Creating a blank Illuminations Schedule

We all know you need a schedule for homeschooling, but did you know someone with ADHD needs schedules for other things?

Left to myself here’s how my day goes:

Wake up, stumble to computer and blink at it for 30 minutes, shamble over to the kitchen and make a breakfast shake, then stare at computer again and blink some more.  Two hours later I realize it’s almost 9:45, and I’ve not achieved anything.  ANYTHING!  Then I randomly start 10 projects, and don’t finish anything.  It’s just how my day works.

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But, I’m working on that.  I’m creating schedules to create a bit of a routine.  Also I’ve figured out Princess desperately needs a schedule or a routine.  It makes her life better.

First, you need to make a schedule using Illuminations*.  Click on file up in the top left hand corner and choose new empty Illuminations schedule.

Now start adding in time slots.  I’ve made two schedules this way (actually I made it a more complicated way and then found the “new empty schedule” button and felt stupid).  For our summer fun schedule I added hour segments between 9:00 am and 4:00 pm.

You can get fancy and change up colors from what it chooses.  I really didn’t like the boring pastels it was defaulting to, so I switched it to brighter colors.

Now, for my summer fun schedule I set it for an eight week duration because that’s roughly how long summer is.  Right now we’re on week 3, because I forgot to make a schedule one week.

I also made a Facebook blogging schedule.  I like to share stuff regularly on Facebook, but without something written down I will share the same 5 posts and the same 5 pictures over and over again because they amuse me.  However, I know everyone else doesn’t want to see the same thing over and over again.

My blogging schedule I printed on cardstock, and color-coordinated it.  I’m trying to share 3 different types of things every 2 hours, so I kept it the same color for the different types to help me remember what I’m trying to share then.

 

Yes, I am that ADD I need the visual reminder.

Trust me, this schedule is making my life easier.  Princess no longer asks me every 5 minutes, “Okay what is the plan for the day?”  Seriously, how did she get so routine oriented? Okay, I know how she did because that’s how I prepare her to keep her on task.  I also know where she got her speech patterns from, as I recognize my phrases in there too.

Now, start typing in activities for the day.  I keep it simple and generic.  If I don’t get it done, I don’t freak out.  Last week we didn’t get most of my plans done because of life.  But, that’s okay, I just rearrange and schedule it again.

 

Do you keep a schedule with your kids during summer?  Or make plans?