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I always start the new year with big plans. This time, I tell myself, we’re finally going to be that organized family, the one that never forgets school events, doctor’s appointments, or whose turn it is to walk the dog.
I picture a perfectly planned-out system where everyone knows what’s happening and when. No more last-minute scrambles or double-booked weekends.
A few years back, when my kid was still tiny, we had dinner at a friend’s house. They had two kids and somehow, their household felt... functional.
The food was simple, the kids were running around, and the place looked well-loved (translation: toys everywhere). But what stood out to me was a giant calendar hanging in their kitchen. It wasn’t just a calendar, it was their whole family’s schedule in one place.
Right there in their kitchen was a giant framed chalkboard, laid out like a month-at-a-glance planner. Every square was filled in, and color-coded for each family member, with stars and circles marking important events. It was a little overwhelming but also kind of genius.
Back then, my days were mostly about keeping tiny humans alive and making it to library story-time on Thursdays. That was the extent of my scheduling. Looking at that calendar, I couldn’t help but wonder, was this my future? Would I one day need a whole system just to keep track of my own family?
After seeing that chalkboard calendar, I went down a bit of a Pinterest rabbit hole. Turns out, there’s no shortage of ways to get a family organized, chalkboards, dry-erase boards, magnetic calendars, acrylic planners, paper ones, digital ones. Weekly layouts, monthly layouts. It’s enough to make your head spin.
I’ve learned that the best calendar isn’t the fanciest one, it’s the one that fits your family’s needs.
I had to figure that out the hard way. I love a good planner. For years, I bought the cutest ones, complete with fancy pens and little stickers. I thought if it was pretty enough, I’d use it. And I did, kind of.
I wrote everything down, from school events to dentist appointments, and felt very organized... until I realized my husband and I were constantly double-booking. His meetings, my plans, and the kids’ activities, we weren’t on the same page because we weren’t using the same system.
The solution? A calendar we could both access anytime. Once we switched to a shared Google Calendar, the mix-ups stopped.
If you want a calendar that helps keep your family on track, start by thinking about these key things:
Before you even pick a system, think about who needs to see the calendar. If your kids are little, it might just be you and your partner. But if they’re older and planning their playdates, sports, or school activities, they need to be in the loop as well.
A wall calendar in a central spot, like the kitchen, can be great for keeping everything visible. But if your kids have phones, a shared digital calendar (Google Calendar or Cozi) might work even better.
The goal is to make sure everyone can check the schedule easily, so there are fewer “Wait, what? I didn’t know about that!” moments.
Check out my review of Levelty the family chore app!
A calendar only works if people use it. So once you’ve picked a system, figure out who’s in charge of keeping it up to date. Will each family member add their plans? Or is it up to you to track everyone’s schedule? If you’re using a wall calendar, when do you sit down to fill out the next month?
This might take some trial and error, but finding a system that’s easy to stick with is key. If updating the calendar feels like a chore, it’s only a matter of time before everyone stops using it.
There’s a fine line between an organized schedule and an overbooked one. Just because you can fit something into the calendar doesn’t mean you should.
A lot of us learned during the pandemic that it’s nice to have open space in our schedules, lazy weekends, spontaneous trips, or just a little breathing room.
Some families want to keep that slower pace, while others are eager to jump back into activities and make up for lost time. Either way, your calendar should help you create the life you want, not just keep track of every single commitment.
I spoke in detail about time management as a family on another blog post that you definitely should check out!
The Ultimate Time Management Guide For Busy Dads
At the end of the day, a calendar is just a tool, it’s how we use it that matters. Before filling up all those little squares with activities, take a step back and think about what matters to your family right now.
What do you want more of? What do you want less of? The way we spend our time shapes our family life, so it’s worth being intentional about it.
And honestly? There’s no perfect system.
Some families thrive with a big wall calendar in the kitchen, others need everything digital. What works now might need tweaking in a year.
The key is to pick something easy to use and simple to keep up with. If it helps your family stay organized without adding extra stress, then it’s doing its job.
A good family calendar isn’t just about avoiding chaos, it’s about making space for the things that matter. Whether that’s packed weekends full of soccer games and birthday parties or quiet Sunday mornings with nowhere to be, your calendar should reflect what feels right for your family, not just what fits.
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