When to use Calendars vs Reminders?

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When to use Calendars vs Reminders?

This question has no doubt been a topic of discussion in the past – but, I’d like to gather some thoughts on when should I use the Calendar vs the Reminders app?

They essentially work the same way, but there are some subtle differences between them. Personally, I think of Calendar events as scheduled-based events (meetings, appointments), where Reminders are an action-based event (pick-up bananas from the supermarket). Most of the time, I can work with that understanding.

However, I recently discovered how confusing it can become when trying to figure out whether to record certain events in the Calendar or Reminders app, or both?

For example, my friend is flying down to stay with me for 5 days, and requires me to pick her up when she arrives at the airport, and drop her off again before she flies out. On one hand, it’s a scheduled-based event that spans over 5 days (Calendar), but it’s also two action-based events (Reminder) because I have to pick up and drop off my friend up at the airport, leaving in plenty of time to arrive at the airport.

I found myself making three entries for essentially the same event, one in Calendar (showing the period of time she’s visiting – to review my availability) and two additional events in the Reminders list (to give myself plenty of time to leave for the airport). But then I started to question – is that necessary? How can I prevent this double-up of entries? Shouldn’t I be able to just add one event in the Calendar app – but then I’d need to set multiple Calendar alerts for the pick-up and the drop-off occasions. Or should I instead just place them as separate events in the Reminders list? But then I cannot easily review my availability during that time in the Calendar. If only the Calendar app could estimate how long it will take me to get to the airport, and provide a buffer (in the alerts) so that I’m warned in plenty of time when I need to leave the house.

How would anyone else record such an event? In what ways does everyone else use the Calendar and Reminders apps?

iPhone 5s, iOS 7.1.2

Posted on Aug 27, 2014 5:57 PM

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Answer 1

Top-ranking reply

ChrisJ4203

Level 10

231,758 points

Aug 27, 2014 6:16 PM in response to thiskiwicanfly

Since you are asking for opinions, then I would put the time your friend is staying over the 5-day period into your calendar, so you do not schedule anything else for those days. I would then put the reminder in to pick her up at the airport and to drop her off. Those are, as you called them, action-based tasks. Set the reminder to remind you at a certain date/time to perform the task. Set the time earlier than the time you need to leave to go pick up, and the same for delivery. Again, my opinion.

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Answer 2

Aug 27, 2014 6:06 PM in response to thiskiwicanfly

What i personally recommend is that you use the calendar for scheduled events that are going to happen on a certain date. In the calendar app you have the option to give brief details about what is happening or what you are doing on the specific date. The example you gave about your friend coming to visit; you could put that in the calendar and put in the dates and record the information there, etc. On the other hand, you could use the reminder app for something that doesn't need to get done at a specific moment, but at a time that is convenient for you. Hope this is a helpful answer 🙂

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Answer 3

Jan 31, 2017 11:10 AM in response to thiskiwicanfly

I would only add/ask additional notes about how the notifications may be different for a time-based action item added to reminders app, and an even set in a calendar app. With the calendar app, you can add multiple reminders ... for example, a relative's birthday can be marked at 12:00 on their birthday ... but you can set up a 24 hour heads-up about that event. Are calendar events and time-based notifications exactly the same on iOS devices ? Or, is their a difference in the notification you get? With time-based reminders, I think you get a pop up notification. Correct me if I am wrong. With a new Apple Watch, and Siri awesome Siri commands to set up either - I'm becoming much more interested in the details of these two systems of organization than I was in the past.

Thanks,

rich

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