3 Simple Systems That Saved My Sanity

My life changed dramatically in August 2009 when my 87 year old father fell and required surgery. He was in the hospital for 10 days, then rehab until Oct. 28. What with visiting, acting as patient advocate, and setting up systems to support his return home, I was spending two- three days a week in Santa Barbara. At one point I realized the irony that I was making sure my mother had groceries, but hadn't had time to do my own grocery shopping in 6 weeks.

Thank goodness I already had three systems in place that really saved my sanity:

• Bill pay and direct deposit - Before my husband and I went to Australia for three weeks in March of 2009, we reviewed our checking account to see what bills we needed to be sure were paid while we were gone. What a relief to realize that all but one bill (the credit card) was already set up for automatic bill pay, and my husband's paychecks were on direct deposit. There was no extra work we needed to do. This automation was an additional blessing when I was consumed with my father's illness - everything got paid without me putting in any work.
  
• Dream Dinners - This is what kept food on the table. Once a month my husband and I attend a meal preparation session for an hour and come home with 36 servings of a minimum of 6 entrees we put in the freezer. I've been a loyal member for 5 years. In October I didn't even have time for the one hour monthly session, but the good folks at Dream Dinners prepared my order for me, and I just needed to stop by and pick it up. I even had them make up extras to take to my mother. Another lifesaver!
• A community of friends and relatives - sometimes we have to accept we are drowning and ask for help. I don't know what I would have done without my sister; she is terrific, and I cannot come close to expressing my gratitude to her. Another resource was my minister, who used her "minister network" connections in Santa Barbara to publish my request for someone to live-in with my Mom. Although I had also advertised at a local university, it was the congregational appeal that garnered me the most results.

My father is home now and doing well. I still spend one day a week in Santa Barbara, but it's planned, and not because of crises. However, the essence of all disaster planning is to have systems in place, and I encourage you to evaluate what systems you need in place to save your sanity.