Time-Blocking Starter Template for Google Calendar
A pre-filled time-blocking week you can import into Google Calendar in two minutes — so you start from a working structure instead of a blank grid. Built to pair with our full guide on setting up time blocking in Google Calendar.
Download the template (.ics)Free · No signup · Works with any Google account
What's Inside
Six recurring blocks covering a standard Monday–Friday week:
- Deep Work — Mon–Fri, 9:00–10:30. Your most important task, protected as Busy.
- Buffer — Mon–Fri, 11:30–12:00. Catch-all for overruns and the unexpected.
- Lunch — Mon–Fri, 12:00–12:45. Blocked so meetings don't claim it.
- Email Batch — Mon–Fri, 13:00–13:30. One focused inbox pass per day.
- Weekly Review — Friday, 16:00–16:15. The 15-minute feedback loop that keeps the system honest.
- Weekly Planning — Friday, 16:15–16:35. Set next week's blocks while this week is fresh.
Every block includes a short description with the intent behind it — visible when you open the event in Calendar.
How to Import It
- Download the .ics file using the button above.
- Open calendar.google.com on desktop.
- Go to Settings (gear icon, top-right) → Import & export → Import.
- Click Select file from your computer and pick the downloaded .ics file.
- In the "Add to calendar" dropdown, choose the calendar you want the blocks to live in — ideally a dedicated "Time blocks" calendar rather than your main one (the guide above explains why).
- Click Import.
The blocks appear immediately in your week view as recurring events. From here, treat them like any other event: drag to move, click to edit, change the color.
After You Import It
- Shift the hours to match your real day. The template assumes a 9-to-5 shape. If your deep work hours are 7am or 4pm, drag the blocks there — one edit to the recurring series moves all future weeks at once.
- Color-code right away. Right-click each block type and assign a color (deep work = teal, admin = yellow, meetings = navy is a common pattern). The visual balance is what makes the weekly review useful.
- Set Busy status. Open each block and confirm the availability is set to Busy so colleagues see the slot as taken.
- Don't skip the Friday blocks. The review and planning blocks are the part most people delete first — and the reason the system survives past week two.