Diabetes care requires around-the-clock attention! From testing your blood sugar levels to timing your meals, managing diabetes can be challenging!
If you struggle with planning your schedules and keeping track of your health, this article is just what you need!
So let’s dive right in and talk about some easy tips for diabetes time management!
Make a time map!
Noting down your activities makes it easier to create and follow time schedules. This way, you can see all your daily tasks and dedicate time according to your convenience. Draft a schedule, detailing the timings of your meals, medicines, blood tests and other activities. You can create this schedule on your mobile phone and set up timely reminders for each task!
Create check-lists! Lists are a Diabetic’s best friend! You can make a list of all your tasks, may it be groceries, medications, or appointments! They are a great way to keep track of all your activities for the day!
Stress is a trigger for your diabetes. By creating a schedule, you can eliminate the stress of overcrowding your day with tasks and thus manage your diabetes easily!
Define your tasks
Having a clear idea of what to do and when can help you allot an appropriate amount of time. Give yourself realistic deadlines for tasks, and try to follow your schedule. The more you practise this, the easier it will become!
Use a pill organiser if you have many medications to keep track of. Set an alarm or reminder on your phone to schedule your medication.
You can also schedule your meals by planning ahead of time!
Keep track of the time!
In order to figure out how much time you take to complete a task, note down when you begin and finish that task. Having an approximate idea of how long it takes you to finish something can help you create a more realistic schedule.
Switching to an analogue watch can be beneficial too! Analogue watches make you more aware of time passing than digital watches. This will help you stick to your deadlines and have a better grasp over time!
Make it enjoyable!
Diabetes management does not have to be boring! You can make self-care a more enjoyable experience instead of a chore. Play your favourite music and get to work! Music activates your brain, which helps with boosting attention and focus.
There is nothing more soothing than listening to your favourite jams and completing your tasks. This practice can help you curb your anxiety about your tasks and meet deadlines too!
Music can also work as behavioural psychology! If you listen to music every time you do something important, eventually listening to that music will put you in work mode! You will start to associate music with completing tasks. So every time you hear music, you will want to clear off some activities from your schedule.
Pretty cool, right?
Set timers
Timers can help you keep track of your deadlines and finish your tasks on time. Assign a realistic amount of time to your tasks, and set up a timer before you begin. The timer will motivate you and create a sense of urgency to finish the task within the deadline!
After all, there is no better sense of relief than knowing you have successfully completed your tasks within your deadlines!
Buddy up!
Studies suggest that having someone with you while you work on your tasks can help your brain focus and eliminate distractions. Your ‘buddy’ acts as an anchor, preventing you from procrastinating on your task.
This way, you can complete your activities within the allotted deadlines and have company!
The bottom line
While Diabetes management is a full-time job, there are many ways with which you can divide your time and make diabetes management enjoyable! Creating schedules and setting reminders can help you stay on track and finish your tasks within deadlines.
Remember to keep your schedules light and convenient. Overcrowding your day can cause stress about completing your tasks, which may trigger your diabetes! Give yourself ample time so you can finish your tasks easily, and have time for yourself!
References:
https://www.magickitchen.com/info/managing-your-time-better-with-diabetes.html
