A Quick Guide to Mastering Calendars on iOS

There’s certainly no shortage of calendar apps out there, but only a few of them have all the features needed to boost productivity. A good calendar app will help you stay focused, keep on time, and ensure you’ll never miss another meeting or important appointment ever again.

And the best calendar apps allow users to share selected events, appointments, and even an entire calendar schedule with friends or work colleagues.

If this sounds like something that would be helpful to you, stay tuned.

In this post, we’ll go over how to leverage iOS calendars for productivity as well as list the best calendar apps that are currently available in the Apple Store.

Features to look out for when choosing the best Calendar App

To ensure you’re maximizing your productive potential, these calendar app features are an absolute must-have:

1. Usability

People who are busy, much like yourself, are best choosing an application that is super easy to use. Something that can be opened fast, a note added as it becomes top-of-mind, and quickly shared with others, if need be.

Look for simplicity.  

You don’t want an application that requires reading a 100-page manual or is slow and clunky, or worse, frustratingly cluttered and hard to use. Find an iOS calendar app that is functional, minimal, integrates easily with other supportive software, and possesses a simple and easy-to-use interface.

2. Functionality

It may seem obvious, but it’s no less important. When choosing an iOS calendar app, find one that contains all the features you personally need to keep yourself productive. Think about or write down everything you need from an application such as this. Features like functionality, ease of use, content and file sharing, and separate software pairability may all play a role in your final decision.

3. Cross-Platform Compatibility

An iOS calendar app that is available on not just iPhone but also your Mac or work computer is also a big thing to look out for.

Without this functionality, things can get a lot more complicated than they need to be. The simplest of tasks like keeping track of your schedule or booking appointments should never be limited to just your phone. Keeping on top of your daily professional tasks should all be reachable from your desktop, laptop, and phone alike.

To achieve this, find an iOS app that easily integrates across all your Apple devices, or even better, across non-Apple products as well.

Tips for Leveraging iOS Calendar Apps for Better Productivity

Even if you’ve found the perfect iOS calendar app with all the above features, simply installing it on your Apple device isn’t going to boost your productivity. To ensure your new calendar isn’t just another one of those apps that clutter your device’s home screen, here are a few tips to get you started:

• Install Widgets If You Have It. To ensure your new app is top of mind, place it somewhere on your device where it’ll remind you to use it.

• Make Using the App Habitual. To ensure you are making the most out of an iOS calendar app, make a habit of starting the application every day, scheduling a few tasks, and checking off previously complete obligations.

• Turn on Push Notifications. The best way to keep on top of your scheduled tasks is to set them as push notifications. That way you are notified when scheduled tasks are due or meetings and appointments are scheduled to be attended.

• Integrate Your App with Emails. Any good calendar app will be integratable with a preselected email address. This allows scheduling tasks, meetings, and appointments completely accessible directly through any good email platform.

The Best iOS Calendar Apps to Stay Productive

Now you understand what it is you need from an iOS calendar app to stay super productive, here are a few great suggestions that you may want to consider:

1. Apple Calendar

Apple’s Calendar app comes free on all Apple devices. In fact, it’ll no doubt already be pre-installed on your Apple device right now. Meaning you don’t have to chase it down on the Apple Store, simply find it on your device and get started.

The Apple Calendar app makes keeping your important dates and events synced across all your different Apple devices. And even stores all this information on iCloud for safekeeping.

One of the Apple Calendar’s best features, particularly handy to those that regularly use Siri, is the ability to add tasks, notes, and appointments to the calendar through voice command. And now, with Siri recently being integrated on Mac computers as well, keeping on top of your schedule has never been easier.

2. Microsoft Outlook Calendar

Microsoft’s Outlook Calendar is another awesome calendar app that is available on iOS devices. A great option for those that still have a Hotmail email address or, the newer version, an Outlook email address.

Microsoft’s Outlook Calendar has the ability to consolidate personal information like emails, notes, and task lists all in one easily accessible place. The app even has the capability of viewing multiple calendars, shared from other work colleagues, side-by-side or as an overlay.

Fellow team members can even view and manage one another’s calendars, making it super easy to schedule work meetings or lunchtime appointments.

3. Simplish

Simplish is a super handy calendar app currently available on iOS devices and a great way to boost your productivity.

The app’s calendar functionality allows users to set daily reminders, schedule important appointments, and create weekly to-do lists. These then can all be easily shared with your work colleagues with a simple touch of a button.

Simplish has been configured with functionality in mind. A minimal interface, integrated instant messaging, and sections for awaiting tasks, daily agendas, and collaborative workspaces, make this iOS application a great way to improve your productivity.

Final Thoughts

Finding just the right iOS calendar app is integral to keeping on top of your professional and personal obligations, makes keeping track of your busy lifestyle more manageable, and is the perfect way to take your productivity to the next level.

If you think Simplish is the right choice for you, download it here from the Apple Store.