How To Effectively Organize Your Calendars

I would be lost without my calendar!  In fact, I use three calendars every single day.   My google calendar on my phone, our family calendar, and my lovely planner from Rifle Paper Company!  I am a huge proponent of sanctified planning! Today, we are going to be talking about how to effectively organize your calendars.  I am excited to start the journey with you! (Also, so sorry the photos came out so dark today, it’s real life over here!)

How To Effectively Organize Your Calendars

SUPPLIES

personal organizer and calendar (either FREE online or paper version, here is a FREE printable version)

large family calendar (I get mine at Office Max.)

colored markers or pens

OPTIONAL magnetic cup hooks to hang the Family calendar on your refrigerator

We have a family rule that if you don’t mark your personal schedule on the family calendar it does not happen.  It is a form of communication and connection for our family.  Basically, it gives us all a glimpse into each other lives, determines who needs a car to drive, and in general makes our home run smoothly.  When the kids were young I marked the calendar myself using their colors.  Now, it is up to each of us to mark our schedules down on the calendar in our own colors.

Display your family calendar in a prominent location.  I keep our family calendar on the refrigerator using magnetic cup hooks.  I keep a small basket of markers on top of the refrigerator for people to add appointments to the calendar.  The calendar must be located so everyone sees it every day for it to be effective.

FAMILY CALENDAR

Start by assigning each member of your family a color.   We have eight people in my family so we have eight colors on our calendar.  The only color that is not available to pick from is red.

Next, write family and friends’ birthdays in red on your family calendar.  Also, circle paydays in red.

Start with yourself and mark your schedule on the family calendar.  My color is brown (I picked last) and add your appointments, and important dates to the calendar.

Write your children’s schedule on the calendar in their personal color and ask your husband to do the same.

Make a commitment to add new appointments to the family calendar when you schedule them.

PERSONAL CALENDAR

I am a paper person so my personal calendar and organizer is a notebook of sorts.  If you like google calendar or some other electronic organizers go for it!  Additionally, I have heard wonderful things about COZI a free web service that connects your whole family’s schedules.

I am in love with my personal calendar and planner from Rifle Paper Company!  It is simple to use and I couldn’t live without it!  Now, here is the problem.  It costs money and since I hate to pay for anything I ask for it as a Christmas present.  This year my daughter Carrie Grace purchased this lovely planner for me…thanks, Carrie!

My personal calendar and planner include monthly calendars, weekly calendars, a master “To-Do” list, and a week-at-a-glance with daily “To-Do” lists, important dates, and future yearly calendars.

I personally never plan out my day with times attached to tasks.  It makes me stressed out so I operate off my daily “To Do” List with no assigned times.  The one exception is appointments outside the home.  With such a large family, one of which is a daughter with special needs I receive a ton of daily interruptions. My guess is you do too.  Keep in mind, people are more important than keeping a schedule or finishing your “To-do” list.

Someone once told me that, Ministry is in the interruptions…

Let’s get started with our personal calendars…

Firstly, pray and ask God what should be on your calendar and what needs to be taken off. Make sure to leave time to listen in silence and respond accordingly, Are your priorities reflected in your calendar?

Mark all important dates on your personal calendar such as birthdays, anniversaries, doctor’s appointments, and dates with your husband.

Next, Make a master “To Do” List.

Star the top 5 tasks on the master list and move them to your daily “To Do” List.  I spread them across the week.  One for each day of the week.

Mark your daily chores and tasks on your daily/weekly “To Do” List.

The things you don’t complete, move to the next day.

Are you looking for more ways to simplify your life?  Click HERE!

YOUR TURN…

How do you organize your calendars?

Blessings,

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