You might think that a wall calendar looks simple, almost boring in a way, but there’s a lot more going on under the surface than you recognize.
Managing other people
Someone who has a wall calendar isn’t simply writing a note for themselves. They’re the kind of person who remembers that the kid has a field trip and the cat needs to go to the vet, so they write it all down.
These people manage everyone else’s life and remember the little details that, unfortunately, most people forget. What would life be without them? Probably a lot more chaotic and disorganized, if we’re being honest.
A month at a glance
Phone calendars aren’t like wall calendars. Not in the slightest. You can see what’s on the schedule for today with a phone calendar, yes, but a wall calendar gives you a better view of the whole month, no scrolling needed.
People who own these sorts of calendars tend to be visual planners. You know, the kind of people who don’t want time divided into little notifications, and who want the whole picture ahead of them instead.
The routine lover
Tuesday’s always laundry day. Thursdays are for groceries. People with paper calendars usually like having routines that are, well, routines, and don’t change very much. It’s not like they’re rigid people or anything, it’s just that they don’t want each week to feel like a surprise.
They have a wall calendar so they can keep things familiar and make sure the regular stuff stays regular. Everything has a place, and that’s what matters the most to these kinds of people.
Plain tools win
You could try using apps and syncing your account across multiple devices. But what would be the point? That’s what these people tell themselves, and they care way more about being practical than being trendy. Paper doesn’t need a Wi-Fi connection, for starters.
Nor does it need an update. It might not be the prettiest way of organizing, sure, yet that’s kind of the point of using a paper calendar. It’s a lot more useful because it doesn’t care to look good. These people are firm believers in that kind of thinking.
No battery required
Control. That’s something paper calendars give you that digital calendars don’t, mostly because digital calendars keep sending you notifications about your day. Calendars on your phone run the show. But with a paper calendar? Everything’s how you want it to be.
You’re the one who decides when to check the schedule, and you’re the one who can ignore it during dinner, rather than being bombarded with a dozen messages. It’s no surprise that people with these calendars like control so much.
The backup plan
Anxious planners are everywhere, and yes, that includes people who own paper calendars. They’re not exactly going to admit it, though. They’ll write down what they need to do on the calendar because it gives them the chance to put their worries somewhere else.
They’re a lot more anxious than they’ll ever tell people. Write it down, keep it there, no need to keep thinking about it all day. That doesn’t take the worry away, but it does mean it’s parked away for a few hours.
Out of their head
Our memories have limits. People with paper calendars understand that better than anyone else, and it’s part of the reason they insist on using these calendars. They know they’re not going to remember everything.
But a paper calendar will. They could try writing it down on their phones, but what if the phone dies? A paper calendar keeps everything you give it and more, no need to rely on your own memory.
Saying no
You might be surprised to know that these people are good at saying ‘no.’ Like, really good. They’re able to turn things down plainly, without it becoming a performance, and all it takes is one glance at the wall.
Then they’ll tell you that day’s too busy. The calendar gives them the chance to turn other people down in a way that doesn’t exactly sound personal. They have no issues with using it to reject other people.
Nobody can pretend
It’s honestly quite weird how quickly a wall calendar becomes a way to hold people accountable. Someone says they forgot an appointment? They can’t really say that, it was written right there. Someone didn’t know they were supposed to cook dinner? It was there on the calendar.
People with shared paper calendars are usually a lot more confident in holding people to their word. They know it’ll be harder for people to fake their confusion because, really, the evidence is right there.
Before it turns into a thing
You’ll really struggle to surprise someone with a paper calendar because they’re usually on top of everything. They catch the little things before they become big problems. It’s all because they’re planners, not reactive people, and every little event gets written down.
They write down that they need to get a birthday gift before the birthday. They write down that they need to keep one day clear for one thing or another. The truth is, they know that ignoring small problems only turns them into something way bigger.
Sources: Please see here for a complete listing of all sources that were consulted in the preparation of this article.
