Last time we covered getting at least one, if not two calendars to use. The keyword in that last sentence is use. If you don’t use your calendars, they are just a waste of money, and a waste of time, because using a calendar is a big time saver.
The first thing you will want to do is get everything together that involves a date. Some of those things include birthdays; bills; appointments (doctor, dentists, etc.); any extra curricular things your children may be involved in for practices, games, meetings, special ceremonies; days off of school your children may have or any school appointments you may have such as conferences or programs; any thing for your school; and so much more, depending on your life and activities. Next sit down with your calendar(s) and write everything you have into one or both. Don’t forget to schedule family fun time and alone time onto your calendar. Now this much is easy, and a lot of people already do this, even if they don’t “use” their calendar. Now comes the hard part.
At the beginning of every week, check your calendar. See what needs to go out that week, birthday cards, bills, and anything else that needs to be mailed. Check your calendar every night, to see what you have going on the next day. Check your calendar every morning to see/remember what you have. This is honestly the hardest part; remembering to actually use your calendar as the tool that it is. You can write all the information in the world on your calendar, but if you don’t use it, it is useless (no pun intended).
Now you have your calendar, you have the information in it that you need, and you are using it. The last thing you must remember is to update it. Every time you make an appointment, or something comes up, update it. This is another reason to have two calendars. So you have one on you that you can look at and make appointments according to your scheduled activities. Every time you come home, update your wall calendar so you have the information in both places.
If you write the information on your calendar, use it, and update it, you will never double book a time period, miss an appointment, forget a birthday, or any number of disappointing things you can do when you don’t have the calendar to work with. Less stress for you, and less anger at yourself because you won’t forget something to be angry at yourself with.