This isn’t a perfect solution and I’m sure that you could find something just a little better at the end of the Internet- if you can make it all the way through. I know a few who’ve done it and lived to speak. For now, this simple little formula might help the 12 readers who frequent this site. The outlet that fills my passion for organization, simple living and GTD.

Take out last years calendar. It’s not too late, it’s still January. Besides you probably just dug out from under the Christmas and New Years work that accumulated while you were out.

If you use Google Calendar, a paper calendar, a day planner, a PDA or whatever else; simply go month by month and jot down the important events you attended each month in 2008. Make a tickler list- I use Backpack and create a folder like this ^Tickler- which lets me know it’s purely a reference folder. If you prefer paper make 12 folders with 12 months and have at it. I’ve done it this way, but I’m getting to where I can’t stand paper invites and clippings. Sorry old schoolers! I do still like to read the occasional physical newspaper like Business First.

Now I’m betting you have at least 4 -5 entries for each month of the year. Next think hard about all the things you do each year (we are creatures of habit). What things do you love to follow like sports, shows or conventions? Does your business or industry have specific meetings or conferences every year? Does your family consistently take vacations each year? Do you play in golf tournaments or scrambles each year? Jot them all down on your list or put them in a monthly folder. Now take a couple hours and go get the dates and times for the events. Use your list to check off the events that go onto the calendar and keep the ones that don’t have a date yet as a tickler/reminder that you still need to schedule it. Most organizations will finalize calendars by late January or early February from my experience.

Do this for a couple years like I have and you’ll know yourself much better and you won’t catch yourself planning a family reunion the weekend of the Masters or scheduling a vacation the same week as your industry conference. Oh yeah keep the list or folder system going each year. Don’t quit things that work, unless you find a better way.

Hope this helps. Give the ship that is your calendar a rudder to guide it. Things will pop up, but instead of being a headache they can become a cool diversion.