How I Use Google Calendar

Last week, I shared how to make the most of your mornings and the week before that was all about getting inspired for a productive month.

For this week’s post, I’m going to take the idea of time management and scheduling and give you all a look into how I use Google calendar.

I first began using Google calendar in high school. It all started when I got the iPhone 4s and I was able to sync things from the calendar to my iPhone calendar. I originally used it to keep track of my work schedule and other small events that were happening like get togethers with friends or vacations. Once I got to college, my whole perspective of Google calendar changed. Now, it is quite literally my life and I can’t imagine how I would be able to function without it.

Google calendar is not my only means of time management and organization. I also use two planners to keep track of assignments and blog stuff but Google calendar is my daily itinerary. Here’s how I organize it.

Personal.

The first sub-calendar I ever had within my Google calendar was “Personal”. Since purple is my favorite, I chose it for the color. To be honest, I don’t use this calendar often. This is what my calendar looks like with only the “personal” tab selected…

How I Use Google Calendar - Kayla Blogs

I only really use this calendar to mark personal events like concerts, birthdays, TV shows I want to watch (if I can remember to put them in!)

Temple (College Classes).

This is the calendar that shows up the most. I chose gray for the color of this one because it’s so much and I didn’t want it to overwhelm me when I was looking at the grand scheme of things. Classes are something that happen every day so I don’t really need to be super aware of when I have stuff going on for them. Here’s an example of my week and how I use the Temple calendar…

How I Use Google Calendar - Kayla Blogs

I pretty much keep track of all the weekly class obligations I have through this calendar. This is the one I look forward to updating the most every semester!

Phi Sigma Pi.

I’m sure you’ve heard me talk about the fact that I’m in a frat a few times here on the blog. Phi Sigma Pi is a gender inclusive honor fraternity and I’ve been a brother for almost a year now. If you are in Greek life or any other time-consuming club, you’ll know that having a separate calendar is probably necessary. In the PSP calendar I keep track of meetings, events, and other requirements. For example, each semester our initiates are supposed to schedule interviews with us to get to know us better. I will always add these to my calendar because I’m able to keep track of them all and be sure I’ll never miss one! I chose green for PSP because for some reason it has always been green in my head.

How I Use Google Calendar - Kayla Blogs

Work.

I’m fortunate enough to not have to work during the school year, but I do have a “work” calendar and it is blue. I used it over the summer for my internship but it was pretty boring considering I worked the same hours every day!

Appointments/To Do.

I guess technically I could put my appointments in my “personal” calendar but for some reason I thought it would be more beneficial to have a separate one just for all the extra stuff I have to do! I don’t use this one much but I’ll put things like doctor’s appointments and hair appointments into it. This calendar is yellow!

Clubs and organizations.

I’m in a few other clubs that don’t meet as frequently or have as many events as Phi Sigma Pi so I lumped them all into one calendar. However, I’m now on the executive board for two of the organizations and I’m considering creating separate calendars for those now as well. This calendar is pink.

Putting it all together.

Here’s what a typical month will look like for me on the calendar.

How I Use Google Calendar - Kayla Blogs

It’s super busy but at least it’s also colorful! And here’s a closer look into this week…

How I Use Google Calendar - Kayla Blogs

Wednesdays are my roughest days but I’m so happy that the week is almost over!

As you can tell now, Google calendar is my lifesaver and I wouldn’t be able to stay on track without it. It’s so easy to quickly add things on your phone as opposed to getting out your planner and writing everything down. Most of the time, I have to check my calendar to know where I’m going next or if I have down time, so having easy access to the calendar is a huge plus. I am constantly checking it on my phone so I don’t miss anything!

I hope this post was helpful and it allowed you to reflect on how you manage your time or even just keep track of it! We are all super busy so I’d love to know what your method is for staying on top of your commitments and not letting anything slip through the cracks. Leave a comment below!

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22 Comments

  1. Miss ALK
    October 14, 2015 / 12:33 pm

    This post is so useful! My sorority just started using a Google calendar for our chapter for this year and I didn’t really understand it since I’ve never used once myself- so thanks for this post! 🙂 For me personally I prefer to write stuff down by hand in my planner (I also don’t use my Gmail account so I’m not on Google a lot), but this is still great to know!!

    xoxo A
    http://www.southernbelleintraining.com

  2. Savannah Ward
    October 14, 2015 / 2:01 pm

    I LOVE GOOGLE CALENDAR!!!! Its amazing. I color code and I just honestly love looking at mine because although lots of colors = lots of things to do, it just looks so organized and so good. I have sorta moved away from written planners just because the google calendar app can connect my laptop and my phone.

    http://thealwaysblog.com

  3. October 14, 2015 / 7:53 pm

    I am so impressed! I use my Outlook calendar for pretty much everything, but it definitely isn’t as organized as this.

    XO, SS || Seersucker Sass

  4. Kylea Johnson
    October 14, 2015 / 8:24 pm

    Your google calendar is so pretty! I use mine for everything in my personal life, and then my Outlook calendar for work so that I can get reminders.

  5. Ashley
    October 14, 2015 / 11:42 pm

    I’ve always wondered about google calendar! Thank you for the tips and pictures!!

    xo Ashley

  6. October 15, 2015 / 10:46 am

    I use Google Calendar and love it so much!

  7. October 15, 2015 / 1:34 pm

    I really need to start using Google calendar, I am such a paper planner girl but digital is the way of the world! My boyfriend is OBSESSED with his Google Calendar, if something isn’t in his Google calendar it isn’t happening haha!

  8. October 15, 2015 / 6:01 pm

    I just started using Google calendar, and I love that it syncs with my phone. Those reminders and alerts have become complete lifesavers!

  9. Courtney Dunsmore
    October 16, 2015 / 3:20 am

    Love this! It doesn’t look as crazy stressful when it’s all together! Awesome post, and it’s so cool that you’re in a frat!

    Courtney//As We Stumble Along

  10. October 16, 2015 / 9:30 pm

    I love Google Calendar; it is such a great tool!

  11. October 18, 2015 / 9:25 pm

    This is so productive of you! I use iCalender on my Macbook!!! When i do this it’s very time consuming but the end results are so worth it!!

  12. October 23, 2015 / 11:35 pm

    Oh my goodness you are busy! I have always loved the idea of planners, but I am awful at it. I need to apply some of these tips ASAP

  13. Abigail Thomas
    October 25, 2015 / 6:38 pm

    I just started using Google Calendar to keep up with my blogging and stuff. This was such a wonderful post!!
    -Abigail
    livingthegraylife.wordpress.com

  14. Sunny Morgan
    January 4, 2016 / 12:46 am

    Woah. After reading this throughouly I realized how much I need Google Calendar. Thank you, Kayla! (I know this post is old but it was great lol)

    alwayssunnyinphilly.wordpress.com

  15. AssassinsWay
    November 29, 2016 / 1:07 pm

    I start college in Jan, I already planned on using Google Calendar as my planner but I had no idea you could add little “side calendars” so this is sooo helpful. Thank You!!

  16. July 24, 2017 / 7:15 pm

    I use google calendar to plan everything for my blog! When I’m going to brainstorm for posts, take photos, make graphics, write posts, and when they’re published! I love it bc of how easily I can scroll through and see months worth of content I’m planning to release, I also love how easy it is to move posts around, you just drag and drop! It’s the best! Skye – http://www.everythingbeyondmyskye.com

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