Time passes by quickly and we are always caught up with our daily routines that it becomes a challenge to keep track of time. Knowing how many months have passed can help you keep track of your progress, deadlines, and crucial events. This article will delve into various ways that can be used to count the passing months accurately.
Counting Months with Calendar
Most people use a calendar to mark important dates such as birthdays, anniversaries, and deadlines. You can also use a calendar to count months, whether for work or personal reasons. It is simple; all you need is a calendar with months and years visible. To count the passing months on the calendar, follow the steps below:
Step 1: Determine the Start Point
The start point is when you begin counting your months from a specific year and month. It could be for the year 2020, from January. Once you decide, mark it on your calendar.
Step 2: Calculate the Months
From the start point, count the passing months to the current month. If your start point was January 2020, and it is now May 2021, you’ve marked 16 passing months on your calendar.
Step 3: Record the Count
After calculating the number of months that passed, record the count so that you can use it as a reference in the future.
The calendar method is straightforward and can be customized to fit personal preferences. It is easy to monitor the passage of time and can be a useful tool in managing time-sensitive tasks.
Counting Months with Age Calculator
Calculating how many months have passed since a specific date can be challenging, especially if it happened a long time ago. If you want to know how many months old you are or how many months an event happened, an age calculator can come in handy. An age calculator is an online tool that can calculate the age of a person or event in months, days, hours, minutes, and seconds.
Step 1: Choose an Age Calculator
Choose a reliable age calculator from reputable sources such as TimeandDate.com or Calculator.net. Some online tools require you to input more information such as the time, day, and year of an event.
Step 2: Input the Date
After selecting an age calculator, input the date you want to calculate. For example, if you want to know how many months have passed since January 1, 1990, input the date in the format MM/DD/YYYY.
Step 3: Calculate
After inputting the date, click on the calculate button, and the results will appear. You can now know how many months have passed since the date you entered.
The age calculator method is precise and eliminates the margin of error present in manual counting. It is also convenient as it can calculate dates from the past and future.
Counting Months in Excel
Microsoft Excel is a popular spreadsheet program that can also be used to count months. Excel has built-in features that can calculate dates and intervals in years, months, and days. Below is a step-by-step guide on how to count months in Excel.
Step 1: Format the Cells
Before inputting the date, format the cells you will be using to display the results in months. To do this, select the cells, right-click, and select format cells. In the format cells dialogue box, go to the number tab, select custom, and input ‘m’ into the type field. This will format the cells to show the number of months.
Step 2: Input the Dates
Input the start and end dates in two separate columns. Ensure that the dates are in a recognized date format to avoid errors. For example, ‘1st January 2020′ should be typed as ’01/01/2020.’
Step 3: Use the DATEDIF Function
Excel has a built-in function that can calculate the difference between two dates. To use the DATEDIF function, click on an empty cell and type ‘=DATEDIF(start_date, end_date, “m”).’ Replace start_date with the cell of the start date and end_date with the end date cell.
Step 4: Calculate the Months
After inputting the function, press enter, and the total number of months will appear in the formatted cell.
Excel can be used to calculate various other time intervals, including years and days. It is an efficient way of counting months as it can be edited or manipulated, if necessary.
The Importance of Counting Months
Counting months is essential for various reasons, including:
1. Knowing the Progress of a Project
Counting months can help you keep track of the progress of a project or task. Knowing how many months have passed since the project began can help you determine whether it is progressing according to schedule.
2. Setting Deadlines and Goals
Setting up deadlines and goals helps you remain focused and motivated. Counting months can help you set achievable and realistic goals, whether in business or personal life.
3. Remembrance of Important Dates
Counting months can help you remember important dates such as the death of a loved one or the birth of a child. It helps you commemorate these special occasions and shows your respect for them.
4. Financial Planning
Counting months can help you plan for long-term financial goals such as saving for a down payment on a home or paying off a mortgage. It helps you allocate resources towards achieving these goals.
The Bottom Line
Counting months can be done manually, with an age calculator, or on software such as Excel. Each method has its benefits and can be customized to fit personal preferences. Knowing how many months have passed is crucial for monitoring progress, setting goals, and commemorating important occasions.
FAQs
- Q: How many months are there in a year?
- A: There are 12 months in a year.
- Q: Can I calculate the months between two future dates?
- A: Yes, age calculators can calculate future dates and intervals.
- Q: Can I add months to a specific date on Excel?
- A: Yes, use the formula ‘=EDATE(date, no_of_months_to_add)’
- Q: Can counting months help me manage my time better?
- A: Yes, knowing how much time has passed can help you plan for the future and avoid last-minute rush.
References
• TimeandDate.com. “Age Calculator.” Retrieved May 12, 2021, from https://www.timeanddate.com/date/agecalculator.html
• Excel Easy. “DATEDIF Function.” Retrieved May 12, 2021, from https://www.excel-easy.com/examples/datedif-function.html
• Investopedia. “How Long is a ‘Long Term’?” Retrieved May 12, 2021, from https://www.investopedia.com/terms/l/longterm.asp#:~:text=A%20long%2Dterm%20investment%20is,10%2Dyear%20period.