4 Tips for a Family Calendar that Works as Hard as You Do

September always feels like a fresh restart: the kids are back in school, after-school activities are picking back up, and suddenly your days are packed with homework check-ins, doctor’s appointments, grocery runs, and work deadlines. It’s the perfect time to put a family calendar system in place to reduce stress, bring clarity to the chaos, and share the load so everyone knows what’s happening and when. Let me share some of my tried-and-true tips with you for making this transition smoother and far less stressful with the help of a well-organized family calendar.

Tip #1: Settle on a Single, Solitary Location for the Calendar

Let’s start simple: choose a dedicated spot in your home for your family calendar to live. Pick a central, easy-to-access location - like the kitchen counter, a mudroom wall, or your family command center - so everyone knows exactly where to look. Next, decide on a format that fits your family’s style and needs: a paper or dry-erase calendar for a quick visual glance, or a digital option like the Skylight Calendar for added convenience. Think about how often you’ll update it, how much space you’ll need for notes and details, and how much information you typically track each day. In my home, we keep a Skylight Calendar on our kitchen counter, and I love that it syncs seamlessly with the shared Google Calendar my husband and I have used for over a decade, keeping everything updated and accessible for both of us.

Tip #2: Require a Rule that Everything Must be Included

When absolutely everything is listed on your family calendar, planning ahead becomes far less overwhelming. It might feel like a lot at first, but seeing everyone’s commitments in one place makes it easier to spot conflicts, share the load, and keep the whole household on the same page. From overlapping practices and midweek birthday dinners to work meetings and hair appointments, a complete calendar helps you plan the afternoon shuffle smoothly - so no one’s left stranded after practice and dinner isn’t a last-minute scramble.

Tip #3: Make Time for a Mandatory Weekly Family Meeting

Your schedule should serve you, not the other way around. A weekly family check-in is non-negotiable because it creates intentional space to reflect on whether your commitments support the life you want to live, make a game plan for the week ahead, and invite others to step in when you can’t do it all. Instead of rushing from one day to the next, these meetings give everyone a voice, allow for adjustments or cancellations, and ensure your calendar reflects your priorities - not just your obligations.

Tip #4: Stay Open to Starting from Scratch, if Needed

Adjustments during back-to-school season can be tough, and new routines don’t always fit perfectly right away. It’s not often that the first system you try is the one that works, so if your chosen calendar setup isn’t clicking, scrap it and try something new—it’s not a failure, just another adjustment. Staying open to starting again when needed is essential because flexibility ensures you’ll eventually find the system that truly supports your family and keeps everyone on track.

Life can be messy between kids needing to be in different places at the same time, laundry piling up, and realizing you’re out of milk again. Family schedules are busier than ever, which is why it’s important to give yourself and your family the space to reflect on your schedule and make sure both your calendar system, and what’s on it, truly support the life you want to live. Give yourself grace as you navigate this season, and if you're feeling overwhelmed by more than just your calendar, our team is here to help.

At Make Space, we specialize in transforming cluttered, chaotic areas into beautifully organized, functional spaces that actually work for your life. Whether it’s creating systems in your pantry so meal prep is easier, designing a mudroom that keeps backpacks and sports gear under control, or setting up a home office that supports your workflow, we help you reclaim your home and your time. By making physical space in your home, you free up mental space too, making it easier to focus on what matters most: your family, your goals, and the life you want to build.

If you're ready for an expert to bring order from the chaos of your family calendar, we've got your back! Contact us and let's get to know each other.

Until Next Time,

Shannon