See More About: , , , ,

How to Customize Your Work Hours in Outlook 2010

by

If you use Outlook 2010 to manage your time, you have to make sure that you customize it to your work schedule. Outlook 2010 allows you to designate what your work schedule is (time and days), what day you consider to be the first day of the week, and which day is the first of the year. Once you’ve specified these parameters, you calendars look and feel will reflect these choices. In the how-to below, I will designate Monday as the first day of the week, a work schedule from Monday-Friday from 8AM to 7PM.

By setting up these parameters you help others become aware of what your work hours are and at the same time help yourself manage your time better.

If you have any comments or questions, please post them in the comments section at the end of this how-to.

Note: I used Outlook 2010 for this tutorial.

customizeoutlook2010calendar thumb How to Customize Your Work Hours in Outlook 2010

1. Click on File to open the Backstage.

2. Click on Options from the menu.


customizeoutlook2010calendara thumb How to Customize Your Work Hours in Outlook 2010

3. When the Outlook Options window opens, click on Calendar in the left pane.

4. Use the drop-downs and check boxes to customize the following information:

  • Start time
  • End time
  • Work week
  • First day of week
  • First week of year

Click OK to save the changes.

customizeoutlook2010calendarb thumb How to Customize Your Work Hours in Outlook 2010

You will notice that the hours designated as work hours appear lighter than those outside of the specified time. This helps you and others identify what hours and work days you are available.

Originally posted Apr 23, 2010

We close comments after 30 days on GilsMethod.com and ask that you post questions and issues on our Answers website.

This helps us better serve you by allowing us to keep track of unanswered questions that are usually hidden in long comment threads.

Answers.GilsMethod.com is a community-powered support website where you will be able to post questions, and other users including us will respond with expert advice.

So if you are having trouble with your PC, Mac, iPad, iPhone, or other piece of technology, head over to Answers.GilsMethod.com and ask away.

  • http://www.vexite.com Marck

    This is a poor implementation of working hours. Outlook work hours feature is biased against workers with flexible or rotating shifts. You can’t set different schedule for each day, and you can’t schedule odd times like 8PM – 5AM.

    • http://www.gilsmethod.com Gilberto J Perera

      Agreed, but it’s what we’ve got. Hopefully they’ll update it in future
      updates or versions.

      Like the GilsMethod.com Facebook page for a
      chance to win an iPod Touch and other prizes.

  • http://twitter.com/martinsegur Martin Segur-Cabanac

    Hi Gilbert,

    thanks for the basic hint. Is there also a way to customize the working time per day, e.g. 8-5 on Monday, 8-2 on Tuesdays, etc.?

    Thanks,

    Regards,

    Martin.

    • Boiwall

      Hi Martin,

      I have been trying to find a solution for that myself and haven’t been able to find an answer for setting up a custom, flexible work schedule.

    • http://www.gilsmethod.com Gilberto J Perera

      I don’t think that there is a way to do this. The best thing to do is to set your working hours based on your time limits. Let me know.

  • Pingback: Tweets that mention How to Customize Your Work Hours in Outlook 2010 | GilsMethod.com -- Topsy.com