Maximize your productivity with Cal.com’s meeting buffer time
Back-to-back meetings can drain your energy and compromise your focus. Cal.com’s buffer time feature helps you take control of your schedule, reduce burnout, and stay productive between calls.
Why buffer time matters in a packed schedule
If your calendar is filled with meetings from morning to evening, you know how exhausting it can be. Back-to-back calls leave no room to wrap up action items, grab a coffee, or even take a breath. Over time, this kind of scheduling leads to fatigue, reduced focus, and lower productivity.
Cal.com offers a solution: buffer time. This simple but powerful feature lets you build space between meetings, so you’re never rushing from one conversation to the next.
What is buffer time in Cal.com?
Buffer time is an adjustable setting available when you create or edit an event type in Cal.com. It allows you to define extra time before or after your meetings. This space can be used for:
Wrapping up notes or next steps if a meeting runs over
Preparing for your next call
Taking a quick break to reset
You can set buffer time before, after, or both, depending on what works best for your workflow. For example, you might add 10 minutes after every call or block 15 minutes both before and after longer meetings.
Benefits of using buffer time
Adding buffer time to your event types can improve your productivity and well-being in several ways:
Reduces meeting fatigue by avoiding non-stop scheduling
Improves focus by giving you time to reset between conversations
Builds flexibility into your calendar in case a meeting runs long
Supports better preparation and follow-up for every session
In a remote or hybrid work environment, where virtual meetings dominate the day, this feature becomes even more essential.
How to set up buffer time in Cal.com
Setting up buffer time is easy and customizable:
Go to your Cal.com dashboard and select Event Types
Click to create a new event type or edit an existing one
Scroll to the Advanced Settings section
Choose your desired buffer time before and/or after the meeting
Save your changes and publish the event type
Now, when someone books a meeting, Cal.com will automatically block off buffer time on your calendar so you remain unavailable during those windows.
Real-world use cases
Here are a few ways professionals are using buffer time:
Sales reps add 5-10 minutes after demos to update their CRM and send follow-ups
Coaches and consultants block time before sessions to review client notes
Remote team leads use buffers to reduce Zoom fatigue across the week
Executives build in breathing room to manage decision fatigue and avoid burnout
This small scheduling tweak can have a big impact across industries and roles.
Final thoughts: Protect your time, improve your day
Your calendar should work for you, not against you. With Cal.com’s buffer time feature, you can create space between meetings that improves your focus, reduces stress, and helps you stay on top of your day.
Whether you're running back-to-back sales calls, hosting internal check-ins, or jumping between clients, buffer time is a simple way to take control of your time and energy.
Try it out today by updating your event types in Cal.com and feel the difference a few minutes can make.
