When it comes to using a scheduler (which some call “minder apps” or “calendar apps” or “task scheduler apps”), you have lots of choices.

Your cell phone – even if not a smartphone – most likely has a calendar app with simple appointment setting functions.

All major webmail providers have a calendar app with the ability to set appointment scheduling (Yahoo! Calendar, Hotmail Calendar, AOL Calendar, etc.)

In the smartphone realm there are a plethora of scheduler apps, from fully-synchronized Microsoft Outlook to simpler apps like RememberTheMilk.

In the local-to-computer-only department there are apps like Sunbird, ReminderFox, Microsoft Outlook, etc.

But are any of these choices better than the old-style handwritten day planner?

My answer to this is yes, but only for one reason:

It is far easier to reset the frequency of an event with a computer app compared to doing it by hand.

For example, let’s say you have an appointment that happens once every other Tuesday.

With the day planner, you pencil in the appointment for at least 5 of those events; this takes about 2 or 3 minutes depending on your handwriting speed.

With the app, it takes less than a minute. Type in the appointment, set frequency of repeat, save.

Now comes the ‘fun’ part – the appointment schedule changes. You’re informed that the same appointment is now every other Friday.

With the day planner, every instance of when you penciled in the appointment must be crossed out and new penciled in. This takes 4 to 6 minutes.

With the app, again it takes less than a minute. Open the appointment, change the frequency of repeat, the app asks “Do you want to change this for this and all future events for this appointment?”, click/tap yes, it’s saved and you’re done.

Handwritten day planners are great for appointments that do not change. But if you have any appointments that do change, even on an infrequent basis, the app is better.

Where does the scheduler app fail?

It’s well known that writing things down physically does assist a great deal in committing things to memory, whereas typing has the equivalent of “in one ear and out the other” concerning memory retention. Your memory isn’t getting worse concerning remembering things. The fact you switched from writing things down to typing is what’s making you forget stuff.

In other words: If the goal is to be reminded of events in the easiest and fastest way possible, use an app. If the goal is to remember things better, write it down.

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