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Setting Your Availability

Configure your working hours and buffer time to help the AI schedule tasks at the right times.

By Byte Size Labs · Updated 13 April 2026

What is Availability?

Your availability tells Chronos Calendar when you're available to work on tasks. The AI uses this information to only schedule tasks during your working hours.

Why it matters:Accurate availability settings ensure the AI schedules tasks when you're actually able to work on them. Without it, tasks might be scheduled at 2 AM or during your lunch break!

Default Availability

If you haven't set your availability, Chronos uses these defaults:

  • Monday - Friday: 9:00 AM - 5:00 PM
  • Saturday - Sunday: Unavailable
  • Total: 40 hours per week

Setting Your Weekly Availability

Step-by-Step Guide

  1. Navigate to Settings

    Click your profile icon or avatar in the top right corner, then select "Settings" from the dropdown menu.

  2. Go to Schedule Section

    In the settings page, click on the "Schedule" or "Availability" tab.

  3. Configure Each Day

    You'll see a 7-day grid representing your week:

    • Each day has time slots from 12:00 AM to 11:00 PM
    • Click on time blocks to mark them as available (green) or unavailable (grey)
    • Click and drag to select multiple time blocks at once
  4. Set Working Hours

    Mark your typical working hours. For example:

    • Monday-Friday: 9:00 AM - 12:00 PM, 1:00 PM - 5:00 PM (with lunch break)
    • Saturday: 10:00 AM - 2:00 PM (if you work weekends)
    • Sunday: Keep unavailable for rest
  5. Save Your Changes

    Click the "Save" button at the bottom of the page. Your tasks will automatically be rescheduled to fit within your new availability.

Configuring Buffer Time

Buffer time is the automatic break added between tasks. It helps prevent burnout and accounts for tasks running over their estimated time.

How to Set Buffer Time

  1. Go to Account Settings

    Settings > Account or Settings > Preferences

  2. Find "Buffer Time" Setting

    Look for a field labelled "Buffer time between tasks"

  3. Set Your Preferred Duration

    Choose between 0 and 60 minutes (default is 10 minutes)

  4. Save

    Your new buffer time will apply to all future scheduling

When to Increase Buffer Time

  • Tasks frequently run over time
  • You need mental breaks between work
  • You have frequent interruptions
  • You're feeling overwhelmed or burnt out

When to Decrease Buffer Time

  • Tasks consistently finish early
  • You want to fit more tasks in a day
  • You prefer to work in longer blocks
  • Your schedule feels too sparse
Recommended Starting Point: 10 minutes works well for most people. Adjust after using the system for a week or two based on how your tasks actually run.

Understanding Capacity Planning

Chronos Calendar uses your availability to calculate your weekly capacity and warn you if you're overbooked.

How Capacity is Calculated

1

Available Hours: Total hours marked as available across the week

2

Scheduled Hours: Total hours of tasks and events scheduled in your calendar

3

Utilisation: (Scheduled Hours / Available Hours) × 100%

Capacity Status Indicators

Healthy (0-74%)Good workload balance
Busy (75-89%)Schedule is filling up
Overbooked (90%+)Too many tasks scheduled
Workload Warnings:If your utilisation goes above 90%, Chronos will warn you that you're overbooked. Consider extending your availability, reducing task durations, or postponing some work.

Best Practices

  • Be realistic about working hours

    Don't mark every hour as available if you know you'll need breaks, lunch, and downtime

  • Include lunch breaks

    Mark your lunch time as unavailable so tasks aren't scheduled during your break

  • Account for meetings and events

    Remember that fixed events will take up available time, so don't pack your schedule too tightly

  • Update regularly

    Review your availability monthly or when your schedule changes (new job, different hours, etc.)

  • Consider energy levels

    If you know you're less productive in the afternoon, you might mark fewer afternoon hours as available

  • Leave some capacity

    Aim for 70-80% utilisation to leave room for unexpected tasks and emergencies

Common Availability Scenarios

Standard 9-5 Office Worker

Monday-Friday: 9:00 AM - 12:00 PM, 1:00 PM - 5:00 PM

35 hours/week with 1-hour lunch break

Freelancer with Flexible Hours

Monday-Saturday: 10:00 AM - 1:00 PM, 2:00 PM - 7:00 PM

36 hours/week with afternoon flexibility

Part-Time Student

Monday/Wednesday/Friday: 6:00 PM - 10:00 PM
Saturday/Sunday: 10:00 AM - 4:00 PM

24 hours/week around classes

Night Owl / Remote Worker

Monday-Friday: 1:00 PM - 6:00 PM, 8:00 PM - 12:00 AM

45 hours/week with afternoon break for dinner

Need more help? Contact support or return to help centre