Google Calendar and a Bullet Journal?

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I love bullet journaling. But technology has its place in our planning as well. And I think that google calendar and a bullet journal can be a match made in heaven.

I’ve tried using a google calendar on more than one occasion over the years and at first, I really had a hard time making it work for me.

It wasn’t so much the actual calendar but the way that I was trying to use it. Some of the issues that I had were:

• Trying to fill in the ENTIRE calendar
• I didn’t know how long it would take me to do anything
• Forgetting to update it
• I didn’t work at a desk where I would have it open and I didn’t keep my phone on me so I didn’t get notifications of when I was supposed to be switching gears.

So basically what I was doing before was wasting time putting together a calendar and I definitely wouldn’t have even a chance of sticking to.

Not to brightest move.

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Before we start, I don’t think a google calendar is helpful for everyone. If you’re a new mom or have a few kids under 5, you need a schedule with a lot of breathing room. A task oriented bullet journal is what I would recommend for you.

Similarly, if you’re always on the go and rarely at the beck and call of your phone or a computer, the calendar will have no way to alert you of your next task.

One of the best things we can do as planners is make sure that we’re using a system that works for us, not that we work for and get nothing from.

Before you start

Before you start to create your calendar it’s a good idea to spend a week, or at least a few days, tracking how long it takes you to complete your usual tasks. It’s important to know how long things take in order to give yourself enough time in your schedule for each item.

You can use this worksheet to help you. Just put your email address below so we can send it to you.

Write out a list of tasks under the following headings:

• Monthly- tasks that you do once a month
• Weekly- tasks you do weekly
• Daily- tasks you do daily

Settle on a wake up and a go to bed time.

These three things will really help set you up for success when creating your calendar.

Next, write down how long each task usually takes beside each.

Start your Calendar

I’m not going to give you an indepth tutorial on how to make a google calendar here but if that’s something you’d like to see, leave it in the comments below!

Start your google calendar by putting in your wake up and go to bed time. If you’re a go getter you can add in your time for your morning routine and/or evening routine.

I don’t find it necessary to get so detailed as to put brush teeth, eat breakfast, etc. in my calendar. Instead, I add a block that says “morning routine”. But do whatever works best for you!

These two times frame your day so we will obviously be adding everything else in between.

Next, add in your daily tasks.

I find it helpful to do daily tasks first since you build your routine around these things.

I have “email subscribers”, “work out”, and “do chores” as some of my daily tasks.

After these are in your calendar add in your weekly tasks. If you want to learn more on task batching so that you can group tasks together to save time read this post.

I group post writing, editing, graphic design together as weekly tasks. There are also assigned bujo spread making times that I add in.

After all these tasks are in then you can add monthly tasks in your empty space. There should still be empty space.

Blank Space

Having blank space in your calendar is so important.

It’s important since, first something always comes up. So when it does, blank space will give you a buffer so you can get back on track. If you’re whole calendar is full when something takes longer or if you get interrupted it’s so hard to stick to your schedule.

Blank space also gives you room for the little things you need to do. The things that don’t need scheduling but still need to get done.

The little things

These little things are often the ones that are in my bullet journal. Things that come up like “stop by Sally’s to get banana bread” or “make sure Josie has her field trip form”.

These little things don’t have to be put in your calendar but if they’re in your bujo they won’t be forgotten.

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How it works

When I’m in the blank space of my google calendar, or if I finish something early, I check my bullet journal for small tasks that I can do right then.

This could be running an errand, returning an email or any other task that fits the amount of time I have.

Essentially, I now use my google calendar to let me know when I should be spending my time on my priorities or “big rocks” and in the space between I use my bullet journal as my running task list.

My bullet journal is always open beside me so I remember what I need to do. When I hear my phone go off with that google calendar sound I know it’s time to move on.

Putting it together

I’ve said it before and I’ll say it again, putting an hour into something that will save you 15 minutes or more a day is a completely worth while investment.

It took me about an hour to fill out my calendar and then I revised it after 2 weeks when I got a feel for how it was working.

Do that second step.

It might take a little tweaking to get your google calendar just right but once it is you’ll have the peace of mind that you WILL have time to get everything that you need done done.

And that’s huge.

I feel so much better now that I know I will be able to fit all the important things into my week. It also gives me motivate when I think about how I have open time in my schedule to tackle the next thing I want to do.

Or, that I have a bit of relaxation time.

I love the combination of having my google calendar tell me what I should be focusing my attention on and when I need to get ready to move on. It gives me a sense of accountability and urgency to finish things instead of letting small unimportant distractions take center stage.

This, paired with my bullet journal, makes me incredibly productive.

In my bullet journal I write down things that need my attention in the future. Then I get to them when I have an opening. Ah, it feels good to check things off a list…

Here’s a look at my completed schedule

Do you use a digital calendar? How do you find it pairs with your bujo or planner?

I’ve found that using both has great advantages and I hope if you try this out that you do to. Let me know how it goes in the comments below!