Discussion about whether a person is type-A or type-B has become standard. Type-A is generally categorized as organized, punctual, clean and the list continues. On the other end of the spectrum, type-B personalities are known for their easygoing, flexible and less time-conscious nature. As someone who would consider themselves more type-A, if something involves a calendar, the Apple Notes app or a grocery store list on the fridge, count me in!
Why You Should Start
Whether you consider yourself an organized or go-with-the-flow person, tracking important dates is something everyone is capable of doing. In fact, you can do so while incorporating your artistic side. For me, the standard Google Calendar is proficient at this, but there are ways to make a basic calendar tailored to yourself. Color-coding different agendas may encourage you to stay up to date with a resource like Google Calendar. Generally speaking, there are no consequences to having a schedule.Â
Benefits of a Calendar
For myself, I tend to obsess over the fact that I may have forgotten to unplug something, submit an assignment or remember a specific deadline. By keeping track of my weekly schedules, I can ease this anxiety. Doing this has saved me the hassle of worrying, and I always have a date, time and location accompanying my daily schedule. It’s easy to get busy and forget certain dates, which is why planning not only helps to keep track of a hectic day, but in my world, makes life less worrisome.Â
Planning in General
When I use the word “planning,” different ideas may come to mind. For instance, you can plan a birthday party or make weekend plans. In some definitions, people may imagine that planning involves intense thought and effort. Yet in many scenarios, especially in college, going day-by-day and allowing for a play-it-by-ear attitude is part of the experience. For those who crave structure and certainty, planning allows for this while also easing the mind. I find that I have a hard time not knowing what’s ahead of me. Planning provides me with a sense of knowing, but it can also create anticipation and expectations. Many times when my plans have fallen through, I get deeply upset. By creating expectations in my head, I allow myself to fixate on one scenario. In this sense, planning may have a negative effect, but that is only when imagining an unchanging scenario that can not play out in other ways.
The Planning ConsensusÂ
It can be agreed that planning is helpful for keeping track of busy schedules and staying on-task. Adverse effects may include creating plans weeks or months in advance, which naturally grows into anticipation. The most important mindset to have when planning is to allow for flexibility. The biggest key is understanding that life happens. The purpose of a plan is to revise things and adjust as you go. For some, a plan may be something that is kept as a mental checklist. For others, a plan may be written or logged on a device. Whether you are a meticulous planner or not, keeping an agenda works differently for every person. In the end, there isn’t much harm in having a tool that helps to remind you of dates. Although we have two full months left of 2026, habits like planning can be picked up any day. This is your sign to start now!