Shortcuts with Reminders & Calendar: 7 Workflows You Can Copy Today
Why Reminders + Calendar is the best “automation pair”
Reminders is your task inbox, Calendar is your time budget. Shortcuts can connect the two so you capture quickly, schedule intentionally, and reduce the mental overhead of retyping the same details.
Workflows you can copy today
1) One-tap task capture (to a specific list)
- Ask for Input: task title
- Add New Reminder: list “Inbox”
- Optional: if title contains “tomorrow”, set due date (format-dependent)
2) “Next up” briefing (today’s calendar + top 3 tasks)
- Find Calendar Events: today
- Find Reminders: due today or flagged
- Show Results or create a note
3) Convert a reminder into a calendar block
When you decide a task needs time, convert it into a calendar event:
- Select reminder (from a list)
- Ask for date/time + duration
- Create Calendar Event using reminder title
- Mark reminder complete (optional)
4) Create a meeting template event
- Choose from Menu: “1:1, Standup, Deep Work…”
- Set title + duration defaults
- Create event in your preferred calendar
5) Daily planning prompt
- Automation at 8:30 AM
- Show notification: “Pick today’s top 3”
- Run a shortcut that asks for 3 tasks and creates reminders or a note
6) Weekly review starter
- Automation weekly
- Open Reminders “Someday” list + show Calendar week view
7) “Travel time” block before events (manual assist)
Some calendars calculate travel time; if yours doesn’t, you can insert a buffer event before selected events.
At-a-glance table
| Workflow | Best for | Complexity |
|---|---|---|
| Task capture | fast inboxing | Easy |
| Next up briefing | daily focus | Medium |
| Reminder → event | time-blocking | Medium |
| Meeting template | consistent scheduling | Easy |
Checklist: keep integrations clean
- Use one default list for capture (“Inbox”).
- Use one default calendar for auto-created blocks.
- Add a prefix like “[Task]” in event titles if you need separation.
- Don’t over-automate date parsing—prompt for date/time if reliability matters.
FAQ
Why can’t Shortcuts see my calendars?
Check iOS permissions for Calendar and ensure the calendar is enabled.
Can this work with shared calendars?
Usually yes, but permissions and write access depend on the calendar’s settings.
Will it mark reminders complete automatically?
It can, but do it only if you’re sure—accidental completion is annoying.
What’s the simplest workflow with big impact?
One-tap task capture + daily briefing. That alone reduces friction a lot.
What should I read next?
Build a reliable capture shortcut first, then add a time-of-day automation.
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