We all know what time to get to school, work and sports, but what about everything else in life? With the chaos that seems to follow back to school time, families often find themselves struggling to get everything done that they need. It is simple to know what you need to do, but how do you convey that to your family so that you are all on the same page and can get everything done? Sounds impossible, doesn’t it.
It actually isn’t. There are some tools you can implement with your own family to help you all stay on schedule and know what is going on. While there are many ideas here, not all of them will be applicable to every family. You’ll need to look through this list and when you see the one you feel is “doable” then go with it. Don’t worry that it may not be the most tech-savvy or efficient method. What matters most is that works for your family. Period.
CREATING A FAMILY SCHEDULE
Print Your Calendar
You can do this on a monthly or even daily basis. You can keep this in a central location. We put our monthly calendar on the refrigerator. Then, as things come up during the month, we jot them down. This way, everyone sees it every morning. It is easy to notice it all at a glance and see what is coming up that evening.
Use An On-Line Calendar
If your family is tech-savvy and everyone has a device, an online system may be the best option. You can use a free service, such as the Google Calendar, and share it with your entire family. You can all add your events to it as they come up, so everyone has it right on their calendar.
You might also try another system too, such as Cozi. The one thing I like about this program is that you can even incorporate a shopping list and other items. That way, if someone has to stop by the store, they can pick up everything that the family needs – saving you time. They offer a free version, and you can even try the paid version for free 14 days. That way, you know if it works for you or not (before you spend any money).
Have a Weekly Meeting
Set time aside one day of the week (Sunday evenings are often a great idea). Sit down and go over everything as a family to ensure that everyone knows what is going on. A weekly meeting is perfect when you have older kids who “forget” to tell you about something coming up for the following week.
Create a daily schedule
Each day, put a list of that day’s meetings and appointments where the entire family can see it. It may be a white board or sticky notes on your fridge. It is a simple way to make sure everyone knows what is happening that day.
Don’t be afraid to fail at your schedule. That is how you will most easily find the best way to use a schedule that works. Failure isn’t a bad thing – it is just a jumping off point.
