Colour For Your Calendar
One thing I have learned is that I personally am very visual, and using colour to organize really helps me.
This weekend, I colour-coded the Microsoft Outlook calendar on my computer, so that I can see at a glance exactly what each event is for. Then, I took that same colour scheme to the large whiteboard calendar I have on the wall in my office. Since I need on-the-go access to my calendar, I have it in my Blackberry which I sync with my Outlook to avoid double-booking. I can instantly recognize the purpose of an entry on any of my calendars by simply glancing at the colour.
This system can work really well for couples or roommates: anyone can glance at the wall calendar and know who is at what appointment. For a couple, electronic calendar sharing can also be helpful, but only if both partners are regular and competent computer and Blackberry users—it’s not for everyone.
Maintaing a calendar system once it is set up and part of your routine doesn’t take much effort. Getting it set up and working it into your routine can be hard at times, but the payoff is huge once you get there. If you’re not living solo, it’s important to stay on the same page as your roommates, spouse or family, and don’t lose patience if someone is struggling with the new system.
Another tip to remember is that different techniques may work or not work for different people. Not everyone will find colour-coding helpful, and not everyone will take readily to an electronic calendar. If you’re dealing with more than just yourself, try to find techniques that appeal to everyone involved.
May 13th, 2009 at 6:51 am
My family has been using this method for years, and it really saves time. Day Runner has a whole product line devoted to this concept, which we started using about a year ago. http://www.dayrunner.com/familymatters
I love your idea to color code my Outlook calendar and use the color scheme on a whiteboard in my office.