Less Doing for Students: Why Google Calendar is the Key

I’ve been thinking about this for years. Productivity isn’t just for entrepreneurs or executives—it’s a skill that should start young. But how do you teach middle schoolers about focus, organization, and efficiency when the traditional tools don’t apply?

Originally, I thought I’d adapt the Less Doing framework—the same system that’s helped countless professionals reclaim their time. But I quickly realized something: Middle schoolers don’t care about email. Inbox zero means nothing to them. Their inboxes aren’t a source of overwhelm; they just ignore them.

So I went back to the basics.

If email isn’t the bottleneck, what is? The answer: time itself. Students don’t struggle with managing email—they struggle with managing their schedules, homework, activities, and free time.

Enter Google Calendar.

Why Google Calendar?

📅 It’s visual – Kids need to see their time to understand it.

📅 It’s flexible – It works across devices, and parents can have visibility if needed.

📅 It teaches ownership – When students drag a task on their calendar because of a conflict, they are making a conscious decision about their time.

Kanban for Kids? Yep.

Most kids aren’t using Trello, but Google Tasks (built into Google Calendar) now has a Kanban board feature. It’s simple, but that’s exactly what makes it perfect for young learners.

Here’s how it works:

✅ A task gets a due date, and it shows up on their calendar.

✅ They can drag it to reschedule based on real-time availability.

✅ They’re learning the fundamentals of project management without even realizing it.

Want to practice peak productivity? Set your task for your peak focus time (say, Saturday at 10:30 AM). But if you see soccer practice there? No problem—drag it to 1 PM. Boom. You just managed your workload like a pro.

The Antidote to Stress & Overwhelm

This system isn’t just about staying organized—it’s about building confidence. When students learn to own their time, they feel less overwhelmed. That’s the core of productivity at any age.

This is just the start. I’m fine-tuning the Less Doing principles for a younger audience, adapting concepts like Optimize, Automate, Outsource in a way that makes sense for students. (Spoiler: Outsourcing is limited when you don’t have employees, but automation? Totally doable.)

I’d love your brutally honest feedback on this approach! If you have middle or high school students, show them these videos and let me know what they think:

🎥 Video 1

🎥 Video 2

🎥 Video 3

🎥 Video 4

I’m also refining the preamble to introduce students to the Less Doing mindset—tailored for their world. Thoughts? Feedback? Hit reply and let me know!

Let’s teach the next generation not just how to work—but how to work smarter.

P.S. Whenever you’re ready... here are 4 ways I can help you optimize and grow your business:

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