In the hustle and bustle of today's modern life, it's all too easy to lose sight of what matters. Parents rush from one task to another - ferrying children to school, managing jobs, preparing meals, paying bills, visiting relatives, walking the dog, playing sports, and even trying to squeeze in some reading. But amidst this frenzied activity, one essential thing can get lost: love.
Social media platforms consume precious minutes we could otherwise spend talking to each other. It's all too easy to become consumed with the pursuit of success, forgetting to pay attention to the people who matter most. So, how do we ensure we give our loved ones the time and attention they deserve? The answer may be simpler than you think: a shared family calendar.
The power of a shared calendar
By creating a calendar everyone in the family can access and contribute to, we can stay connected and organized, no matter how busy our lives may become. Whether it's scheduling important appointments, planning family events, or simply setting aside time to spend together, a shared calendar can make all the difference.
A shared family calendar might seem like nothing more than a mundane tool for tracking appointments and schedules to those who don't use it daily. However, a deeper look reveals it as a beacon of hope amid the chaos of modern family life.
Imagine a family that has just welcomed their second child into the world. Their lives have been turned upside down, in a good way, of course. The sleepless nights, endless diaper changes, and constant juggling of schedules are beginning to take their toll. But with the help of a shared calendar, they can coordinate their schedules, share important events and appointments, and keep track of all the little things that often get lost in the shuffle.
Why Calendars by Readdle?
Calendars by Readdle is more than just a digital calendar. Its bright colors and detailed notes make organizing events like birthday parties, pick-ups, and drop-offs easier and more enjoyable. It allows parents to manage their time effectively, ensuring they are aware of each other's schedules and can plan accordingly.
According to research conducted by ECAL, 70% of respondents rely on a digital calendar, with 47% relying most on their mobile calendar, and 23.3% relying on a desktop calendar.
Furthermore, Readdle’s research reveals the following numbers: 89% of respondents use Calendars on iPhone, 56% use Calendars on Mac, and 37% use Calendars for Apple Watch. While these surveys do not directly measure trust in calendar apps, they prove that over half of the respondents rely on these apps to manage their schedules and appointments.
Shared Calendars and family well-being
Digital calendars offer many benefits over traditional paper ones, including the ability to share events and collaborate with others. In a study published in the Journal of Marriage and Family in 2016, researchers found that families who engaged in "joint planning," or shared decision-making and communication around family activities and plans, reported higher levels of family satisfaction and cohesion, as well as lower levels of stress and conflict. The study surveyed 393 families with children between the ages of 7 and 18 and found that joint planning was positively associated with family well-being, even after controlling for factors such as income and family structure.
While the study did not specifically focus on the use of shared calendars, the study's findings are relevant to shared calendars. Joint planning and communication through a shared calendar can make it easier for family members to coordinate activities and communicate about their needs and preferences, leading to greater family satisfaction and well-being.
A shareable calendar can be a valuable tool to facilitate communication and connection within a family. Moreover, having a family calendar can help parents teach their children important life skills like time management, organization, and responsibility. By involving children in planning and tracking their own schedules, they learn to prioritize their time and develop a sense of accountability. This, in turn, can lead to increased independence and self-confidence, which are crucial for success in school and beyond.
In addition, a family calendar can help reduce conflicts and miscommunications between family members. For example, if two family members accidentally schedule appointments simultaneously, it can create tension and stress. However, if the family has a shared calendar, these conflicts can be avoided, and everyone can be on the same page — no one will get confused about whether “it's my turn to pick up Tom from school today?”.
Readdle's Calendars offers many familiar features from calendar apps, as well as some unique features that make it stand out.
What makes Calendars stand out?
One of the standout features of Calendars is its natural language input. This means you can type events in plain language, and Calendars will automatically recognize and format them correctly. For example, if you type "dinner with John at 6 pm on Friday," Calendars will create an event for Friday at 6 pm titled "dinner with John." Worth mentioning, natural language input also recognizes names, so Calendars will suggest adding John as an attendee to your event.
Calendars also integrates seamlessly with other popular services, such as Google Calendar, iCloud, and Exchange. This means you can easily import and export events between Calendars and other calendars, making it easy to keep all your events in one place. In addition, Calendars offers a range of customization options, including the ability to create multiple calendars, set reminders, and color-code events. This can be especially helpful for families with multiple children or busy schedules.
One unique feature of Calendars is its availability on Apple Watch. This means that parents and children can access the family calendar directly from their wrists, making it even more convenient to stay organized and connected. For example, children can receive reminders for important events or check their schedules before heading out the door. The Calendars app on the watch syncs with the phone, so the agenda gets updated in real-time.
Final Thoughts
While we cannot perform miracles or magic, we can make our parents, children, and friends happier by paying attention to them, talking to them, spending time together, and building plans, which together is worth more than gold. But strange as it might seem, you need some planning for that: understanding what you want and need to accomplish and getting the important things down first each day at hand.
In essence, a shared calendar, especially one as intuitive and efficient as Calendars by Readdle, is more than just a scheduling tool. It’s a commitment to communication, a symbol of unity, and a way to ensure that amidst the busy noise of everyday life, we don’t lose sight of what truly matters. By incorporating a shared calendar into our daily routines, we can foster a sense of connectedness and make our family relationships stronger and more fulfilling. So, why not start today with Calendars?
Vita Vypovska 
