thanks for reading, 

Carrie X 

Ten Different Ways to Get more organised

When it comes to organisation I have to really drone in on my habits and I am avoiding my bedroom at the moment because of the heat wave I have gone through a lot of clothes, but I know in myself I will tidy them up but not just yet. 

Having Several Accounts Doesn't Work For me

Since watching many different videos on money, some saying you should have seven accounts or 4 to 5. To me that was too much and when I followed that I ended up in huge debt. 

                              

I have now two accounts and one is for money saved for holidays and my main account. I like it like that. 

Having my balance showing in my Wallet it is so easy to keep track of what I am spending and balance and like tomorrow I have cash ready and I will take a certain amount in cash and if I can use it I do and has been a good strategy. 

I can't handle so many accounts. Two is enough and my son has an account but that is for him for when he is older and credit cards are venom to me and glad I no longer have one. I would like to have my own home one day but now I am happy with my current situation. 

So my focus is to save for the Summer Holidays and for weekly expenses, like food shopping, coffees, even though most days I make my own, but love writing in a coffee shop at least once a week and I like to mooch but I can restrain myself and just like to be outdoors. 

I'm glad I no longer have an Overdraft and I am glad that I have unsubscribed from some companies and keeping what I know I am going to use and has value. I like the fact I have Journal APP, free fitness APPs and notes and TV APPs which are free and I am selective when it comes to APPs as they use up storage and if I have point cards for the coffee shops and supermarkets I use. 

I was thinking about it, because I am in a steady place in my life and when I get the urge for shopping my enthusiasm tends to go and feel good when I don't spend. Life is not all about Materialistic things. I feel once you love what you have that is the biggest incentive in not spending and having control of the spending bug. 

So have two accounts if you feel the same and having a daily check on your money. I am going to each day check my balance and set myself saving goals and I each week do a Buy List and this helps see where I have to spend money, like food, toiletries and cleaning products. The main things we buy and that I have money should something else come up, example: School uniform and go through my sons clothes, if we need toilet roll, sponges for washing up and laundry detergent. 

I have done some videos about Hoarding on my Youtube channel if you'd like to check them out and please follow me on X too: 

https://www.youtube.com/@Carriechalloner

https://x.com/typical86285

Many thanks for reading,

Carrie X 

 

Being Resistant To Doing Tasks

As soon as resistance steps in I get up and do that task. Example watering my sons plant. However going out today I felt resistant in buying another notebook. This is where resistance can be a good thing. It depends on the outcome. I know if I water my son's plant will keep it alive and grow.

One of the Places I like to walk in Epsomn

Buying another notebook will cost money and when I have plenty already and not gathering dust and once these are used then buy another notebook. It is good to journal. I journal every day and filmed my two favourite things on my Youtube channel: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YMmlsGjUCFY 

Resistant's is the mind saying "Be Careful" and can trigger anxiety and anxiousness. Thinking of the things I shouldn't do that I know will make me feel good, compared to what the consequences will be when I know I don't need another notebook and be tempted. I think of God testing Eve. Do I eat a poisoned apple or do something that won't lead to a good outcome. I write a lot but a blank piece of paper can still have the same benefits and yes I love a good pretty notebook but I have ones still unused and my one goal for me is to reduce waste and not keep adding more to landfill.

Also I have made my own and want to test these out and then sell my own. 

Walking for example is free, wakes me up and helps me feel peace in my mind and so can do this everyday, whereby spending money all the time it can make me feel sick at times because I know I don't need to spend money to be happy. Journaling has really good benefits but if someone asks what you'd like for your birthday then ask for a new notepad or when your on holiday save to buy a journal whilst away as to me now it has to have meaning. 

I find excuses as to why I need spend and then afterwards feel regret what I have purchased yet when I have cleaned the house and seen a result of a cleaner desk give me pride in having a shiny clean desk and cost me nothing. Cleaning products that actually clean is worth it, buying a cleaning device that was intended to clean sitting in the cupboard no purpose, when I have clothes and sponges do the same its just a fancy gadget that is a gimmick and not helped but add to more items I don't need. 

I wonder if you identify? Please fill in the comments box below if you do. It costs you nothing in doing so just would like to read other peoples stories. 

So manage your resistance as it can be a burden but it can also be useful in doing positive habits and stop negative habits. 

Many thanks for reading,

Carrie X 

I've got 4 pints of 4 pints milk

What to do if you have a high stack of food? Donate to friends and family or a too a local food bank?

This includes fruit and vegetables soups, stews and even curries. 

Made myself a Pimms and great for using up fruit and yes I ate the fruit once finished and so getting my Vitamins with a favourite drink of the Summer. 

I now going to have some scrambled egg on toast and use up the milk and my son drinks a lot of milk so not too bad and its good to have enough. My step dad would cook extra for lunches and to give to a elderly lady and call a friend to come over to have a meal with you if they're in need of company. 

If you have the crusts of bread why not make a bread a butter pudding and I am going to make a hot chocolate later or tomorrow with hot milk and so it has its uses over stocking and can help with being inventive and have fun when cooking to see what you can make.

If it is fruit and milk you can make smoothies or lollies as long as you have a freezer and ice cubes and with yogurts too and with meat can be frozen and having a good back up of food is good as then your not going over what to have and I like to trying different drinks and food. I like my cold coffee so I have ordered cans by Nescafe and see what they are like. 

I love a cold coffee this time of year and hot coffee in the winter and not going buy anymore coffee as I have sachets to use and a bag of coffee for my Cafeteria and love a milky coffee and so got some ideas of what I can have now I have a overstocked on milk and my son will be pleased. I did give my mum and step dad a four pint. 

My husband loves tuna and so these are good to have in the cupboard as great for sandwiches and dinners. I am not keen on Tuna but my husband does and we have plenty of peanut butter which we mainly have for breakfast and like to have fruit and use some of it for drinks. At the weekend I saw we had a bottle of Pimms still in the cupboard so made myself a Pimms and Lemonade and used strawberries, a quarter of a orange, cucumber and mint, with ice and not something I drink all the time but love one now and again and so refreshing. The only downside is that when buying oranges I couldn't just buy one which one is all I needed but going to have a quarter that we have left of one and is better than juice and great for cakes like spiced ginger cakes, with a dash of cinnamon and very good for the #autumn but still, I like an orange and having a lemon and lime for drinks. 

So not feeling too bad of having a lot of milk but will hopefully be good to have enough for us now so I only need to pick up one for the rest of the week and means I can do a morning walk to get some and learn for my next shop.  

Many thanks for reading, 

Carrie X