Staying Organized With a Calendar or Planner

It's hard to believe that 2010 is almost here.

Wasn't it just yesterday when we wondered what 2000 would bring and how we'd refer to the years that followed? Wow, that's been ten years ago.

Recording events is an important facet of my organization skills. I guess I could say I learned that from my daddy. Daddy was meticulous in documenting everything. He has written records of every move my children made when they were growing up.

I, myself have calendars of their first years that documents all the big moments like their first word, their first haircut, and their first tooth. My daddy, however, has a day-to-day record of everything they found on the ground outside, everything they did that was cute etc. He was just that way. He found it fascinating. To say my dad was devastated when my son died is putting it mildly. My dad had hoped to write a book about my son some day, but as I pointed out to my dad, "I don't think everyone care to read about what Kevin picked up off the ground at 3 pm on March 23, 1994." Daddy died before he finished Kevin's book.

For at least the last twenty years I buy myself a nice engagement calendar just before the New Year. Sometimes, I buy it in early December because I'm anxious to start recording pertinent dates, etc. into it. Sometimes, I wait until after Christmas because some places mark down their calendars after Christmas. I usually find that the selection is pretty picked over by then. I have also ordered them online.

First, I'll share the types of information I find it useful to keep in one. The following items are handy to have documented in your calendar:

• Birthdays of friends and relatives
• Phone numbers and addresses for places of employment, friends, relatives, etc.
• School holidays and report card day if you have kids
• Doctor and dentist appointments
• Reminders for rabies shots or immunizations for pets
• Reminders for auto registration and inspection
• Reminders for renewals on insurance
• When you mailed bills in case you are contacted for a late payment. It's handy to know when you mailed it.
• When you bought large ticket items-this helps in locating the receipt later since all my receipts are filed in monthly envelopes.
• New births, deaths, marriages etc. in the family
• I include encrypted messages containing passwords and other private info that is important to me but will make no sense to anyone else. We live in a world of many passwords. You have to keep them somewhere safe.
• I also keep a printout of my menstrual cycle in the back of my calendar to record the dates on until I can update the spreadsheet in the computer.
• Be sure to include an email address or phone number in case you ever misplace your calendar. I've never done this, but I would sure want someone to contact me if I ever did and they found it. Make sure you don't have any sensitive info where people can figure out what it is.

If you're going to subject your calendar to a year's worth of toting around and use, you need to buy one that can withstand your lifestyle. These are the features I look for in an engagement calendar and why:

• Not too bulky-I sometimes want to put the calendar in my purse. I don't want it to be too thick like some planners can be.
• Must be durable. The cover should be plastic, leather, or laminated. The pages should be made of cardstock if possible. Paper pages will not usually withstand a year of toting around.
• Must be interesting. I try to chose a calendar with interesting photos or quotes. My 2009 calendar was a Cirque du Soleil calendar with lots of scenes and trivia from their productions. In the past, I've had scenes from Paris, English countryside, The Far Side comics, lighthouses, Thomas Kinkade, etc.
• Make sure the spaces are large enough to write in. I've been given calendars in the past where the blocks were very small. I like seeing a full week on one page. Some people are also picky about what day the week shows to start on. Do you want your week to start on Monday? Sunday? Do you care?
• I personally don't want to see the time slots listed on my calendar. I prefer to write appointment times next to the entries I make.
• If the calendar you chose does not have an address book area then you can create your own if they at least provide a notes section. I've done that quite a few times.

I file each calendar with my tax information each year.  I sometimes refer back to them.  Having this info and been invaluable to me over the years.  I am able to locate the info I need easily when the occasions arise where I need it.