When you feel organized, you feel empowered. Although caregiving apps are a great way to digitally organize and coordinate care, there’s tremendous satisfaction in grabbing a pen and getting it all down on paper.
Paper planners don’t require technical knowledge—which is especially great when dealing with helpers who aren’t tech-savvy. And research has shown that paper journaling might even reduce stress and assist with problem-solving. Simply put: It’s extremely satisfying to write something down and check it off your list.
Keep in mind the perfect planner is a matter of preference. Over time you’ll discover which type of notebook complements your caregiving goals and personal style. Consider differences in the planner’s objective, layout, binding and date format. We’ve listed some of our favorites below.
Why we like this planner:
- Each page starts with a space for gratitude and goals, making sure you take time to recognize your own needs.
- It’s undated. The daily layout covers six months, and the weekly layout is 12 months.
- It tracks meal planning, fitness, mood and sleep, and reminds you to reward yourself.
- It’s made in the U.S. with bright white paper and a linen fabric hardcover.
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Why we like this planner:
- Your planner is printed just for you: Choose paper size, cover, layout, binding, headings, priorities, events, goals and more.
- The company offers horizontal, vertical, monthly, weekly, daily, hourly or grid layouts.
- Customize headings to organize caregiving, children and work responsibilities. Add extra pages as needed.
- Pre-made layouts are also available.
Why we like this log book:
- This is a simple 120-page notebook to track your loved one’s daily activities: meals, toilet activity, physical activities, sleep, pain and medications.
- It could be a valuable resource for doctor appointments and is especially useful when caregiving involves a rotation of health aides.
Why we like this printable:
- It offers options for smaller or larger page sizes and 13 noneditable worksheets. Choose which size and which pages you want to print.
- Digital download comes as a ZIP file for printing at a copy center or at home using Adobe Acrobat.
- The download also offers flexibility to print as many sheets as you need. It would be great in a binder for a rotating schedule of caregivers.
- It includes daily notes, scheduling worksheets, caregiving checklists, health episodes tracker and more.
Why we like this book:
- While not a calendar-type planner, this book is a comprehensive resource to inform and organize your decisions.
- It may be especially helpful for those new to the caregiving journey.
- You’ll get advice on dealing with multiple aspects of caregiving: creating a care team and dealing with illness, financial matters, senior housing and more.
- It offers insight on how to improve the quality of life—both for your senior and yourself.
- Each chapter includes tips on prioritizing and organizing tasks, step-by-step action plans and a list of questions to ask providers.
Why we like this planner:
- It combines the benefits of an appointment calendar with the added motivation of trusted wellness advice.
- Hardcover, full-color, spiral-bound weekly calendar pages are packed with Prevention Magazine’s tips for improving nutrition, fitness and self-care.
- It includes a bookmark, and the planner offers ample writing space to accommodate important daily notes.
Why we like this planner:
- The binding on this softbound planner lays flat—perfect for left-handed writers.
- It offers mini-month views, monthly quotes, monthly notes and productivity pages, weekly planning and contacts.
- The vertical layout divides each day into three sections, making it easier to organize tasks. It also comes in an hourly version for those who prefer more details and an undated horizontal format so you can start your planner any time of year.
Why we like this planner:
- Some caregivers prefer a separate notebook for organizing and tracking everything related to chronic illness; it can be helpful to have a standalone diary to bring to medical appointments.
- This three-month, undated daily log has space to record medications and supplements, symptoms, blood pressure and blood sugar, urination, bowel movements, diet, nutrition, activity, sleep, energy levels and more.
- Online reviewers applaud this planner for giving insight into the daily habits that can affect the loved one’s symptoms.
Getting the most from your new planner
Printed journals and planners add structure to caregiving because they organize time and break down tasks into manageable chunks. Tracking your loved one’s daily routine can also help with doctors’ appointments and give insight into health patterns.
But planners can also help you care for yourself. They can remind you to take a moment to focus on your own needs, daily gratitude and goals. If you miss a day or two, don’t be hard on yourself. The goal here is to motivate, organize and keep making progress.
After you’ve filled a planner, don’t throw it away. Paper planners offer another bonus: They serve as physical evidence of all the hard work you’re doing. When you look through old notebooks and see all of the challenges you handled, don’t underestimate that feeling of accomplishment—you’ve earned it. The proof is in the paper.
