Google Calendar can finally block off time without faking a meeting

The latest feature update for Google Calendar allows you to block off time for tasks and mark yourself as busy, all in one place, expanding the existing Tasks feature in Calendar. It’s something Workspace users have been specifically requesting and effectively allows tasks to function like meetings, including options to set (and adjust) a specific block of time, turn on “do not disturb,” and automatically reject meeting requests. You can also add a deadline, but only the date — there’s currently no option for a deadline time.

Depending on how you use your calendar, this might be what you’ve been hoping Tasks would become all along. It has had a slew of changes over the past several years, from launching as its own app back in 2018 to getting some much-needed updates recently, like integrated reminders from Google Keep and the addition of completion dates. The change is coming to all Workspace customers, individual subscribers, and personal Gmail accounts. It started rolling out to Rapid Release domains on November 6th, but could take until mid-December to appear on your account.

If you’re the kind of person who uses a planner or is used to using Outlook’s similar feature, this update could help you keep track of what you’re working on and let other people know when to let you focus at the same time. However, unlike the existing “Focus Time” feature, the updated version of the “Tasks” feature lets you assign time to a specific task. 

You can try it out by going into your Google Calendar and selecting “Task” from the options that pop up when you select an empty block on your calendar.