By Nandini Sharma

As a teenager, I spent hours doom scrolling through social media, completely losing track of time. Back in high school, my mum was my personal alarm system, constantly reminding me to get my work done whenever she caught me procrastinating. Turns out, that really put me on track. But now that I don’t have her hovering over me, it’s been... tough.

At first, I thought my UNSW timetable would be enough to keep me organized, and for everything else, I’d just go with the flow. Turns out, it's the little things I forget, that create the biggest mess. 

Enter Google Calendar, which has practically replaced my mum and saved my life. I already have enough to remember in my psychology degree, keeping track of what I’m doing on Monday from 12-2 should not be another stressor. 

1. Multiple Calendars – I can have separate calendars for work, personal life, and, if necessary, a secret one (which you can share with your parents ;) ).

2. Assignment Deadlines – Not just official deadlines, but personal ones too, that help me stay on track without the last-minute panic.

3. Recurring Events – No more manually adding my gym sessions or weekly study group, Google Calendar does the work for me.

4. Idea Storage for Free Time – Instead of doom scrolling, I can actively make free time for the activities I actually want to do, like painting, reading, or checking out a new café.

5. Colour Coding – Making my schedule not only functional but also aesthetic.

6. Reminders – Whether on my phone or laptop, Google Calendar ensures I keep up with meetings, eat on time, and stay productive.

How It Changed My Life

Ever since I started using it, everything goes in my calendar, even casual hangouts with friends. If it’s not in my calendar, it does not exist. 

But beyond just keeping me organized, it has taught me some important lessons:

No.1: I always underestimate time. 

Every term, I plan my timetable, but reality hits hard. If I say I’ll leave for the gym at 7:15 and be back by 8:30, it never happens. Google Calendar helped me realize this, and now I give myself buffer time (including some well-deserved bed-rotting sessions). I’ve also learned to accept that not everything will go exactly as planned, and that’s okay. Life is unpredictable, and sometimes, you just have to go with the flow. Rather than stress, I now understand that sometimes you just need to enjoy the process.

No.2: I have a chronic overcommitting problem. 

I used to say yes to everything without realizing my schedule was already bursting at the seams. Seeing all my plans laid out in one place has been a wake-up call, and has forced me to get better at saying no, something I desperately needed.

No.3: On the brighter side, I have also discovered that routines are not just for super-organized people.

My morning routine, which includes going to the gym, reading, and cooking something good, has somehow now become the highlight of my day. Having it all planned out keeps me motivated and makes sure I actually take time to do things I enjoy. Who knew a calendar could low-key change my life?

Where Google Calendar Falls Short

As much as I love and rely on Google Calendar, there are things it just doesn’t do well. To fill these gaps I have started using Notion. I’m still getting used to it, but so far it has been a great tool for tracking my daily tasks as I’m able to check things off as I go. It has also helped me stay consistent with my routines, keep track of assignment countdowns, and allow me to store all my academic and extracurricular notes in one place. On top of all of that, it has even more aesthetic templates, a small but satisfying bonus.

Nandini is a 2nd-year Psychology student who is probably watching yet another sitcom and making it her whole personality. So, if you ever want to strike up a conversation with her, ask her whether Ross and Rachel were on a break.