Calendars seem to be a ubiquitous part of our daily lives. It’s easy to forget that they’re an ancient invention that made much of civilizational development possible. Some archeologists have traced their creation and usage back to prehistoric times, with human timekeeping methods dating to the Neolithic area. The advent of agriculture has much to do with why calendar use became popular, if not necessary. Tracking the seasons, determining planting and harvesting times and forecasting ahead to colder weather were functions on which human survival depended. However, we have come a long way since those eras, and some form of calendar is now ingrained into our everyday lives.
A Powerful Organizational Tool
With all of that said, it’s vital to understand just how useful a calendar can be. Many people give theirs but a perfunctory glance to verify the date, but even that is a crucial task to reorient one’s mind and sync it with reality. Moreover, most people use it as a planning tool to coordinate appointments as well as to remember important events. However, your calendar can easily become a more powerful device to maximize your productivity and implement efficient time management strategies.
One factor that has transformed calendars into feature-rich, multifunctional apparatuses is the development of modern electronic technologies. While the calendar’s traditional resting place was on the wall or on one’s desk, digital capabilities have placed their use quite literally into the palms of our hands. Personal digital assistants such as the Palm devices in the 1990s and 2000s were the early adopters of electronic calendar functionalities, putting them within easy reach of many users. While the development of the smartphone soon overtook the PDA in popularity, such calendaring functions remained, often included as a standard feature with email and office productivity applications.
Mobile and Paper Calendars Equally Useful
The move of calendars from paper to mobile formats has placed an incredible amount of organizational power at users’ fingertips. Since many of us rely chiefly on mobile technologies in our daily lives, smartphones and tablets are a natural place to turn to for organizational and time management assistance. Nevertheless, some find traditional planners to be indispensable in keeping their daily lives organized. Besides providing larger spaces in which to record information, a printed planner remains accessible when electronic devices are not. Additionally, a paper-based calendar lacks the potential for distractions that an electronic device can provide. It can be just a little too tempting to hop on Facebook while you’re checking your calendar on your smartphone, but a printed planner helps eliminate that possibility.
Put Calendars to Better Use in Your Life
With modern electronic devices and the wide variety of printed planners available, it’s easier now than ever before to organize your life. Planning ahead for weeks or months at a time puts advanced capabilities in your hands. Furthermore, day-to-day mapping and tracking of your essential tasks can help you set priorities and better manage your time. All this from an ancient invention seems astounding, but it’s an excellent tool that can assist you in taking control of your time and your life.