How to Organize your Calendar for Busy Moms

If you follow me on Instagram you might have seen a picture of my calendar that I use to help keep me organized. I swear by my calendar, it is definitely a life saver for me. I decided to give share with you all how to use a calendar for busy moms or anybody who is busy!

Let me tell you a little bit about my busy life! I start my days getting myself and my son ready for our day. He gets dropped off at daycare at 630 so I can rush off to work with an almost 1 hr commute. Thankfully my CrossFit box is close to work and I can go at lunch.

I get off at 430 and do the drive back. If I have time I will do another workout or maybe run some errands before picking up my son from daycare. Some nights he has baseball practice (yes a 3 year old has baseball practice). Bedtime for him is 8 pm, so before that is dinner and household chores, bath time you name it.

After our son goes to bed, I get more work done. This is usually when I do my homework for my master's in Nutrition, work on this blog, or do work for my Etsy shop or special orders. Sometimes I just relax, but it doesn't happen too often. Don't get me wrong my husband does help, he even is one of my son's coaches and he does most of the cooking but he is also in school online and is in the Army.

My Calendar

Last year was the first time I tried to use a calendar to organize my life. I started with My Happy Planner and used a smaller size last year. But this year I went Big. Here is one similar to what I have, mine was a limited edition but the layout looks similar.

They make several different styles including ones specifically for finance, fitness or faith. I chose a general one with a Layout on the week pages that I would like best. But pick one that you think will work best for you!

I also only bough a 12 month calendar not an 18 month calendar because I feel like it keeps me more organized. Again this is a preference and if you prefer an 18 month calendar you can still use it!

How to Organize your Calendar

So the first thing I do with all my Calendars is come up with a color-coded key. I would suggest getting your favorite type of pens in multiple colors to help keep everything organized. Here are the pens I use. They are my favorite and I have the 24 pack.

Here is an example of my color coded key:

Next, using the month's pages go in and put in all the important birthday and anniversaries for the entire year. Use the same color for all birthdays. If you already have a vacation or two planned I would add that as well. Anything that you know you are going to do go ahead and put in your monthly pages.

Hers is an example:

And Lastly, Planning

The last thing I do is review my calendar regularly and update the weekly pages as often as possible. I am in my Calendar every day but do a thorough planning session every Sunday for the next week. Similar to how we meal prep I plan out everything.

And when I say thorough I mean very specific. I literally schedule what days what chores get done. That way I know they will get done. They are written down and I will get it done. Sometimes if things don't go as planned I will just do it the next day but I will know that I didn't do it the day before.

I plan out what days I am going to work on my homework and what days they are due. I plan gym workouts and at home workouts. If I plan on cooking I plan that as well. Any crafts I need to make for a client automatically get put on the calendar and anything I want to make for myself does as well.

Make sure to get creative and make it as motivating as you want it! I love using stickers and little doodle drawings. Lots of color and literally list everything I need to accomplish so that I know that I will get it done.

Hope this helps!!