Nobody likes busywork, but we do a lot of it every day — between our gadgets, our home appliances, and even the chores we do every day, we waste an awful lot of time on mindless tasks. Take some time this weekend to automate some of these things and take the frustration out of your day.
Title image remixed from Daryl Mitchell.
Automate Your Computer
We spend a lot of time sitting on our computer every day, and there’s nothing worse than having to constantly move your files around, convert them to specific formats, and perform countless other tasks by hand every day. Take some time to automate it all so you don’t have to: organize your documents with an automated system, download your TV shows on a schedule, keep your Gmail contacts up to date, and — most importantly of all — keep your computer backed up. If you’re a Dropbox user, you can automate all sorts of file conversions, uploads, and other actions with Dropbox Automator, and laptop users should definitely check out how to make your Windows or Mac laptop constantly adapt to your environment.
If you want to automate something that doesn’t have a specific app already, there are a number of ways you can automate just about anything, with no need for code. OS X has a great tool called Automator built-in, while Windows has an Automator clone called Actions that can perform any kind of batch actions you can think of. Windows users should also check out AutoHotkey, which lets you save time by assigning actions to keyboard shortcuts, and Mac users should take a look at the drag-and-drop boosting Dropzone. All of this may take a bit of initial setup, but once you get past that, you’ll be shocked at how much time you can save.
Automate Your Phone
Your smartphone has even more opportunities for automation than your PC does, because they do so much on such a personal level. More importantly, you can automate nearly anything with just one or two apps. On Android, you can use something like Tasker (for which we’ve covered many cool uses) or the easy-to-use On{x}. You can also automate a lot of things pertaining to battery life with apps like JuiceDefender. You can also automate a ton of actions on an iPhone, using some great apps from the Cydia app store.
Automate Your House
Okay, so you’ve got your computer and phone covered, meaning it’s time to start thinking outside the box. We’ve talked about how to transform your digs into a home of the future with DIY projects, and there’s a lot where that came from. You can create an entire home automation system out of a cheap router, or even an old cellphone. Easily the best option, though, is a home automation system like x10. We’ve showed this off a little bit before, but we haven’t done a formal how-to, but Wired’s home automation wiki is a great place to start if you want to get serious about home automation. And when you’re done, be sure to set up a streaming, motion-detecting surveillance system with your webcam to keep an eye on your new home.
Automate Your Chores
The fun doesn’t stop with your gadgets. There are some great ways to put yourself on autopilot and keep chores and other elements of your routine from taking up too much time. A lot of those rules can apply to any chore, but we’ve also tackled specific chores like laundry, cleaning, and home maintenance. You’ll also want to set up automatic bill paying for everything you can, make your budget easier to stick to and even program the minute details of your day so you don’t get behind on basic things like eating, sleeping, or exercising. It sounds a little intense, but all it takes is a little push and you’ll find yourself less stressed, not to mention privy to a lot more free time.
Got any other great automation tips, hacks, and projects for us? Share them with us in the comments below.
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