This post is probably not about the kind of “backup” that immediately came to your mind.

I find that every few months I have to start all over with getting my schedule/routine back on track.   Stuff happens, kids change, new engagements are added to the calendar or old ones drop off.  (This is especially true at the beginning and end of the school year.)

So once again I am reworking my day – and I thought I’d mention something that is essential for me.  I must work in times as backups for things I might have forgotten at the ideal times.  What do I mean by that?  Well, one example is the dishwasher.  Theoretically, I should be loading and running the dishwasher after dinner.  And it’s plugged into that “spot” in my (theoretical) routine.  But I know me.  I will forget sometimes.  (Or I’ll load the dishwasher and then not realize I never remembered to actually push the button to turn it on.  Am I the only one who does that?)  So then the whole next 24 hours is “off” because we’re not ready for the “next thing.”

The solution is to plug in a “backup.” In this case, the morning kitchen list also says to run the dishwasher.  If the dishes are clean, I obviously skip this.  But if I forgot the night before, I’ve planned in time to correct that oversight and get back on course.

If you know that there are certain portions of your routine that aren’t – well, routine – yet, be sure you plug in these “backups” during portions of your day that you are pretty consistent with.