Be them digital, refrigerator-hung, or in a hand-held planner, calendars organize our time. Yes, time is relative, but we’ve globally agreed that the days pass, appointments have set times, and we mostly use the Gregorian calendar to organize ourselves. Some view calendars as semi-evil arbiters of meaningless events and oppressive appointments. Others don’t know how they’d live without them. Some juggle work, personal, and family calendars with many missteps. However, calendars are more or less inescapable and have multiple functions in a minimalist lifestyle. So let’s talk about them.

My first memory of a calendar was the magnet-on-refrigerator type that my Mom administered when we were growing up. It was a freebie from some company with loose pages that fit into cornered sleeves. She used a couple of different highlighters and pen colors to make distinctions, noting the varied dentist and doctor appointments for the whole family. There were no shared Google calendars at this time. It was all we had to keep things straight. And due to my Mom’s diligence, it worked.

Fast forward to today, there are many analog calendars (i.e., desk format, planners, wall hanging, self-made in bullet journals), and digital as well. The digital variety can make us feel like there are calendars everywhere because they are often integrated into various applications we use. We now have the option to digitally share our calendars and also create them in programs like Notion. There are calendars of every variety everywhere, but are we more organized? Do we have better time management?

Using multiple calendars is tricky, especially when analog and digital are being juggled. Managing personal and work calendars often necessitates some double duty. Digitally connected calendars and some tech-savviness can ameliorate some confusion, but to a limited degree.

On the other hand, shared digital calendars, especially those with families, can be a godsend. Using calendars for certain tasks can be helpful, too. I recall printing out pages of calendars when I was a project manager. I’d get vacation and travel schedules from all project team members, office closures, and other relevant dates, handwrite them on the calendar and fill in milestone dates. The calendars laid before me made this task easier, and I added important dates in a digital format for the team. Nowadays, programs like Monday and Asana are routine for teamwork but add another layer of calendaring for each individual. 

While I recommend keeping tasks separate from calendars, there are exceptions. Calendars are great for certain reminders, like canceling a gym membership or the free trial you don’t want to renew. From the minimalist perspective, maintenance activities are key to keeping balance. Add routine donation and recycling drop-off trips, review of food in your cabinets, and a once-a-year investigation of your bathroom for expired medications. Other reoccurring maintenance activities that keep you on top of life administration, like paying rent, are helpful additions. 

Calendars can feel like prison or freedom. Which of the two is determined by how you view them and how much control you have over your time. A calendar in and of itself can never help you, just like so many productivity hacks. Only your follow-through can. But it is a universal tool that can simplify your life and highlight how you’re using your time when you find the right format and integrations. Using them as a near-term historical record can reveal some truths about how you spend your time. Rethinking your calendar systems in relation to your life at the present and your intentions may help you use your calendar as a tool for freedom.

My sister uses a modern-style, wall-hung calendar, which keeps to our roots and manages her family’s time. I like walking past it on my visits and seeing “Dara Here!” on the dates of my trip. Calendars can convey some importance to their participants in addition to keeping them on track. I like the simplicity of it. It doesn’t overcomplicate. Sometimes, you only need basic reminders to keep yourself on track.