The Importance of a Calendar in a Home

There are many important things that every home should have, like an oven or a microwave. However, one item that isn't usually listed as a necessity is a calendar, despite the wide-ranging benefits that owning one can make available.

First, let's take a look at what a calendar is and then we'll get into a few of the many reasons why millions of Americans choose to have them in their homes.

What is a Calendar?

A calendar is a type of chart that shows the days of the year, generally divided into months. Most commonly, they consist of 12 pieces of paper bound together with different images for each month. However, there are other types as well, including daily calendars that have a funny quote, trivia question, or another unique item for every day.

They have been used for thousands of years to track dates and seasons, as those of us who lived through 2012 will remember extensive discussions about the specific calendars used by the Mayans. The current standard is the Gregorian Calendar, introduced by Pope Gregory XIII in 1582. It superseded the Julian Calendar, named for Julius Caesar.

The Importance of a Calendar in a Home

Calendars are an important indicator of what day it is and which events are upcoming, as well as serving as a visual representation of the passage of time. This valuable information can be provided at a glance without having to look through text messages or emails for dates and times.

It can also help communicate other information to people in the household. If you're studying for a test, have a long-distance phone call or Zoom meeting scheduled, or have another reason to be at home but don't wish to be disturbed, putting it on the calendar will remind everyone that you'll need some privacy during that time.

Although many phones have calendars built-in, having a physical calendar provides multiple additional benefits. Roommates, family members, spouses, significant others, and anyone else living in the home can quickly see any appointments or events happening soon. It can also benefit older adults who might not be comfortable with technology and prefer the paper calendars with which they grew up.

They can also be used to count down the days until an event takes place. If you book a trip on March 21st that leaves on June 7th, for example, you can put a "1" in the corner of June 6th and add one number to each preceding day. You would then know that your trip begins in 79 days and can find out at a glance at any time what the current number is. 

Additionally, it can also remind you of those events to avoid double-booking. For example, if a friend invites you to a social gathering on Thursday at 7 PM, you can easily look at the calendar and see if you have anything else planned.

Calendar Add-ons to Have in Your Home

There are many items that can enhance a calendar's value and make its information both more accessible and easy to view. A sheet of paper or a series of sticky notes taped to the bottom, for example, can be used for certain dates that have multiple events and might not fit in the box. Simply write an arrow on the original date that points at the paper. 

Another idea is to use ink of different colors to help differentiate at a glance. For example, each person could get their own color to avoid having to write out their name every time and save space. Alternatively, each color could correspond to a different type: parties in black, medical appointments in blue, and dates in red.

Stickers can also be used as shorthand if the calendar is large enough and the stickers are small enough. A teddy bear could signify a visit with the grandkids, a phone could represent a call that needs to be made or received, or a heart could remind you that you have a date scheduled that evening.

Final Thoughts

Calendars make it easier to schedule and remember events, as well as provide that information in a concise way to others who live in or might be visiting the home. These are a few of the reasons why many people choose to display them instead of relying on electronic calendars on their cell phones or other devices. It's also common to use both, due to the overlapping benefits provided by each.

Written by Taylor McKnight, Author for Print Tech of Western Pennsylvania