1 00:00:03,440 --> 00:00:06,680 Speaker 1: Welcome to Before Breakfast, a production of I Heart Radio. 2 00:00:09,160 --> 00:00:14,960 Speaker 1: Good Morning. This is Laura. Welcome to the Before Breakfast podcast. 3 00:00:16,040 --> 00:00:20,400 Speaker 1: Today's tip is to use anchor dates to make sure 4 00:00:20,440 --> 00:00:26,080 Speaker 1: that things that need to happen periodically actually occur on schedule. 5 00:00:28,160 --> 00:00:31,120 Speaker 1: I've recently heard about a person who schedules all of 6 00:00:31,200 --> 00:00:35,519 Speaker 1: his annual medical appointments for right around his birthday. He 7 00:00:35,640 --> 00:00:39,640 Speaker 1: schedules his annual physical plus the eye doctor, dermatologist, and 8 00:00:39,880 --> 00:00:43,080 Speaker 1: whatever other specialists he needs to see once a year. 9 00:00:44,320 --> 00:00:47,559 Speaker 1: He isn't going to forget his birthday. So if he 10 00:00:47,600 --> 00:00:50,680 Speaker 1: knows that he makes his appointments for around his birthday, 11 00:00:51,360 --> 00:00:54,520 Speaker 1: there is no more wondering when the last appointment was. 12 00:00:55,840 --> 00:01:00,240 Speaker 1: Such a smart and simple approach, and hey, it has 13 00:01:00,280 --> 00:01:05,440 Speaker 1: the added benefit of recasting preventative healthcare as a gift 14 00:01:05,800 --> 00:01:10,080 Speaker 1: to yourself. You are increasing the chances of many more 15 00:01:10,120 --> 00:01:14,800 Speaker 1: birthdays to come. That is the power of a good 16 00:01:14,880 --> 00:01:19,520 Speaker 1: anchor date. For tasks that need to happen more frequently, 17 00:01:20,200 --> 00:01:23,280 Speaker 1: you can simply choose anchor dates that happen more frequently. 18 00:01:24,120 --> 00:01:26,560 Speaker 1: For instance, if the air filters in your home need 19 00:01:26,600 --> 00:01:29,759 Speaker 1: to be changed four times a year, why not choose 20 00:01:29,800 --> 00:01:33,959 Speaker 1: the four dates when your estimated taxes are due. The 21 00:01:34,120 --> 00:01:38,000 Speaker 1: summer and winter solstice could work for your dental cleanings 22 00:01:38,120 --> 00:01:42,800 Speaker 1: or other tasks that need to happen semi annually. Anchor 23 00:01:42,920 --> 00:01:45,400 Speaker 1: dates can likewise be useful for things that need to 24 00:01:45,440 --> 00:01:49,480 Speaker 1: happen at specific times of the year. For instance, and 25 00:01:49,640 --> 00:01:53,480 Speaker 1: parts of the American South, the day after Thanksgiving is 26 00:01:53,520 --> 00:01:57,640 Speaker 1: the traditional day to plant bulbs. It would be fine 27 00:01:57,680 --> 00:02:01,320 Speaker 1: to plant bulbs earlier in November, even in early December, 28 00:02:01,960 --> 00:02:03,960 Speaker 1: but the rule of thumb to plant the day after 29 00:02:04,040 --> 00:02:08,120 Speaker 1: Thanksgiving helps ensure that what needs to happen sometime around 30 00:02:08,120 --> 00:02:13,360 Speaker 1: then actually happens. And hey, most people need a little 31 00:02:13,360 --> 00:02:17,840 Speaker 1: physical activity the day after Thanksgiving. Since many people have 32 00:02:17,919 --> 00:02:21,520 Speaker 1: the day off work, there are fewer extra there are 33 00:02:21,560 --> 00:02:27,160 Speaker 1: fewer excuses for not spending some daylight hours outside. That 34 00:02:27,800 --> 00:02:32,200 Speaker 1: is a good anchor date. Here where I live near Philadelphia, 35 00:02:32,400 --> 00:02:34,880 Speaker 1: the day after Thanksgiving would be a little late to 36 00:02:34,960 --> 00:02:38,000 Speaker 1: plant bulbs, since we've usually had a number of good 37 00:02:38,000 --> 00:02:42,320 Speaker 1: frosts by then, but I can choose another anchor date, 38 00:02:42,440 --> 00:02:46,640 Speaker 1: like my daughter's early October birthday. We often think of 39 00:02:46,680 --> 00:02:50,800 Speaker 1: getting our flu shots right around Halloween, and I start 40 00:02:50,919 --> 00:02:54,399 Speaker 1: making my annual camp spreadsheet right around the new year, 41 00:02:55,400 --> 00:02:59,040 Speaker 1: early enough to get discounts and to almost always get 42 00:02:59,040 --> 00:03:03,880 Speaker 1: the dates that I want. By setting smart anchor dates, 43 00:03:03,960 --> 00:03:06,040 Speaker 1: you can get a jump on almost anything where it 44 00:03:06,160 --> 00:03:10,120 Speaker 1: is problematic to wait. I have found that making summer 45 00:03:10,240 --> 00:03:13,960 Speaker 1: vacation plans around Thanksgiving means there are a lot more 46 00:03:14,040 --> 00:03:18,919 Speaker 1: choices than if I am making those plans in June. 47 00:03:19,760 --> 00:03:23,320 Speaker 1: So think about what you need to do periodically. Is 48 00:03:23,360 --> 00:03:27,919 Speaker 1: there a memorable date like your birthday or a holiday 49 00:03:28,160 --> 00:03:31,200 Speaker 1: right around this time so that you could attach the 50 00:03:31,280 --> 00:03:35,560 Speaker 1: task to that memorable date. Once you start doing this, 51 00:03:36,560 --> 00:03:38,840 Speaker 1: the anchor date will help you remember to do the 52 00:03:38,920 --> 00:03:43,880 Speaker 1: task on schedule from year to year. Eventually this will 53 00:03:43,920 --> 00:03:48,720 Speaker 1: be automatic day after Thanksgiving time to plant those bulbs. 54 00:03:49,720 --> 00:03:51,640 Speaker 1: But in the near term it's a good idea to 55 00:03:51,760 --> 00:03:57,040 Speaker 1: use a calendar item to reinforce that association. So, for example, 56 00:03:57,080 --> 00:03:59,400 Speaker 1: you might put a note on your calendar for next 57 00:03:59,440 --> 00:04:03,440 Speaker 1: Halloween to go get a flu shot and to create 58 00:04:03,440 --> 00:04:07,840 Speaker 1: a calendar item for the next year. Then the cycle 59 00:04:08,000 --> 00:04:13,120 Speaker 1: repeats itself and the things you want to have happened happen. 60 00:04:14,480 --> 00:04:20,599 Speaker 1: How awesome is that? In the meantime this is Laura, 61 00:04:21,600 --> 00:04:25,800 Speaker 1: Thanks for listening. And here's to making the most of 62 00:04:25,839 --> 00:04:35,120 Speaker 1: our time. Hey everybody, I'd love to hear from you. 63 00:04:35,120 --> 00:04:38,000 Speaker 1: You can send me your tips, your questions, or anything else. 64 00:04:38,760 --> 00:04:42,360 Speaker 1: Just connect with me on Twitter, Facebook and Instagram at 65 00:04:42,360 --> 00:04:47,240 Speaker 1: Before Breakfast Pod. That's b E the number four, then 66 00:04:47,279 --> 00:04:50,680 Speaker 1: Breakfast p o D. You can also shoot me an 67 00:04:50,720 --> 00:04:54,520 Speaker 1: email at Before Breakfast podcast at i heeart media dot 68 00:04:54,520 --> 00:04:57,480 Speaker 1: com that Before Breakfast is spelled out with all the letters. 69 00:04:58,080 --> 00:05:00,200 Speaker 1: Thanks so much, I look forward to staying in to much. 70 00:05:06,000 --> 00:05:09,080 Speaker 1: Before Breakfast is a production of I heart Radio. For 71 00:05:09,200 --> 00:05:12,240 Speaker 1: more podcasts from I heart Radio, visit the i heart 72 00:05:12,279 --> 00:05:15,680 Speaker 1: Radio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you listen to your 73 00:05:15,680 --> 00:05:16,360 Speaker 1: favorite shows.