Use Models for OK Google and Calendar Integration?

[Lisa S]

[ TLDR I'm looking to hear about your use model (flow of information/how you use it) for using MLO and Google (e.g. controlling tasks by voice and Calendar integration) together. ]

Hi everyone, long time no see....sorry I dropped off the grid for several years :) We're doing alright, still lots of health issues in the family, but doing fine. I haven't been using very many features of MLO for a while (mainly the Starred Active Tasks on Android as well as dropping in tasks for things I'd like to get to sometime), but I have been starting to dust off my extensive MLO task database and get it up to date with my life, and bought 10 years of cloud sync to support the team in Ukraine.

I'm not sure I even know what I'm asking, because I'm in that "I don't know what I don't know" stage. I have quite a few appointments scattered through the week, but many hours of my day are unscheduled/interrupt driven and due to low energy levels which vary, scheduling a task to force myself to get it done has never appealed to me. 

 I use Google Calendar for tracking my time commitments, Google Home and Android devices with MLO as well as Desktop MLO, and Google reminders just because they are convenient (which I don't like at all and what to move away from).  I've played with the Google Calendar integration some but what I am missing is a consistent use model (and brain power is not what it used to be right now!)

What have you found works well and doesn't work so well? I've set up the Calendar integration and having the reminder through the Calendar is helpful (my desktop doesn't always have MLO open though maybe I should change that),  but maybe I need to also go the route of voice adding tasks through IFFT (which I played with long ago but not recently).

Thanks,

Lisa 

[Craig Lindholm]

Welcome back!

I would not call myself a “power user” but… 

I setup IFTT for use with Google home/assistant and it works WONDERS for me. Total game changer to literally add tasks by voice to my inbox while I’m washing dishes or even driving!

I also gave my mlo email address to my family so they email me my “HoneyDo” lists directly to my inbox. If we could get “SMS text-task” would even be better as my kids don’t use email much!

I have used the calendar integration a bit but generally don’t like my calendar too clutteredSo I don’t currently use it. I find the built in mlo reminders work good enough for me.

One thing I am trying currently is the pomadoro technique of using a timer for a block of time to actually “get things done”. So far I do find it helping.

Craig

[Stéph]

Welcome back, Lisa!

I use a calendar for all appointments, to log deadlines on particular dates and to block out time for working on particular projects or on big tasks which are approaching their deadline. I don't use calendar for scheduling individual tasks, as otherwise I'd end up chasing my tail, re-planning things all the time instead of getting on with them.

Everything else - my detailed tasks under each project, under each area of my life and role, is stored in my task list (which is currently MLO for personal and home tasks, but for work has to be Microsoft ToDo to corral all the Outlook, Planner and OneNote tasks coming at me from various sources).

Stéphane