Punch Cards for Self-Care

Punch cards are mostly associated with the early days of computer programming. Because computers could not store files, the programs and data were entered onto punch cards, which were then fed into the computer so it could move through its motions and do its job. (For a longer explanation, you can check out Computer Hope’s article.)

A computer punch card.

Punch cards were used as early as 1725, when Joseph Marie Jacquard supported the development of the Jacquard Loom to weave, well, Jacquard-pattern fabrics.

A Jacquard loom showing information punch cards, National Museum of Scotland. Photo by Stephen C. Dickson.

Like many people I know, I have days when self-care is easy, and days when it’s not so easy. I don’t know who thought giving me a body to take care of was a good idea, but they were somewhat mistaken. Additionally, my life has a lot of moving parts (really, whose life doesn’t?), and it’s easy to forget things.

So, I made myself a set of punch cards to help me do my job of getting me through various parts of my day. Three of them are pictured. Yes, they are on 4″ x 6″ index cards, which makes them easy to carry as I move through my day, and to take them with me when I travel.

[Image description: Three purple index cards with handwritten lists on them.]

Yours don’t have to be this complicated! Mine are quite detailed, because I need all the help I can get to remember to do things—especially in the morning, when I am not at anything like my best, and putting myself into human form and ready to leave for work involves entirely too many steps.

These are not my to-do lists for work or personal projects; these are only the things I need to do in order to get ready for the day, navigate certain points in the day, and then end the day in something like a calm and peaceful manner, so I have a better chance of sleeping well. (My to-do lists are another thing entirely, and will make an appearance at some point.)

Some days, I don’t have to do more than skim them for reminders (set the alarms for my meds doses, for example—it’s a small thing, and easy to forget). Other days, I have to follow them, one item at a time, because otherwise I will end up leaving for the work with wet hair and wearing my house slippers.

A simple version might have this list for the morning:
*Eat breakfast
*Wash breakfast dishes
*Brush teeth
*Take vitamin
*Shower
*Put on clothes and shoes
*Pack work bag (I have a list inside my work bag to remind me of what needs to be in it before I leave the house.)

Then, at the end of the day:
*Eat dinner
*Wash dinner dishes
*Check tomorrow’s calendar and add extra items to work bag if needed
*Brush teeth
*Wash and moisturize face
*30 minutes of calm (screenless time—read soothing poems or a calming book, listen to calming music, etc.)
*Check front and back doors are locked
*Tuck myself in

If that seems too much, you could start with this for the morning:
*Eat breakfast
*Brush teeth
*Shower

and this for the evening:
*Eat dinner
*Wash breakfast and dinner dishes
*Brush teeth
*Wash face and moisturize
*Go to bed

I hope this idea is helpful for you!