Take Charge!

Setting up your family calendar to achieve balance in the New Year

Article contributed by Dr. Barbie Phillips, Woodward, OK

Whether you have just bought a brand new 2006 ca-lendar or use a software package to keep track of your personal schedule, you may find it helpful to consolidate family commitments on a colorful calen-dar which can be posted on the wall for all family members to access. The purpose of such a calendar is to take charge of hectic daily schedules while setting aside time for quality family activities that balance your life. Use color to designate different types of activities such as the following:

• Black - Vacations and business trips
• Red - Family time and romantic dates
• Green - Appointments, such as chiropractic ad-justments and dental visits
• Blue - Events and invitations, such as school performances, swimming lessons, athletic games and birthday parties

When choosing quality family time activities, let each member of your family give suggestions or even pick one activity per month. These activities need not be expensive. Reserve time together to play a game of cards, take a walk in the woods or plant a garden. It is important that your children and significant other be able to look ahead and know that you have set aside time for them, in addition to the time spent at sporting events and school activities.

When scheduling appointments, choose times which reduce time spent in the car. For example, plan to receive your adjustment on the way home from your child’s basketball practice. When you build chiro-practic care into your routine, you will be less likely to forget or encounter scheduling conflicts. For add-ed flexibility, our prime time adjusting periods are designed so that you can receive your care quickly and efficiently, without having to spend a lot of time in the office.

Making time for your health should be a top priority. Your consistent chiropractic visits, as a family, will help keep you all as healthy as possible so that you can enjoy the balanced life you are creating with your calendar. This will also send the important mes-sage to your family that health comes first, because without it, nothing else matters.

Each week, gather your family for 15 minutes to re-view the upcoming calendar. Each person will know what lies ahead and look forward to the upcoming family activities. Prioritize health and family time in 2006, and achieve the balance you deserve!