Google Assistant can be customized to help you navigate the busiest of days. You can use Google's virtual assistant with your smart TV, smart speaker, smart clock, or smartphone.

Here are some great Google Assistant features that can help you from wake-up to bedtime.

1. Start Your Morning

Google Assistant helps you wake up on the right side of the bed. You can customize this virtual assistant to tell you the weather in your area and scheduled appointments for the day. In addition, you can use your voice to turn on lights and a coffeemaker, read the news for that particular day, and much more.

For Google Assistant to interact with smart home devices, like lights or a coffeemaker, you need to purchase compatible hardware.

When you initially download the Android or iOS app, only the weather and news are read to you. But it's easy to customize a routine in the Google Assistant settings:

  1. Click on your profile picture at the top right.
  2. Select Routines.
  3. Then, under Ready-Made, select Good Morning.
  4. Select or unselect the items you want to be included with the routine.
  5. Click Save.

These steps allow you to customize your morning routine to suit your style. So if all you want in the morning is the news report and some coffee made, Google Assistant will only do these two actions for you.

To start your day with your good morning routine, all you have to do is open your Google Assistant, tap the microphone, and say "Good morning".

2. Schedule Your Day

scheduling book flipped open

Do you constantly forget appointments? If you want to solve this problem, you can use Google Assistant to help juggle your schedule.

To set up Google Assistant for scheduling reminders and appointments:

  1. Download the Google Calendar app for Android or iOS.
  2. If you have an Android smartphone, any events you have scheduled will automatically sync with the application. If you have an iPhone or iPad, sign in with your Google account and your appointments should show up in the Google Calendar.
  3. To hear your schedule, ask your Google Assistant, "OK Google, what am I doing today?"

To schedule appointments using your Google Assistant, you can tell it to add a meeting to your calendar or schedule an event or reminder. Google Assistant will then ask you for more details like the time of the event.

If you are in the United States and using the English language with Google Assistant, you can cancel or reschedule an event by saying, "Cancel my next meeting" or "Reschedule my meeting with Brent at 3 p.m."

If you are not using English as your primary language or are not located in the United States, don't worry. You can go into your Google Calendar using your device and cancel or reschedule your appointments with ease.

Google Assistant ensures that you will never forget about an appointment again by sending you a reminder on your device. At the chosen time, you will hear a chime on your smart speaker and Google Assistant will read out the title of the appointment or reminder.

3. Make a Shopping List

Grocery shop shelves full of products

When you're on the go constantly, it can be easy to forget what you need to buy at the grocery store. Instead of having crumpled up lists in your pocket, why not try an electronic shopping list? Google Assistant has the ability to instantly make a list via voice command. You can also add to that list throughout the day.

To make a shopping list with Google Assistant:

  1. Open Google Assistant, and press the microphone button at the bottom of the screen.
  2. Say "Create a shopping list" to start a new list.
  3. Google Assistant will ask you what you want to add to the list, so say a needed item to get started.
  4. You can add to the list throughout the day from your device using the Google Assistant app. Tap the microphone and ask to "Add to the shopping list."

You can also share these lists with other people, like family members, so they can add their needed items for a better shopping experience.

4. Choose a Restaurant

adult and two children eating food from takeout containers

When you are hungry but have no idea where to go to eat, Google Assistant can help. You can ask for a list of restaurants in your area and it will help you find the perfect place for a lunch or dinner date.

To find a list of restaurants in your area:

  1. Open Google Assistant and press the microphone button.
  2. Say "Restaurants in my area."
  3. Tap the restaurant of your choice. A list will populate and you can use the information from Google Assistant to drive to the chosen establishment or call them to place an order for take-out. If the restaurant has the option available, you can even order online and pick your food up when it's ready.

This can save you from having to go online to search for a restaurant, and you can work while ordering your breakfast, lunch, or dinner. You can also use this feature to find places to shop or bars in your area.

5. Easily Navigate Traffic

If you live in an area where the traffic is unpredictable, you can use Google Assistant to find out what the driving conditions are like at any time of day.

To find out what the traffic is like before you venture out:

  1. Open Google Assistant, and press the microphone button.
  2. Ask "What is the traffic like?" and Google Assistant will tell you if the traffic is light or heavy and provide a map of the area.

You can even ask the Assistant how long it takes to get to a landmark, like a library. It will tell you how far it is and how long it will take to get there by car.

To find out how long it takes to get to a landmark via another form of transportation, ask Google Assistant, "How long will it take to get to the library if I walk/drive/bike?" It will tell you the average time in hours or minutes and even provide directions.

There are many tricks you can do on your Google Assistant. Make sure to take a look at our list of great things you didn't know Google Assistant could do.

6. Ending Your Day With a Wind-Down Routine

pug dog sitting in bed wrapped in blanket

A nice way to end your busy day with Google Assistant is to use its bedtime routine. Just like the good morning routine, you can customize it to tell you the news, play soothing sounds, and set an alarm for the following day.

To customize your bedtime routine with Google Assistant:

  1. Click on your profile picture at the top right.
  2. Select Routines.
  3. Under Ready-Made, select Bedtime.
  4. Select or unselect the items you want to be included with your good morning routine.
  5. Click the Save.

This is a nice way to smoothly end your day and you can completely customize it to make it your own. The soothing sounds are a great way to relax and prepare your body for sleep so you can wake up feeling fully rested.

Living Smart With Google Assistant

Google Assistant has so many features available to make your day flow smoothly, from providing daily reminders to making your shopping lists, to giving you traffic reports.

This application is perfect for everyone, from the busy housewife who has a million things to do to the executive who barely has time to breathe, it is ideal for anyone who needs a helping hand with planning their day.

And if you ever have issues using the virtual assistant, there are a number of easy fixes to get you back and running again.