Work Smarter, Not Harder: Post 5: Simple Automation — Buy Back Your Time
Time saved = energy regained.
Quick Recap of the Series So Far:
Post 1: Work Smarter, Not Harder: The Shift That Changed Everything
Post 2: Work Smarter, Not Harder — Post 2: The 80/20 Rule —Do Less, Achieve More
Post 3: Work Smarter, Not Harder — Post 3: Manage Attention, Not Time
Post 4: Work Smarter, Not Harder: Post 4: Ruthless Elimination — Less, but Better
Why Automate?
In India, we often say, “Kaam se kaam rakhna.” But imagine if even your kaam could handle itself. That’s what automation is—not high-tech robots or coding wizard, but simply removing repeated decisions from your daily life.
Time saved = energy regained.
For me, it started small, setting up calendar booking links instead of back-and-forth scheduling. But the impact? Massive peace.
What Can You Automate?
Let’s break it down into real-life examples:
1. Bills & Payments
Set up auto-debits for your electricity, rent, OTT subscriptions. No more “Oh no, due date was yesterday!”
2. Scheduling Meetings
Use tools like Calendly or Google Calendar slots. Saves all those "Are you free at 3?" messages.
3. Replies & Reminders
Use email filters, canned responses, and WhatsApp auto-replies. Your energy is better spent crafting your dream life, not writing “Noted with thanks” 27 times.
4. Content Creation Flow
If you write/blog like I do, schedule your Substack or Instagram posts in batches. Tools like Buffer or Notion help keep it flowing.
5. Thinking Time
Having a routine like this protects focus. Yes, even mental space can be automated. Have theme days:
Monday = strategy,
Tuesday = meetings,
Friday = no calls.
My Own Automation Story
There was a time when I’d manually message folks before every newsletter:
“New post up, check it out!” I now use simple email sequences and Substack’s built-in delivery, the reach grew, and I had time to write better content. Even meal planning, one template, rotate dishes. Less decision fatigue. We often underestimate the mental load we carry. Automation lifts it.
A Desi Perspective
Automation isn’t being lazy. It’s being smart. It’s what Indian household moms have done for generations—"Pressure" cooker lagao, aur khud bhi thoda break lo."
Let your systems handle the heat while you step away.
Try This Today (Mini Action Plan)
Pick one thing you repeat every week — schedule, pay, reply, prep
Ask: Can this be templated, scheduled, or delegated?
Set it once. Observe how your mind thanks you.
Bonus Tools to Explore
Zapier – for connecting apps like Gmail, Sheets, Notion
IFTTT – fun automation for home & social
Google Forms + Sheets – your simple no-code workflow
ChatGPT – yes, me! Ask me to automate content drafts, reminders, and more
What’s Coming Next?
Post 6: Build Boundaries — Learn to Say No Without Guilt
Because automation without boundaries is like fixing a leaky bucket.