AutomationIntermediate12 min read • October 4, 2025

15 Automation Tools That Save 2+ Hours Daily

Start small, automate the boring stuff, and get your time back.

You don\'t need a robot army. You need a few simple systems that run in the background. Here are practical automations you can set up in one afternoon.

Quick Wins (30 minutes each)

  • Email templates for common replies
  • Calendar booking links with buffer time
  • File renaming rules for receipts and invoices
  • Spreadsheet formulas for recurring calculations

Tools We Like

Zapier/Make:

Connect apps and build “if this, then that” automations.

TextExpander:

Create text snippets to fill forms and emails fast.

Google Sheets:

SUMIFS, VLOOKUP, QUERY—your first automation platform.

Shortcuts (iOS)/AutoHotkey (Windows):

Automate device routines and repetitive keystrokes.

Start with One

Pick one task you do daily. Automate 80% of it. That\'s your first hour back.

Plan freed time with Time Blocking →