How I Organize My Calendar Every Year

I update my calendar every January to prepare for the new year.

This helps me get an overview of the upcoming months, avoid missing major events, and get excited about what's to come.

I use Apple Calendar on my Mac, so it easily synchronizes with my iPhone.

Categories

I have 4 different calendar categories on my calendar:

• Personal (I share mine with Octave, and he shares his with me - view only)

This helps us avoid planning something when the other is busy. Here's how to share calendars.

• Work (translation & blogging)

I keep these private. They mostly contain admin events like recurring invoicing alerts, photoshoot ideas, and post themes.

• Chloé & Octave (in common with Octave)

Here, we put our recurring events (rent due date), the events we attend as a couple, and the vacations we plan to take together.

• Friends & Family (in common with Octave)

This category has a different color from the "Chloé & Octave" one. This reminds us to block out certain periods of time to spend quality time with our loved ones when they're visiting.

Subscriptions

• Facebook events

This function has been working on and off, especially on my phone, and I have to admit I'm using Facebook less and less.

But here's how to synchronize the Facebook events you plan to attend with your calendar. I find it quite useful not to have to manually enter these events in my calendar.

• Local organizations calendars

I subscribe to the calendar of interesting local organizations (sustainability, queer, outdoors), that way I never have a shortage of fun, entertaining, and informative events to attend. I usually don't "show" them (I untick them in the calendar list) and only activate them when I'm planning the upcoming month, or when I'm bored and I'm looking for something fun to do.

• FR and US national holidays

It's not super important for us freelancers, but it's always good to know what's happening in the world, I suppose. Here's how to Add a Holidays calendar.

• Moon Calendar

I like to know what's happening in outer space and actually subscribe to two moon calendars. Here's my favorite moon calendar.

• Birthdays (synchronized with my Contacts)

I LOVE this feature, it's a great way to stay in touch with friends. Here's how to add birthdays to your calendar.

Also, am I the only one who creates a contact as soon as a baby is born so I have their birthday on my calendar?

Major events

At the beginning of the year, I also add these kinds of events to my calendar. Every time I add one, I make it a recurring yearly event so I don't have to add it again the following year:

• Family traditions

I'm slowly adding traditions to my calendar, such as doing a cold plunge on January 1, celebrating the solstice and equinox, making crêpes for "La Chandeleur", frying "bugnes" for Mardi gras, lighting candles for "La Fête des Lumières", celebrating the French Mother's and Father's Day, etc.

• Local events (festivals, markets, concerts, etc.)

I make sure I put these on my calendar in case friends and family want to visit, whether they want to attend these or prefer a slower period.

• Elections

In case I'm out of town or the country, and need to figure out my voting options.

• Tax day

Not fun, but so important. I also put an alert months before to make sure I've gathered all the documents I need.

What categories do you have in your calendar? Do you prefer digital or paper? Do you have any fun tips to share? I'd love to hear from you! This post is not sponsored, but it does contain affiliate links, meaning if you make a purchase via one of my links, I may make a commission at no additional cost to you. Thank you for your support!