Calendar Automation: The Time Saver

Better By Redesign: Experiments in getting life to run itself.

Experiment 1: Calendar Automation with Smart Buffers

Ever feel like your meetings bleed into each other, leaving no breathing room? In this experiment we’ll add smart buffers automatically, so you get the focus time you deserve without manual tweaks.

The Hack Details

1. Open your preferred calendar (Google Calendar, Outlook, etc.).
2. Navigate to the settings → Event Settings → Default duration and set your typical meeting length.
3. Enable “Add buffer before/after events” (many calendars have this as a native feature or via a third‑party add‑on).
4. Set the buffer length (e.g., 10 min before, 5 min after). The buffer will automatically appear on every new event.
5. Optional: Use a tool like Zapier or Make.com to add a “Travel Buffer” based on event location.
6. Test by creating a couple of events and watch the extra time appear in your day view.
7. Adjust the buffer lengths as needed – the goal is to protect focus without over‑inflating your day.

• Google Calendar – Add buffer time to events
• Zapier integrations for Google Calendar automation
• Microsoft Graph API – Create events with custom properties