Each and every one of the things we experience, the problems we have, the challenges we face or in general the situations that are part of our lives occur in a space-time continuum, in which a specific event happens at a specific moment. That is to say, not everything happens at the same moment but rather a more or less prolonged temporal sequence is established.
Understanding a fact means understanding the phenomena that have occurred over time , and often we will have to analyze what has happened in a situation (whether because we want to understand our past, establish a chronology or look for the causes of a specific phenomenon). For this, it can be very useful to use some type of graphic element that allows us to represent it. One of the options we have is create timelines.
Related article: “70 phrases about time and the passage of life”
Timelines are graphic representations in the form of a line whose main function is to allow the correct understanding of the temporal sequence in which one or several phenomena have occurred, indicating the different steps or main elements through various marks on the line. that have been marking the element that we are analyzing and noting the time or period in which said steps have occurred.
For example, we can establish a timeline with the events that have marked our lives from our birth to the present, marking the points that we consider key. Another example would be the analysis of a problem or an element of interest, such as the bankruptcy of a company or the acquisition of a learning or skill, observing the elements that have led to it over time.
It is also possible to prepare several timelines on different situations or variables and compare them in order to try to visually determine if there could be a relationship between them and have some point in common.
Creating Timelines: Steps
Creating a timeline can be very useful in multiple areas and in order to analyze different aspects. However, you cannot simply start writing down elements, but rather a series of steps and the consideration of different elements are required.
To prepare a timeline it is essential to take into account and follow a series of steps:
1. Assess and decide what we want to represent and why
This step seems very logical, but It is essential for the timeline to make sense. Mainly it is important to assess the type of data that we are going to reflect and determine which should appear and which should not. If, for example, we consider making a timeline of the development of the Roman Empire throughout history, it will not be necessary for us to explain what was happening in territories not linked to it, or to write down details about the day-to-day life of a subject in concrete. It is about maintaining some coherence and representing only the main and most important elements.
An also important step is to take into account where the temporal limits of the representation that we are going to make are. If we are analyzing the causes of a specific problem that happened a year ago, it is not necessary for our graph to continue to the present day (unless specifically required, for example if the problem has not been solved). It is necessary to decide in advance that date will start our graph and what will end it.
3. Determine the measurement scale
Our future representation already has a theme and objective and a planned beginning and end. But what kind of temporal divisions are we going to make? We are talking about writing down hours, weeks, years, centuries, stages… It is necessary to be clear about it so that we can place the different phenomena on the timeline.
4. Collection and selection of the most relevant data
Once we have decided what we are going to represent on the timeline and how to do it, You can proceed to collect and/or decide which elements are going to be exposed. This step may have been done previously before thinking about how it is going to be represented. On the one hand, this process can be greatly influenced by the choice of the time periods to be measured and the scale chosen, but on the other hand, it can be what marks them.
5. Preparation of the line and the brands that will represent the different steps that we wanted to highlight
Once this is done, we can proceed to draw the line and the divisions that we are going to make of the chosen temporal sequence.
Finally The chosen data will be placed, ordered chronologically and also noting the time in which the event occurred.
Other aspects and considerations of creating timelines
Apart from the previous steps, it is necessary to keep in mind that the timeline is a simple graphical representation and. We do not have to insert explanations into it, simply the events or milestones that have occurred over time. Nor opinions or subjective elements unless they are what we are measuring. The language must be clear and concise.
The line drawn will be a straight line, since it marks the events on a temporal and non-functional level. By this we mean, for example, that we are not making a diagram of how something works but rather how it has worked over time. Even though we may consider time to be cyclical, we will generally be referring to specific dates.
In addition to being able to be done manually, today we have multiple options to create timelines in different applications and computer programs. For example, applications like Timetoast (in which you can also add images), Tiki-Toki or Timelinr. In a much more rudimentary way, it is also possible to do them in well-known programs such as Microsoft Excel.
