Do you keep a diary? And how do you file everything?

[LegoLugger]

Since I started filling in the monster DLA form I've kept a diary of my 6yos behaviour which I found very helpful.

I want to start keeping one longer term that also details school interventions and incidents in case we need it, i.e. for an EHCP. I need it to be easy enough to complete in 5-10 mins a day if need be (because, you know...my hands are quite full especially when there's a lot to record).

I also want to make space for the positives, for my sanity and in case he ever sees it - he's a wonderful person and we love his quirks. If he ever reads this stuff I don't want it to look like life was a living hell. (And it's proven to be shit for my mental health to focus on the hard things).

I do everything on my computer but my instinct is to keep this journal offline because I have privacy fears.

Do you have a template you follow? Or find it too hard to keep a long term daily diary? Am i being unrealistic?

Also I've started to notice how badly the paperwork can mount up since ASD diagnosis, and we're just at the beginning. I need to get my act together, I'm thinking that filing things (copies) digitally is probably a better option than trying to have a paper system that makes any sense.

What do you do?

I'm not the world's most naturally systematic person, but

[....as if to prove my own point I post the thing without finishing it. You get the gist.]

Have at look at the Bullet journal method. It’s very methodical, doesn’t need expensive stationery, and there’s an index for EVERYTHING! It wold also make an amazing resource for your son to plot his journey when he’s older if he wants to. He might even take it up himself as it really helps with overwhelm.