As anyone who is struggling with a chronic illness innately understands, dealing with the difficulties posed by said illness can be quite taxing, and sometimes, downright overwhelming … especially if memory or cognitive function is affected. Thus, when I finally received my ‘free’ Blackberry several weeks ago, little did I understand how my love affair with my Storm 2 would go way beyond ‘love at first sight!’
Who would have thought that this amazing, little device could be a solution to some of the most challenging aspects of CFIDS/FMS that I have to continually deal with? I can tell you, I never dreamed of the powerful impact this little, hand-held device would have in my life.
I have discovered, over the past few weeks…
that my Blackberry provides me (at least) five (5) ways to help manage my CFIDS/FMS.
First: Scheduling - it provides a calendar in which I can input all my daily activities. Being able to do that in one central location enables me to input all my chores into daily time slots. This is huge! I learned in college to break down my projects into small bite size projects. Sometimes, I have to take the small projects and break them down to even smaller sized projects. What is great with my Blackberry (BB) is that I am able to do that with such ease. I enter it one time, tell my BB to put it on my calendar on that day and hour for X amount of months, and walla…it’s done.
Second: Time Management – I am able to see – in a moment – everything I need to get done and then space things out so I can make sure I now have rests in the morning time and in the afternoon time. For some reason, trying to squeeze in my ‘down time’ is just amazingly challenging. However, since I have added rest times to my BB, I just take a look at my calendar, see when I schedule my downtime, and do it. Simple. Easy. Do-able. Done.
In addition, I have the ability to literally manage my day from morning to night. I can control how much downtime I have or don’t have. I can respond to calls via text or email. I can Twitter, Facebook, check my emails, etc throughout the day. By taking five minutes here and there to do the above, I now spend 90% less time on my laptop. I also find I have an amazing amount of free time!
Third: Reminders/Alarms – I have become so forgetful that I have actually thought of carrying around an alarm clock that I could reset whenever I need to remember something. However, the problem with that idea is that I would have to remember what I was trying to remember! Uh huh!
With my BB, though, I input all the things I need to remember and assign alarms to them. In the past 2 weeks, I haven’t forgotten to take care of anything! That takes a lot of stress off of me, because I am always trying to make sure I remember everything I need to remember with a brain that can’t remember! Frustrating to say the least. I am so much more peaceful now.
Fourth: Lists – I have lots of lists. I just have to keep running lists or I forget. I have lists for Netflix movies I want to watch, Herbs I need to order, a Dekker Needs List, Grocery List, Paper product and household list. Well, you get the picture. With my BB, I now have all my Lists in one place called, “MemoPad”! Love that.
Fifth: Portability – This has to be my favorite part of having a BB. I have everything in one place. In addition, the BB is much easier to hold because it is lightweight, something I can not say about my laptop. And because it is so small, I can take it with me everywhere and keep on top of everything. Absolutely love that!
I actually did not follow through with my BB last week and found my week quickly falling apart. I ended up doing too much on one day, because I had blown off the previous day. This week I have been following my pacing schedule and my week has been, again, much smoother. I actually find I can’t wait for my designated down times.
One bonus I discovered this week is with everything in one place, if I have a bad day, I can choose to move those ‘chores’ to another day or slot, or forgo them completely. Because things are now scheduled out and in bite sizes I can handle, if I need to skip a day, my house still looks good, my projects still stay on track, etc.
Even in the event of a really bad period, I won’t forget anything. It will all be there waiting in my Blackberry until I am ready to return.
I wonder what else this little device can do for me? Maybe I can tell it to run my baths for me at 8pm every night! Now that would be cool!
Determined to continue forward,
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Wow, it sounds like your Blackberry has really been a lifesaver for you. As I was reading through the uses you have found for it, I wondered if you have able to set up your checkbook on it? I didn’t know if there was some sort of app for that or not, or if you even wanted to do that. Just a thought.
From having talked to you and read your articles, it is pretty clear that time management is very important to you, in that it can help you manage your illnesses. It sounds like the Blackberry is really helping you accomplish that.
.-= LD Jackson´s last blog ..The government is us =-.
Larry – No. I haven’t figured out how to set up my checkbook on it because if microsoft works and I don’t know if you can do that. I will have to see if there is a way to do that. That is a good idea though. I know I can import my budget (which I haven’t attempted yet) which is huge.
It is. You know, Larry. I haven’t told you lately how much I appreciate you and our friendship. I want you to know that I do. You have been a ‘divine appointment’ in my life. Thank you for being such a great friend to me.
I may buy my girlfriend one……she manages all my appointments.
David – Hey! I think she would love you for that. I got mine free from Verizon because they are on sale for 199.00 online only with a 99.00 rebate that is applied right away. I also had a 100.00 credit, so it came to zero! It would have been worth the original price!
Wow! I can not even remember I have a cell phone at times. haha. You sound like you have really fallen in love with your new toy. That is the best feeling when we find something that works so well for us.
For me it would have to be my cd player that I use to listen to audiobooks at night. I have been using one or another for all these years to “read” novels at night or when I need to lay down and rest. It is the one thing that improved my life by providing entertainment and a way to relax through the symtoms.
So happy to hear that you are finding that it improves your life in so many ways. Maybe I will grab my cell and see if I can learn a little more about it….
Been so fun “visiting” with you. Hope your day is a peaceful one.
Susie
Susie – It actually has the ability (program) to do audio books. I was actually stunned when I saw that!
I hope your is a good one today, as well. Hugs!
This intrigues me…mostly because my laptop is too heavy for my lap, so I have it on a tv tray and it causes me neck and arm pain to the point where I cannot use my left arm very well due to pain and stiffness…hmmmm I think it is great that this device is making your life easier. I am ALL for that! A gift that keeps on giving!
.-= Renee´s last blog ..Aha!! =-.
Renee – THAT is exactly the kind of problems I was having! The little device is so much easier!
I am SO with you! My iPod Touch also allows me to do similar things – and if I didn’t write it all down, it would just wander out of my brain. Plus they are so light on the arms compared to a laptop!
.-= Annie´s last blog ..Love Me Fridays =-.
Annie – I don’t know much about the iPod but I have read stories of blind people using it! It sounds amazing as well!
Amen to that! I have a Blackberry too. As a homeschooling Mom, my BB has been a lifesaver. I created a daily schedule and it tells me what to do when every day!
Whit
.-= WhitU4ever´s last blog ..Hi… I’m Whit updated Tue Feb 16 2010 7:33 pm CST =-.
WhitU4ever – Ah…that means we can create a BB circle! he he
I’m happy your BB is so helpful. I just have to limit
the time on my PC because of muscle fatigue. Dial up is SO SLOW!
I’m fortunate that I can function with a notebook
with my ongoing “TO DO” list, a desk monthly planner where I
schedule things out (pacing) and a wall calendar where I post
apts and highlight those days. I even use a rubber band on my
wrist for one thing at a time – and usually I can remember what
it is for because I look at it and rehearse what it is for -
yep sometimes I look at the rubber ban and wonder what I’m trying
to remember. I mostly put it on my wrist on garb day so I
won’t forget that. So I’m a dinasour! Want to relate something
recently said to me by a lady at church
I was talking about Sammy Boy dog- remarking how fortunate I
have been to have him 24/7 for 15 years – never separated =
5,475 days – my way or refocsing on this great blessing
when I feel sad. Her reply was “shows you have time on
your hands” I know I say
things that are innocently “dumb” so I let it pass on by.
But thinking that over I don’t most days at all
feel I have time on my hands. I know you get that Dominique
whithout saying much – managing life while ill is a job!
Patricia – People truly do not understand what it takes mentally, physically, energy-wise, emotionally, etc., on a daily basis to live with these illnesses. Yes, we have time – maybe, but we spend it trying to get well. Or we spend it to rest. We are always working toward a goal – that of getting to a better place, maybe even well.
Uh…sometimes you just have to forgive them and move on like you did. I know they mean well but I wish they would think about what they say before they say it. Sometimes, I wish we had bruises all over our bodies, or broken bones, or no hair….something…anything…that would prove we are sick. It does get surreal sometimes!
I’m proud of you for letting that one slide. I am still praying for you and Sam.
P. S. My article for Saturday will be a little late. I had a long day today – went to the farm and got my veggie bag, went to Whole Foods and got my groceries, Saw “Avatar” – the movie, and then crashed for several hours when I got home. Plus, I finally got my budget rebuilt – only took me 12 hours. And my checkbook is done and I just need to finish my debt reduction plan and financial planner. God I hope that never happens again! Phew!
Hope this finds you having a great weekend. See you later today!
Healing to have someone who understands. Thanks for prayers for
me and Sam. It is a struggle to get him to eat.
Patricia – Ohh…it breaks my heart that you are going through this. I will continue to pray for you. Please keep me informed on his progress, okay?
Dominique, you make a compelling reason for why we should have mobile devices such as the Blackberry at the ready. I am tempted to buy one; shall I blame you when my wife asks me about it?
Of course, I could purchase “his” and “hers” models!
.-= Matt Keegan´s last blog ..Write Your Attention Grabbing Headlines With Care =-.
Matt – LOL! You have my permission to do so! LOL. Oh boy! She doesn’t have my phone number does she! If you have Verizon, you can get it for free or almost free! Does that help in the decision making realm! he he