You have big plans for this year. This is going to be your best year yet and you need to stay organized. Have you considered which calendar will work for you and not against you next year? You have options, you know.
Before evaluating your options, consider three thoughts. First, how do you remember appointments best? The need to physically write them down with a pen (or pencil for those whose plans tend to change) can automatically rule out calendars that require typing and may be less memorable to you. Second, consider who can see your calendar. You may not want your boss to know about certain medical appointments or an upcoming interview with a competing company, or you may not want pressure from your partner who asks you about your next employee evaluation. Better to keep work and personal items in one place to maintain work-life balance. Having separate calendars for each can lead to over-scheduling or worse, missing an important deadline. Lastly, it’s a calendar that lives online, on your computer, on your phone, on your desk, or on your wall; It is not carved in stone. This year, take the challenge to change your calendar system if it doesn’t work for you. Why waste time logging events on something you don’t use? A calendar is meant to work for you to remember.
All calendars come in hourly, daily, weekly and yearly versions. Decide which one you prefer before comparing calendars to make your choice easier.
The traditional paper calendar is quite useful in today’s high-tech world. Having a desk calendar, wall calendar, or pocket planner helps keep events in mind. If you see it every day, the chances of remembering the commitments you have made are much higher. Pocket planners are practical, portable, and private.
Dry erase chalkboard calendars come in various sizes and styles with decorative options if desired. These are an easy way to keep a wall calendar if your schedule is constantly changing. If you decide that this is the type of calendar for you and you use it in a home with young children, it is imperative that you keep it above your reach.
Software calendars offer many advantages. They can be personalized by choosing the font, decoration, icons and even personal photos. You can even change the settings next December if you choose. This software can convert time zones around the world. An alarm going off on your computer screen is also a nice bonus. Contacts that exist on your computer can be linked to your calendar, so your sister-in-law’s phone number is at hand on her birthday. Computer software calendars can also be printed if you like the hybrid computer and paper option.
Many online calendars exist for free and are similar to computer software calendars. Like computer software calendars, you enter the information and it is stored. Also, they are printable. Online calendars can send email alerts about upcoming events. These are by far the easiest calendars to share (via email) if you need a workgroup or your family to know your schedule. There are settings for other people to add to your online calendar, which is useful for wedding plans, company meetings, school group projects, etc. Online calendars can also be synced with your smartphone.
Calendars usually come standard on your phone for free. The smarter your phone, the more advanced your calendar will be. Smartphones give you the option to set alarms from minutes to days before any given event. Naturally, this type of calendar syncs with the contacts on your phone. Most smartphone calendars can be easily linked to your computer for a seamless transition from work to personal life. Smartphone calendar has become the new pocket planner.
Remember to choose a calendar that helps you rather than adding another “to do” to your ever-growing list. It doesn’t have to be high-tech or flashy to be effective. The following month decide if you need to change any aspect of your calendar system or if you need a completely new one. Oh, and schedule those New Years resolutions right away!