Calendars link events and actions to a particular date and time.
Calendars also serve as a record of the past.
Endless variations exist. Choosing one can
be daunting: a traditional paper wall calendar or desk planner? An erasable
whiteboard? A computer-based solution?
Before deciding, make a wish list.
Consider:
▪ Context:
Will you be using the calendar in one location?
Or do you need something portable?
▪ Complexity:
How many events are you scheduling each day?
How many people need to refer to
it?
▪ Control:
Will you be the only one adding, revising, and deleting events?
Or do others
need to contribute to it?
▪ Aesthetics:
Do you want your calendar to delight or inspire?
Do you want to frame time by
the day, the week, or the month?
Winnowing through the options becomes a much
saner task when you know which features are essential. Try different designs
and types to learn which features support you and which get in your way.
Keep in mind that a style that works well for one phase in life may not
function at all when your needs shift.
An unused calendar is just a piece of clutter.
People who use a calendar effectively:
▪ Consult it
before making appointments (to avoid double-booking)
▪ Record every appointment (if
it’s not on the calendar, it doesn’t happen), and
▪ Refer to it frequently (at
least twice a day: in the morning so that you keep your commitments; in the
evening so that you’re prepared for tomorrow).
Caution: use only one calendar at a time.
Multiple calendars generate chaos!!
For more organizing tips, visit www.napomichigan.com.
Article submitted by Chapter member Melanie
Sobocinski, owner of
