So, you need to set up a new calendar and this time around you want to use Microsoft Outlook - which makes perfect sense, at least to me. After all, it's right there, on your desktop, and you can get to it in the morning when you check your e-mail. If you happen to be responsible for someone else's calendar as well as your own, or just need to share information for something like an event or a meeting with someone (or the entire office) you can put it right on their Outlook calendars as well.

In addition using an Outlook calendar can be a big benefit if you want to sync your calendar to a mobile device like a Palm Pilot (or even an iPhone G3) so that you can have your information at your finger tips on the go.

Now that you know why an Outlook calendar is a good idea, let's take a look at how to set one up without the fuss and muss. It can be very simple and make your life easier. To start out you will need a list of your appointments for at least the day, but I suggest starting with a full weeks worth or more.

From an open Outlook calendar you will notice four buttons in the top tool bar. They are labeled 'Day', 'Work Week', "Week' and 'Month'. These let you toggle though the different views of your calendar. For now, click on 'Week' and you will notice that it went right to this week. Now click on 'Day' and watch it go to today. But odds are, it's not today you want to put events in for so let's delve into tomorrow. On your left is a calendar with the month, and today is highlighted. Click on tomorrow and your main screen should switch over to tomorrow's day view.

Now, it's time to add events. There are two different types of events: one-time events and recurring events. Recurring events are great for things like staff meetings, or anything else that will happen on a regular basis.

To Add a One-Time Event:

1. In the day where you want the event, find the time - you may have to scroll up and down to get this. Click on that time.
2. The events information screen will open, and you can fill out as much or as little as you want, but at minimum I recommend setting the name, start and end times. Location is only a must if you are sure not to remember, or if you are sharing the information with others.
3. Click on 'OK'.

(Alternatively, you can click on the "New" button in the top left hand toolbar. Select "appointment" and fill in the correct information using the drop down menus for date and time.)

To Add a Recurring Event:

1. Click on 'Actions' on the menu bar.
2. Click on ' New Recurring Action'.
3. Fill out the information in the form and set the days and times that the event will occur.

Now, repeat for the rest of your events for the day and week. Remember, when you set up a recurring event you will not have to set it up every day. But be careful if you have to delete a recurring event that you delete only an instance of the event and not all of them. Unless, of course, that's what you want to do.