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in Episodes on January 2, 2017 by The Mom Hour

Calendar Tips & To-Do List Strategies: Episode 83



How do YOU calendar? Paper planner, digital calendar, color-coded dry erase board, or all of the above? In Episode 83 Meagan and Sarah share our strategies for keeping appointments, deadlines, and family schedules organized. We talk about the pros and cons of both paper and digital systems, offer suggestions for managing large families’ many commitments, and give you a peek into our own quirky way of thinking about a week at a glance. We also discuss to-do lists and we make them work for us. Join us.

LINKS MENTIONED:

Amazon links are affiliates and have been updated for 2018. Thanks for helping support the show in this small way at no additional cost to you!
  • Sarah’s digital-to-paper calendaring system (as explained on the podcast, but in a blog post for The Happiest Home)
  • Meagan’s thoughts on To-Do Lists and To-Dream Lists
  • Our listeners had great ideas on Facebook and Instagram – click through to read their comments (and give us a “Like” while you’re there if you haven’t already!)
  • Wunderlist – Sarah uses this for on-the-go list making and shared to-do lists (but completely forgot to mention it on the show – oops!)
  • Sarah’s wall calendar (new link for 2019!)
  • Sarah’s Moleskine notebook (new link for 2019!)
  • Meagan’s favorite notebook

Take a peek inside…

Here are some photos of the systems we talked about in the show. (Meagan’s calendar isn’t pictured because, in her words, she just “looks at Google Calendar on my laptop at least 15 times a day” 🙂 )

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Filed Under: Episodes Tagged With: calendar planning, productivity & time management

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« Storing, Organizing & Creating with Your Family Photos: Episode 82
Moms Who Write (Or Who Want To): Episode 84 »

Comments

  1. Carrie Kelleher says

    January 5, 2017 at 10:58 am

    Great pics and great podcast! Would you both mind showing pics of your ACTUAL calendars and books? I wanted to see your layouts that you described in the moleskines/notebooks. Just an idea! Thanks!

    Reply
    • Sarah Powers says

      January 5, 2017 at 1:17 pm

      Carrie, yes! We meant to do this and it took me a couple days to get the photos put together. They’re here in the show notes now. 🙂

      Reply
  2. September Gerety says

    January 6, 2017 at 1:51 pm

    The calendar that we use for the whole family to see is Google calendar – it takes a little time to set it up so that everyone is shared on all the calendars, but with older kids it’s the perfect solution because they can see and add to it from their phones. We have one calendar per person, all color coded, and have it set up so the parents can edit all of the calendars. The kids can each edit their own, but can see everyone’s. It also took some training and reminding: “Did you put it on the Google calendar?” “Did you check the Google calendar?” But now it is so smooth and the system works way better than trying to keep up with digital calendars plus a paper calendar for four teenagers, especially since I travel about half of the month (sometimes more) and so wouldn’t be able to access a non-digital family calendar much of the time.

    Reply
    • Sarah Powers says

      January 31, 2017 at 8:52 am

      September, that sounds like a GREAT system for a busy family with older kids. Thanks for sharing!

      Reply
  3. Kellie Lowry says

    January 10, 2017 at 2:01 pm

    Hi, just listened for the 1st time. I liked the podcast. I love the Erin Condren notebooks for lists of things not in my google calendar.
    Looking forward to listening to more episodes

    Reply
    • Sarah Powers says

      January 31, 2017 at 8:51 am

      Hi Kellie! Thanks so much for listening and commenting – will have to check out those notebooks for sure!

      Reply
  4. Amy G says

    January 14, 2017 at 7:25 am

    I love the show, ladies. I’ve been listening for months but this is my first comment! I really enjoyed hearing about your calendar systems and notebook preferences.

    Our family uses the Cozi app (Gold version) because it allows us to indicate how many people are attending. It also provides multiplex reminders which we need. Lol. I’ve also love the to-do list, journal (which allows us to automatically share our photos/stories once a month), and the recipe planning is great!

    My favorite notebook is the Staples Eco Notebook – 5×8, spiral bound, recycled paper, pockets in the front, hard cover (great for notes on the go), and only $4!

    Anyway, thanks for all your hard work with the podcast. It’s great to hear your advice each week!

    Reply
    • Sarah Powers says

      January 31, 2017 at 8:49 am

      Amy, thanks so much for listening – and for commenting! 🙂 We hear great things about Cozi, too. And you clearly have opinions about the perfect notebook just like we do! 😉

      Reply
  5. muppu says

    June 12, 2025 at 5:38 pm

    I truly appreciate your technique of writing a blog. I added it to my bookmark site list and will

    Reply

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Midlife Lady Leisure Pursuits is not meant to replace, or extend, or even spin off or pivot from The Mom Hour. It's so different in all the ways, from the back-end tech to our intended audience to our goals to our time commitment. That said, it's the same two pals on the mic, and we're having a blast!

MLLP is available wherever you get your podcasts, and we have a Substack for extended show notes. Click this image at the link in our bio.
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Find the episode wherever you get your podcasts, or click this image at the link in our bio!

#themomhour #motherhood #mompodcast #podcastsformoms #parenting #parentingpodcast #podcastlove #trypod #podcastersofinstagram #shepodcasts
New episode! Time is slippery—especially when y New episode!

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Find the episode wherever you get your podcasts, or click this image at the link in our bio!

#themomhour #motherhood #mompodcast #podcastsformoms #parenting #parentingpodcast #podcastlove #trypod #podcastersofinstagram #shepodcasts
New episode! After a decade of sharing the ups an New episode!

After a decade of sharing the ups and downs of motherhood, we're wrapping up The Mom Hour this month—and taking one final episode to update you on the kids who’ve grown up alongside this show. From 12 to 27, our eight kids have been a background-but-constant presence on the podcast, and today we'll share where they are now and how they're each thriving in their own way.

Find the episode wherever you get your podcasts, or click this image at the link in our bio!

#themomhour #motherhood #mompodcast #podcastsformoms #parenting #parentingpodcast #podcastlove #trypod #podcastersofinstagram #shepodcasts
New episode! As kids grow up, it’s the littlest New episode!

As kids grow up, it’s the littlest reminders that catch us off guard—like discovering a pair of toddler socks or realizing nobody needs a kid’s menu. Join Meagan and Sarah as we share some of the small-but-significant signs that time is, as ever, marching on. It’s a conversation full of warmth, nostalgia, and gentle reminders to savor the stages as they come…and go.

Find the episode wherever you get your podcasts, or click this image at the link in our bio!

#themomhour #motherhood #mompodcast #podcastsformoms #parenting #parentingpodcast #podcastlove #trypod #podcastersofinstagram #shepodcasts
It's the weekend 🎉 and time for our May sponsor It's the weekend 🎉 and time for our May sponsors roundup, where we remind you of our brand partners and special deals. ALL of our special promo codes and links can be found on the Deals & Offers page on our website. Tap on this image at the link in our bio to check it out.

Thank you for helping support the show by using our links + codes!

Check out our new sponsors . . .
🛏️ @zlumberbedtools (15% off Zlumber Lock!)
👶 @sittercity (find high-quality childcare!)

And welcome back . . .
🎵 @carnegiehall (fun music games & quizzes!)
🍋 @hiyahealth (50% off your 1st order!)
🪑 @wayfair (shop outdoor furniture online!)
👡  @vionicshoes (15% off your entire order!)
🎨 @minted (art, cards, decor & more!)
📚 @chatbooks (the easiest photo books ever!)
☑️ @todoistofficial (2 mo. free of Todoist Pro!)
📅 @theessentialcalendar (10% off calendars!)
New episode! Honi asks how our friends are showin New episode!

Honi asks how our friends are showing up for us these days. Laura wonders if we ever get recognized in public (and if it's our faces or our voices that give us away!). Aspiring writer Samm is looking for advice on getting started with writing, Lisa wants to know what we’ll miss most about The Mom Hour, and Erica prompts some reflection on what we’re most proud of as moms. And Ann? She’s eager for the scoop on what’s next—listen to find out!

Find the episode wherever you get your podcasts, or click this image at the link in our bio!

#themomhour #motherhood #mompodcast #podcastsformoms #parenting #parentingpodcast #podcastlove #trypod #podcastersofinstagram #shepodcasts
New episode! Jennifer wants to hear all our old p New episode!

Jennifer wants to hear all our old podcast intros one more time (what a fun trip down memory lane!). Contributor Sarah wonders how Meagan and Sarah’s perspectives on parenting have evolved since episode one. Tricia wonders how to get a kindergartener to open up about hard stuff, while listeners Mel and Lisa each ask how to figure out what’s next in motherhood—and life. Kim wants to know how much she really needs to play with her child—and how to balance being present while modeling healthy phone habits. Plus, we share a quick update on what's next for our amazing contributor team members.

Find the episode wherever you get your podcasts, or click this image at the link in our bio!

#themomhour #motherhood #mompodcast #podcastsformoms #parenting #parentingpodcast #podcastlove #trypod #podcastersofinstagram #shepodcasts
Happy Friday! Modern society loves the concept of Happy Friday!

Modern society loves the concept of 'saving time' - but at what cost? There's nothing wrong with streamlining and efficiency, but today Meagan and Sarah push back against the notion that time-saving strategies - and products - unilaterally bring more calm to our days. Instead we look at ways to think about shifting time to our advantage, batching tasks and opting out to free up schedule space, simplifying rather than optimizing, and finding our own peace with our relationship to time.

Find the episode wherever you get your podcasts, or click this image at the link in our bio!

#themomhour #motherhood #mompodcast #podcastsformoms #parenting #parentingpodcast #podcastlove #trypod #podcastersofinstagram #shepodcasts
New episode! Some days we’re the “Sure, why n New episode!

Some days we’re the “Sure, why not?” mom, and other days we’re the “Because I said so” mom - and often we lean more into one side than the other. Meagan and Sarah unpack what the Yes Mom / No Mom binary really means, the why behind our wiring, how it affects our kids, and how it’s not always so black and white. We look at the balance between freedom and structure, and remind you there are many ways to be yourself and be a great mom at the same time.

Find the episode wherever you get your podcasts, or click this image at the link in our bio!

#themomhour #motherhood #mompodcast #podcastsformoms #parenting #parentingpodcast #podcastlove #trypod #podcastersofinstagram #shepodcasts

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