There are few things I love more than a fresh month and an empty calendar. Even though technology has made it so easy to put all of your appointments, to-dos, and tasks on a calendar (with alerts albeit), I’m a tried and true traditionalist when it comes to calendars, planners, notepads, etc.

I shared a bit about how I manage my calendar when it comes to business tasks, but how I organize our family calendar is a whole different feat. It already feels chaotic, and I know that the older the kids get, it’s only going to get crazier. That’s why I really wanted to get a system in place now that felt sustainable.

These days, if it’s not on my acrylic wall calendar, there’s a very good chance I’ll forget to do it. So I truly include AS MUCH as possible on there.

I also have a running to-do list (ie, pick up our grocery order, send a thank-you note, grab a birthday gift, etc.), which I keep separate from my calendar. This acrylic wall calendar also has a to-do list on the side where I’ll add things that need to get done.

Here’s a look at how I organize our family calendar so I can know at a glance how much time I’ve got available each day, week, etc., and what’s going on at any given time.

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Acrylic Calendar

This calendar has become my single source for anything we’ve got coming up. It’s in a central location in our house so I see it constantly. It’s nearly impossible to miss! I have the biggest size.

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BTW I use these chalk markers to write everything on my calendar.

How I Organize Our Family Calendar

When it comes to organizing my calendar, the first thing I do (once my calendar has been wiped clean from the month before) is add any appointments I’ve got for the month ahead.

This could be doctor’s appointments, swim lessons, haircuts, lunch dates, etc. Even things that occur on a weekly basis have a place on the calendar.

I prefer to color-code my calendar with these markers so it’s easy to identify what type of project or appointment I’ve got coming up. For instance, anything that’s happening for Four gets written in blue, while I add Blake’s appointments (girl’s got a busy schedule!) in pink.

I love seeing the calendar fill up as I add our month. That said, our calendar is 100% fluid each month, meaning that I am constantly adding and removing tasks from it.

It’s super common for me to make a play date for the week ahead mid-month, so there’s no way I would have the foresight to add that when I’m building out my calendar at the beginning of the month.

There’s truly no exact science when it comes to organizing your calendar. You have to do what works best for you. My biggest piece of advice is to put your calendar in a common place where you’ll see it regularly. Out of sight, out of mind.

If you have any tips for organizing a family calendar that works for you, I’d love to hear them. I’m always looking trying to improve my process!