# Add a busy time

## Overview

Block out time in your calendar for non-appointment work (for example, lunch, meetings, self-education). **Busy time** prevents new bookings during that period and helps your team see when you are unavailable.

## Add a busy time in your calendar

1. Open **Calendar** and set the **location** (clinic/practice) and **practitioner**. 
2. Click a time slot and select **Busy time**.

<figure><img src="/files/XdvZQPMWcgFkq7b9DNkk" alt="" width="563"><figcaption></figcaption></figure>

3. Enter the busy time details:
   1. **Busy time type:** Choose a default type (for example, **Training**, **Meeting**, **Lunch**, or **Custom**).
   2. **Date and time:** Set the date, start time, and duration.
   3. **More options (optional):** Add a **Note**, turn on **Repeat**, or add a **Resource**.

<figure><img src="/files/8KSXJYpw23DN0LwOY7MW" alt="" width="563"><figcaption></figcaption></figure>

4. Click **Create**.

**Result**

* New bookings cannot be made during that time either in the calendar or through online bookings.

<figure><img src="/files/vDG2u7jKpuIj97JkkWEJ" alt="" width="529"><figcaption><p>Busy time example.</p></figcaption></figure>

***

### Choose a busy time type

* **Training / Meeting / Lunch:** Preset name, emoji, and default duration. You can change the duration when adding it, or edit the presets in **Settings** → **Busy time types**.
* **Custom:** One off entry. Set a name for this entry only (optional).

> Select **Create busy time type** in **Busy time type**, set the details, and it will be available in the dropdown and in **Settings** → **Busy time types**. See [Manage busy time types](/using-caspen/settings/appointments/manage-busy-time-types.md).

<figure><img src="/files/mKnh0JklkfLH75b7G51I" alt="" width="375"><figcaption></figcaption></figure>

### Fields reference

| Field        | Description                                                                                                                                                                                                   |
| ------------ | ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- |
| Location     | <p>Where the busy time applies.<br><em>Prefilled from the selected calendar location.</em></p>                                                                                                                |
| Practitioner | <p>Who the busy time block belongs to.<br><em>Prefilled from the practitioner you’ve selected in the calendar.</em></p>                                                                                       |
| Type         | <p>Pick a preset (Training, Meeting, Lunch, etc.) or Custom. </p><p></p><p>Presets include a default duration and paid or unpaid flag that you can change.</p>                                                |
| Date         | The day for the block.                                                                                                                                                                                        |
| Time         | Start and end. You can override the default duration here.                                                                                                                                                    |
| Repeat       | <p>Create a repeating series.</p><ul><li>Repeat on days – Select the days of the week.</li><li>Repeat every – Choose Week, 2 Weeks, 3 Weeks, or 4 Weeks.</li><li>End after – Number of occurrences.</li></ul> |
| Room         | Reserve a room.                                                                                                                                                                                               |
| Vehicle      | Reserve a vehicle.                                                                                                                                                                                            |
| Resources    | Reserve any items you need.                                                                                                                                                                                   |
| Note         | Add context such as the meeting topic or location details.                                                                                                                                                    |

***

<details>

<summary><em>Example:</em> : Set a repeating lunch break for Monday–Friday.</summary>

1. Got to the **Calendar.** Set the **location** (clinic/practice) and **practitioner**.&#x20;
2. Click a desired time slot in the calendar and select **Busy time**.
3. Enter the busy time details.

* Type: Lunch
* Time: 12:00 pm–1:00 pm
* More options → Repeat: On
* Repeat on days: Mon, Tue, Wed, Thu, Fri
* Repeat every: Week
* End after: entered 10 occurrences to create two weeks of weekday lunch blocks (one per day).

<figure><img src="/files/I9CGDZ2IVeXrKPa3WBRA" alt="" width="468"><figcaption></figcaption></figure>

2. Click **Create.** You’ll see the repeated busy times on the selected days.

<figure><img src="/files/1HSS7HUgLoqbOe6z1oUF" alt=""><figcaption></figcaption></figure>

</details>

<br>


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