Back to Blog
Productivity

Mastering Automation: How I Save 10+ Hours Every Week

December 1, 2024•8 min read

Time is our most valuable resource, yet most of us waste hours every week on repetitive tasks that could easily be automated. In this post, I'll share the exact systems I use to reclaim over 10 hours weekly.

The Automation Mindset

Before diving into tools, you need to develop the right mindset. Every time you do something more than twice, ask yourself: "Can this be automated?" The answer is usually yes.

My Top Automation Tools

Here are the tools that have transformed my workflow:

  • Microsoft Power Automate - Perfect for enterprise workflows and integrating Microsoft 365 apps
  • Zapier - Great for connecting different apps and services
  • n8n - Open-source alternative with incredible flexibility
  • Keyboard Maestro - Mac automation for repetitive computer tasks

Real Examples from My Day

Let me walk you through some actual automations I use daily:

Email Triage: Incoming emails are automatically categorized, with urgent ones flagged and routine ones filed away. This alone saves me 30+ minutes daily.

Content Repurposing: When I publish a YouTube video, automated workflows create social media posts, newsletter content, and blog drafts.

Meeting Prep: Before any meeting, I automatically receive a briefing document with relevant context pulled from various sources.

Getting Started

Start small. Pick one repetitive task and automate it. Then move to the next. Before you know it, you'll have reclaimed hours of your life.