How to use a family calendar to stay organised
There’s so much to stay on top of when it comes to family life, from sports, appointments, haircuts, school admin, work commitments, and family goals, the list goes on and on.
One of the best ways to stay on top of everything, and make your family more organised, is by using a family calendar.
Here’s some information on what a family calendar is, the types of family calendars you can use, and how to use a family calendar to stay organised.
What’s a family calendar?
A family calendar allows you to record and action appointments, events, to dos, and anything else individual family members, and your family as a whole has going on, so things aren’t forgotten, family members aren’t overwhelmed or over committed, and family life runs smoothly.
Types of family calendars
There are typically two types of family calendars, digital family calendars, and wall calendars.
The type of family calendar that you use depends on what works best for your family, but the overall aim is that it needs to be accessible to every family member, so they can see what’s happening at any time, and easily make amendments to it.
Using a family calendar to stay organised
Here’s how you can use a family calendar to stay organised.
Put everything on it
Everything that family members have going on needs to be on your family calendar, including childcare or transport that needs to be organised in order for calendar entries to happen.
Additional things to include on your family calendar are birthdays, anniversaries, school holidays, special family events, and reoccurring activities.
Add items immediately
Write things on your family calendar as soon as you become aware of them so they’re not forgotten, and so you don’t double book something.
Digital family calendars
Using a digital family calendar, or a combining digital and paper calendars allows you to easily add entries to your family calendar when you’re out of the house.
Using a digital family calendar also means:
- You can set reminders for certain entries
- It can be accessed from multiple devices
- You can colour code by family member, or entry type
- You can create to do lists of things you need to do before an entry
- Family members who don’t live with you can access the calendar, such as grandparents and child minders
Find a central location
If using a wall family calendar, display it in a location where every family member can see it, such as on your fridge, in your dining room, or in your living room.
Also make sure your wall calendar is eye level, and all entries are legible.
Colour coding
Colour coding entries on your family calendar allows family members to easily see what entries apply to them.
Colour coding is easy on a digital family calendar, but on a wall calendar you can colour code using highlighters, markers, dot stickers, or post it notes.
Examples of how you may use colour coding on your family calendar include making home-related entries green, school events blue, or holidays yellow.
Set reminders
Setting reminders is the best way to ensure everything on your family calendar is actioned.
This is easy when using a digital family calendar, but if using a wall calendar you can set reminders on your phone and send them to the family members who need to know about them.
Examples of reminders include reminders to buy a birthday present before the birthday arrives, reminders on the days your kids need to wear their PE kit, or reminders on when to start planning for Christmas.
Schedule check ins
Scheduling weekly check ins where you sit down as a family and discuss what each member needs to add to the family calendar, or what needs to be taken off, is a great way to continue to use it.
It’s also a way of ensuring entries aren’t added to your family calendar that cause family members overwhelm, and ensuring that everyone has time to do what they’ve been allocated.
Be patient
Getting your family to use a family calendar may take time, it’s a new process to get used to, and not everyone will adapt at the same time.
Using a family calendar really is a great way to organise family life, it also improves family communication, teaches your children responsibility, and ensures family members aren’t over committed.
How do you organise family life?
