#9 Track Bad Days

#9 Track Bad Days

Having a disability means some days are just harder than others. When it comes time for your NDIS plan reassessment, remembering all those tough days can be challenging. Think about it - if your next review is two years away, would you remember how you felt today? This week? Even this month? Most of us wouldn't! That's where your Calendary becomes a powerful tool to help you gather this important evidence.

Why track your bad days?

Your NDIS funding is based on how your disability affects your daily life. Without good records, those difficult days fade from memory. By the time your reassessment comes around, you might only remember the recent past, not the full picture of your support needs.

By tracking your bad days in your Calendary, you create a clear record of:

  • How often you struggle throughout the year
  • What specific challenges you face
  • The extra support you need on different days
  • Patterns you might not notice in the moment

Making the most of your Calendary

The Calendarys A3 size and diary-like format gives you plenty of space to record what's happening in your life:

  1. Use the extra writing space: The large format means you can write detailed notes about difficult days that your future self will thank you for.
  2. Create a simple coding system: Try using colors, stickers, or symbols in the corners of each day to quickly show how you were feeling:
    • Red dot = Very difficult day, needed lots of help
    • Orange dot = Struggled but managed
    • Green dot = Good day
  3. Record specific details: Use the note sections to write about what was hard. Two years from now, "Couldn't get out of bed until 2pm" is much more useful than just "Bad day."
  4. Take photos: Consider taking pictures of particularly difficult moments and noting the date in your Calendary. Visual evidence can be powerful.

What to track in your Calendary

Focus on information that shows the real impact of your disability:

  • Days you couldn't do planned activities
  • Times you needed unexpected help
  • Physical symptoms that were especially bad
  • Emotional or mental health struggles
  • Appointments related to your disability
  • How long it took to recover from activities

Using your Calendary at reassessment time

When your NDIS review approaches, even if it's years away:

  1. Look back through your Calendary for patterns
  2. Count how many "bad days" you had in a typical month
  3. Choose a few specific examples that show your support needs
  4. Bring your Calendary to your meeting as visual evidence

Your detailed records will speak volumes when you can't remember the important stuff.

Remember, it's about honesty

Your Calendary helps tell the true story of your disability - both the good and difficult days. The NDIS needs to understand your real support needs, not just see you on your best day.

Two years is a long time to remember your struggles accurately. By tracking consistently in your Calendary, you're making sure your NDIS plan truly reflects your life and gives you the support you deserve.

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