5 Simple Smartphone Automations to Save You an Hour Every Day

Stop Doing Everything Manually

Most people use their smartphones as fancy pagers. They wait for a buzz, look at the screen, and react. But your phone is actually a tiny computer that can think for itself. If you spend five minutes setting up automations, you can save hours of frustration every week. Here is how to make your phone work for you instead of the other way around.

1. The 'I'm Home' Trigger

Stop toggling your settings every time you walk through the door. Both iPhones (using Shortcuts) and Androids (using Modes and Routines) can trigger actions based on your location. You can set your phone to automatically turn on Wi-Fi, turn off cellular data, and crank up the ringer volume the moment you pull into your driveway. This ensures you never miss a call at home or waste data because you forgot to switch networks.

2. Text Replacement for the Win

If you find yourself typing your email address, home address, or common phrases over and over, stop. Go into your keyboard settings and find 'Text Replacement' or 'Personal Dictionary.' You can create shortcuts like '@@' that automatically expand into your full email address. It takes two seconds to set up and saves thousands of keystrokes over a year.

3. Smart 'Do Not Disturb' Schedules

Don't rely on your memory to silence your phone at night. Set a schedule, but go deeper than just '10 PM to 7 AM.' You can set 'Work' routines that trigger when your phone connects to the office Wi-Fi. It can silence everything except calls from your boss or your spouse. This keeps you focused without making you unreachable in an emergency.

4. Use NFC Tags for Bedside Magic

NFC tags are cheap stickers you can buy online. You can program them so that when you tap your phone against one, it runs a specific routine. Stick one on your nightstand. Tapping it can set your alarm, turn off your smart lights, and start a white noise playlist all at once. It is much faster than opening three different apps before bed.

5. Automated Low Power Mode

By default, most phones ask to turn on low power mode at 20%. That is often too late if you are out for a long day. Set a custom automation to kick in low power mode the second your battery hits 45% or 50%. You will not notice the slight dip in performance, but your phone will easily last until you get back to a charger at night.

These small tweaks change how you interact with your device. Instead of managing a tool, you are letting the tool manage the boring stuff for you. Give these a try today and see how much lighter your daily routine feels.