WEBVTT - Find an anchor date

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<v Speaker 1>Welcome to Before Breakfast, a production of I Heart Radio.

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<v Speaker 1>Good Morning. This is Laura. Welcome to the Before Breakfast podcast.

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<v Speaker 1>Today's tip is to use anchor dates to make sure

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<v Speaker 1>that things that need to happen periodically actually occur on schedule.

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<v Speaker 1>I've recently heard about a person who schedules all of

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<v Speaker 1>his annual medical appointments for right around his birthday. He

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<v Speaker 1>schedules his annual physical plus the eye doctor, dermatologist, and

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<v Speaker 1>whatever other specialists he needs to see once a year.

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<v Speaker 1>He isn't going to forget his birthday. So if he

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<v Speaker 1>knows that he makes his appointments for around his birthday,

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<v Speaker 1>there is no more wondering when the last appointment was.

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<v Speaker 1>Such a smart and simple approach, and hey, it has

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<v Speaker 1>the added benefit of recasting preventative healthcare as a gift

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<v Speaker 1>to yourself. You are increasing the chances of many more

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<v Speaker 1>birthdays to come. That is the power of a good

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<v Speaker 1>anchor date. For tasks that need to happen more frequently,

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<v Speaker 1>you can simply choose anchor dates that happen more frequently.

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<v Speaker 1>For instance, if the air filters in your home need

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<v Speaker 1>to be changed four times a year, why not choose

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<v Speaker 1>the four dates when your estimated taxes are due. The

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<v Speaker 1>summer and winter solstice could work for your dental cleanings

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<v Speaker 1>or other tasks that need to happen semi annually. Anchor

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<v Speaker 1>dates can likewise be useful for things that need to

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<v Speaker 1>happen at specific times of the year. For instance, and

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<v Speaker 1>parts of the American South, the day after Thanksgiving is

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<v Speaker 1>the traditional day to plant bulbs. It would be fine

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<v Speaker 1>to plant bulbs earlier in November, even in early December,

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<v Speaker 1>but the rule of thumb to plant the day after

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<v Speaker 1>Thanksgiving helps ensure that what needs to happen sometime around

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<v Speaker 1>then actually happens. And hey, most people need a little

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<v Speaker 1>physical activity the day after Thanksgiving. Since many people have

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<v Speaker 1>the day off work, there are fewer extra there are

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<v Speaker 1>fewer excuses for not spending some daylight hours outside. That

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<v Speaker 1>is a good anchor date. Here where I live near Philadelphia,

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<v Speaker 1>the day after Thanksgiving would be a little late to

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<v Speaker 1>plant bulbs, since we've usually had a number of good

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<v Speaker 1>frosts by then, but I can choose another anchor date,

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<v Speaker 1>like my daughter's early October birthday. We often think of

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<v Speaker 1>getting our flu shots right around Halloween, and I start

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<v Speaker 1>making my annual camp spreadsheet right around the new year,

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<v Speaker 1>early enough to get discounts and to almost always get

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<v Speaker 1>the dates that I want. By setting smart anchor dates,

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<v Speaker 1>you can get a jump on almost anything where it

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<v Speaker 1>is problematic to wait. I have found that making summer

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<v Speaker 1>vacation plans around Thanksgiving means there are a lot more

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<v Speaker 1>choices than if I am making those plans in June.

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<v Speaker 1>So think about what you need to do periodically. Is

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<v Speaker 1>there a memorable date like your birthday or a holiday

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<v Speaker 1>right around this time so that you could attach the

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<v Speaker 1>task to that memorable date. Once you start doing this,

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<v Speaker 1>the anchor date will help you remember to do the

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<v Speaker 1>task on schedule from year to year. Eventually this will

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<v Speaker 1>be automatic day after Thanksgiving time to plant those bulbs.

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<v Speaker 1>But in the near term it's a good idea to

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<v Speaker 1>use a calendar item to reinforce that association. So, for example,

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<v Speaker 1>you might put a note on your calendar for next

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<v Speaker 1>Halloween to go get a flu shot and to create

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<v Speaker 1>a calendar item for the next year. Then the cycle

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<v Speaker 1>repeats itself and the things you want to have happened happen.

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<v Speaker 1>How awesome is that? In the meantime this is Laura,

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<v Speaker 1>Thanks for listening. And here's to making the most of

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<v Speaker 1>our time. Hey everybody, I'd love to hear from you.

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<v Speaker 1>You can send me your tips, your questions, or anything else.

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<v Speaker 1>email at Before Breakfast podcast at i heeart media dot

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<v Speaker 1>Thanks so much, I look forward to staying in to much.

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