If Google Calendar ceased to exist, so would my productivity. It’s my centralized hub for meetings, tasks, and reminders. It’s one of the only reasons I know what to do at any point in time.

✨ Here are the 7 Google Calendar tricks I use to stay organized:

📆 Multiple Calendars

I’m a highly visual person, so it’s important for me to distinguish different types of events and holds using different colors. For example, I have one color for personal events, one for work meetings, and one for holds and time blocks/buffers. To do this, I have to create separate calendars based on the type of event.

To create a new calendar, click the plus sign next to ‘Other calendars’ and select ‘Create new calendar’

❣️ Don’t forget: If you use a scheduling software like Calendly or Acuity, you’ll want to add these additional calendars if you’d like the system to reference them for availability purposes.

🌈 Custom Colors

I LOVE customizing my Google Cal color scheme. Truthfully, I spend about an hour pouring over color palettes on Pinterest 2-3 times a year to switch things up. It makes me feel alive!

Here’s how to add a custom color:

Then, add your desired HEX code, and press Save.

🎨 If there’s a particular photo with colors that you like, you can use this website to snag the right HEX codes.

📝 Google Tasks

Google Tasks is my lifeline. I love that I can see all my tasks from my calendar, and mark emails as to-dos.

Here’s how to create tasks from your calendar:

If you use a different task management system, like Asana or Todoist, you can go into your account settings and create a two-way sync with your Google Calendar. That way you can see what’s due that day at the top of your calendar. Just Google ‘[software name] and Google Calendar’ to see your options.

🦄 Emojis

As I mentioned in my Gmail post, I LOVE using emojis. They make everything feel more playful and colorful.

Places I use emojis:

• Recurring time blocks

• Google Tasks (I have an emoji system to help me define what each task is associated with… ⭐️ = Type C-related tasks)

• Calendar names

⏰ Time Zones

Many Type C clients are located on the West Coast, which made scheduling things a bit of a nightmare for my brain. That’s why I added a secondary timezone to the side of my calendar. So when a client on the West Coast says “10 am my time,” I can easily add an event to the calendar without thinking about it.

Here’s how to add a secondary time zone:

I also like to have East, West, and Central times near my calendar for reference.

Here’s how to add additional times to your calendar dashboard:

➕ Add-ons

Use add-ons for video conferencing platforms like Zoom to quickly create and add a call to your calendar without having to search for your personal meeting link.

Here’s how to install an add-on:

✨ Ritual Recommendations

I like to include a list of things I may want to do in the mornings and evenings to the descriptions of the recurring Wake-Up and Wind Down blocks in my calendar. I don’t always pay attention to the recommendations but I like to have the option! (I just noticed I have “morning stretch” on there twice…DOUBLE RECOMMEND!)

⭐️ BONUS TIP: Add Google Cal to your iPhone screen as a widget. Here’s how

Try one or all of these tips for a beautiful and efficient calendar 🤓 Next up: Google Drive tips!

Peace, love and calendar invites,

Andrea

Speaking of calendars…mark yours for the next Mindful Prioritization session THIS THURSDAY 4/25 at 11 am est! ⬇️

register here