Guide · Agent skill
How to use the Block Focus Time on Google Calendar agent skill
Updated · written with AI from the project's own documentation and checked against our catalogue data
This guide explains the Block Focus Time agent skill, which lets an AI agent create a repeating Focus Time event on your Google Calendar. It is written for readers who have never used agent skills. By the end you will know what the skill does, how to install it, how to ask for it in plain language, and what to check before letting it edit a shared calendar.
Block Focus Time on Google Calendargoogleworkspace/cli · Apache-2.0 Download the skill Quick start
- 1Install gws and sign in. Install the gws command-line tool and authenticate it with your Google account, granting Google Calendar access.
- 2Install the gws-calendar skill. Make sure the gws-calendar skill is available, since this recipe requires it to be loaded.
- 3Download and unzip the skill. Download the ZIP from this page and unzip it so SKILL.md sits in a recipe-block-focus-time folder.
- 4Place the folder. Put it in ~/.claude/skills/ for personal use or in a project's .claude/skills/ folder, or upload it under Settings → Capabilities → Skills.
- 5Make a request. Ask the agent in plain language for a recurring focus block, stating your days, hours and time zone.
- 6Verify the result. Check that the agent ran the agenda check and that the Focus Time event shows as busy on the right days.
What is an agent skill, and what does this one do?
An agent skill is a folder containing a SKILL.md file that gives an AI agent instructions for a specific task. This skill, recipe-block-focus-time, is a short recipe for creating recurring focus time blocks on Google Calendar so that deep work hours are protected.
Once the skill is in use, the agent can set up a repeating event called Focus Time, for example weekday mornings from 9 to 11. The event is marked as busy (transparency set to opaque), so others see you as unavailable. The agent uses the gws command-line tool to create the event, then checks your agenda to confirm it appears.
What you need before you install
The skill only works with Google Calendar and depends on two other pieces. You need the gws command-line tool (Google Workspace CLI) installed and authenticated with a Google account, with Google Calendar access granted to gws. You also need the gws-calendar skill, which the recipe lists as a prerequisite and must be loaded alongside it.
- gws command-line tool installed and authenticated with a Google account
- gws-calendar skill loaded as a prerequisite
- Google Calendar access granted to gws
How do you install the Block Focus Time skill?
Download the ZIP file from this page and unzip it. The package contains a single file, SKILL.md. Then put the folder in one of the locations below.
For a personal install across all projects, place it in ~/.claude/skills/. For a single project, place it in that project's .claude/skills/ folder.
You can also upload the skill in the Claude apps under Settings → Capabilities → Skills.
- Personal: ~/.claude/skills/
- Project only: .claude/skills/ inside your project folder
- Claude apps: Settings → Capabilities → Skills (upload)
How do you trigger the skill with a request?
You do not need a special command. Describe what you want in plain language and mention focus time or a deep work block. The agent should match your request to the skill's description.
Be specific about the days and hours. The skill's example uses a fixed date, time zone and weekday pattern, so state your own working pattern and time zone in the request.
- Block focus time on weekday mornings from 9 to 11 on my Google Calendar.
- Create a recurring Focus Time event every weekday from 1 to 3 pm Pacific time.
- Protect my deep work hours on Monday, Wednesday and Friday mornings and check that they show as busy.
What does the underlying command look like?
The skill runs two commands. The first creates the recurring event on your primary calendar, with a weekly recurrence rule for Monday to Friday and an opaque (busy) transparency. The second, gws calendar +agenda, lists your agenda so the agent can verify the block.
Treat the example values as placeholders. Adjust the start and end date-times, the time zone and the BYDAY days before running it.
gws calendar events insert --params '{"calendarId": "primary"}' --json '{"summary": "Focus Time", "description": "Protected deep work block", "start": {"dateTime": "2025-01-20T09:00:00", "timeZone": "America/New_York"}, "end": {"dateTime": "2025-01-20T11:00:00", "timeZone": "America/New_York"}, "recurrence": ["RRULE:FREQ=WEEKLY;BYDAY=MO,TU,WE,TH,FR"], "transparency": "opaque"}'
gws calendar +agendaWhat should you check, and what are the safety notes?
This skill runs scripts and uses the network, because it calls gws, which talks to Google Calendar on your behalf. Only install it if you are comfortable with an agent making changes to your calendar.
The agent does not pick the right times on its own. A wrong date, time zone or weekday pattern can put events in the wrong place, which matters on a shared calendar. Read the proposed times before confirming, and check the agenda afterwards.
- Confirm the date, time zone and weekdays in the request match your real schedule.
- Check the agenda output to confirm the block appears where you expect.
- Use a test calendar or a quiet week first if your calendar is shared.
What people use it for
- Protecting weekday morning deep work hours on a personal Google Calendar.
- Creating a recurring Focus Time block for a fixed weekly pattern, such as Monday, Wednesday and Friday afternoons.
- Quickly scheduling focus blocks from a terminal-based agent workflow that already uses gws.
Frequently asked questions
How do I install the recipe-block-focus-time skill?
Download the ZIP from this page and unzip it so SKILL.md is in a recipe-block-focus-time folder. Place that folder in ~/.claude/skills/ for personal use or in a project's .claude/skills/ folder. You can also upload it in the Claude apps under Settings → Capabilities → Skills.
What do I need before using this skill?
You need the gws command-line tool installed and authenticated with a Google account, with Google Calendar access granted. You also need the gws-calendar skill loaded, because the recipe lists it as a prerequisite.
Is the Block Focus Time skill free?
The source does not state pricing or licence terms beyond the item's licence, which is listed as Apache-2.0. Check the repository's licence file for the terms that apply to you.
Does this skill work with calendars other than Google Calendar?
No. The skill only works with Google Calendar, so it is not suitable if you use a different calendar service.
Why did the agent create the event on the wrong days or times?
The example uses a fixed date, time zone and weekday pattern, and the agent does not choose the right times automatically. State your exact days, hours and time zone in your request, then check the agenda output to confirm the block is correct.
What alternatives exist if this skill does not fit my setup?
If you do not use Google Calendar or the gws tool, this skill will not help. You can create a recurring busy block directly in Google Calendar's own interface instead. This source does not compare it with other agent skills.
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Our verdict
Choose this skill if you use Google Calendar and the gws tool and want an agent to create recurring, busy-marked focus blocks quickly. Skip it if you do not use Google Calendar, or if you want the agent to decide the right times for you, since you must set the dates, time zone and weekdays yourself.
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