google calendar guide 🍋
As a person with ADHD and anxiety, google calendar has been a lifesaver for planning & remembering certain events/tasks I need to get done through the day!
I personally plan EVERYTHING through google calendar, whether it’s for birthdays, work, or school, or even daily routines. I know if it’s not on a list somewhere or in my google calendar, it will not get done.
In this post, I have shown my monthly, weekly, and daily calendars and what they look like! To get the colors, I usually just look up hex code color palette on google and use one already premade so it looks good!
Step 1: go to Google Calendar and create calendars for each category of life. I have the following: academics, appointments, personal, social media, tasks (comes with the calendar!) and work.
Step 2: when I first started with Google Calendar, I started by putting the daily routines and repeated them daily so they would show up on each day of the calendar. It is easy to change through this calendar if routines change throughout the day.
Step 3: add in your repeating tasks/activities. For me, these repeating tasks would be my school schedule, as well as a bills reminder. This also includes my morning & night routines, however, that also falls under step 2.
Step 4: I usually then add in tasks and new events as they come up. I typically go through at some point each day and plan out what I want to do when. For now, this basically gives you a simplified overview of what your day would look like so you have room for any activities and events as they come up!
As someone who navigates daily life with ADHD, I've found Google Calendar to be an indispensable tool, especially when tackling challenges like time blindness and executive dysfunction. The visual layout, particularly when viewed on my laptop, helps me conceptualize my day and week in a way that traditional planners just couldn't. I love being able to see my complete weekly view at a glance, allowing me to mentally prepare and prioritize tasks without feeling overwhelmed. The daily view then offers the granular detail I need to stay on track moment-to-moment. Beyond simply listing events, I’ve refined my approach to Google Calendar routines. For instance, I break down my morning and evening routines into smaller, manageable blocks. Instead of just ‘Morning Routine,’ I might have ‘Hydrate & Meds,’ ‘Light Stretch,’ and ‘Review Daily Plan’ – each with its own time slot. This specificity makes starting tasks less daunting. I also schedule a recurring ‘Calendar Check-in’ every evening as part of my night routine to review the next day, which significantly reduces my anxiety about forgotten tasks or appointments. When it comes to organization tips, don't underestimate the power of color-coding beyond just visual appeal. My 'My calendars' section is a rainbow of purpose: specific colors for 'academics,' 'work,' 'personal,' and 'appointments' serve as instant visual cues that help my brain quickly categorize and process information. This reduces the mental load of deciphering my schedule. I also utilize the 'Tasks' feature extensively for those non-time-specific to-dos; seeing them alongside my scheduled events keeps everything in one place. To truly use Google Calendar effectively, I've found that integrating it with other tools is a game-changer. I link my Google Tasks directly, so my to-do list is always visible next to my schedule. For virtual meetings, I always use the 'Add video conferencing' option when creating an event, making joining seamless. For anyone looking to centralize their digital life, exploring integrations with note-taking apps or even project management tools can elevate your Google Calendar from a simple scheduler to a comprehensive life organizer. It’s all about creating a system that supports your unique needs and helps you thrive.
![A smartphone shows a detailed Google Calendar with annotations highlighting 'pay day!!', 'content plans', 'work timeblock [w/ notes]', 'reading timeblock', and 'personal events'. A pop-up displays a specific work block schedule.](https://p16-lemon8-cross-sign.tiktokcdn-eu.com/tos-useast5-v-3931-tx/oIQAEABrHGIcfAAAWNbEeLnezHk9vIBnbGAGJA~tplv-pyavlv3z7u-shrink:640:0:q50.webp?lk3s=66c60501&source=seo_middle_feed_list&x-expires=1816581600&x-signature=HPul72OEuJ9CSgZigCQwDBrO0uo%3D)
How do you make all the different calendars with the cute colors?