Haven't check off all those New Year's resolutions yet? Google can help.
Goals for Google Calendar encourages people to add personal goals, then finds the time to accomplish them.
To get started, tap the red "plus" icon in the updated mobile app, then choose a goal (exercise, build a skill, etc.). Answer questions like "How often" and "Best time," and your job is done. (Well, until you have to actually go to the gym or read those Italian flashcards.) Calendar automatically looks at your calendar to find the optimum times to pencil in that goal.
"Whether it's reading more books, learning a new language, or working out regularly, achieving your goals can be really hard," product manager Jyoti Ramnath wrote in a blog post.
"One day it's, 'I got called into a last-minute meeting.' The next day it's, 'I have a friend in town.' And before you know it, your goals are delayed or forgotten," Ramnath continued. "In fact, with all the things you need to do in a given week, it's probably harder than ever to find the time—even when your goal really matters to you."
But Google's new feature is as fluid as your changing agenda: Calendar automatically reschedules goals when you add a conflicting event. Users can also choose to defer an objective, which gets postponed to another time.
Like any good personal assistant, Calendar gets smarter as you use it; defer, edit, or complete goals normally, and the app will learn to choose better times in the future. "Calendars should help you make the most of your time—not just be tools to track events," Ramnath said.
Last week, the search giant expanded Calendar reminders to the Web, ensuring users will never forget to call Mom, schedule a dentist appointment, or pack for vacation.