You may or may not know it, but a calendar is a powerful tool for productivity. It may not be something flashy or exciting, but it does help you manage your time by helping you plan ahead, see what events/deadlines/occasions are coming up, and helping you plan your free time.
As kids, we learned to use calendars as a way of knowing what day of the week, date of the month, and what year it is. It’s something everyone needs to know so that we’re telling time consistently.
Paper Calendars
Paper calendars are probably the type that we are most used to. After all, they have existed for far longer than digital calendars.
Pros
Paper calendars have some flexibility. They can be hung and displayed on your wall, refrigerator, or any place you frequent. You can have a desk calendar that covers part of the top of your desk, which ensures that it’s always in front of you. You can also have a daily desk calendar, usually decorated with some kind of theme.
Cons
As wonderful as they are, paper calendars have limitations. They are limited to the surface area they occupy. I just recently bought a calendar, and there I was looking at 5 x 8 in and 8 x 11 in options. Even though the smaller one would be more compact and portable, I opted for the bigger one. I wanted more space to write dates, appointments, and notes. I also write big, so that’s a factor too. For the most part, it’s very handy to have a paper somewhere at home, or at the office (wherever that may be right now).
Digital Calendars
With more things being digital, it makes sense that calendars are digital too. They are on our computers, smartphones, and smartwatches, and more. Having the date handy isn’t something new, we even have calendars on mechanical and automatic watches before smart watches.
Pros
With digital calendars, typically you have much more space than with paper calendars. You can add a large amount (and possibly unlimited number) of appointments, tasks, and notes. You can unleash all the things you can think of or need to remember, and it’ll fit.
Cons
Part of my issue with digital calendars is that they’re only available when I’m using my computer, smart phone, tablet, or any other electronic device. I don’t always have those available with me. If I want to look when something is, I have to take some steps to get to my digital calendar
Up to you
It’s your choice. You can use whichever works best for you. Use a digital planner on your phone. Use a paper calendar on your desk. Use both; (that’s what I do). The important part is that you keep your appointments, deadlines, and important dates organized. The more you plan ahead, the more time you’ll be able to make for yourself.
