Table of Contents
When you hear the word “automation,” what’s the first thing that springs to mind? Some people will conjure up movies depicting a robot takeover of the planet. Others will think about the much more realistic takeover of certain job sectors by automated systems. While the latter might be a worry to some, automation can provide numerous quality-of-life improvements to the general public.
The main purpose of automation is to make life easier, either by improving the efficiency of certain processes or by taking charge of entire tasks. And unlike the old days, you don’t need big machines to take advantage of automation. Here are four simple ways that automation can be used to improve your daily life.
1. It Keeps Daily Necessities in Stock
Consider the items that you are always in need of. Wouldn’t it be nice if your supply would always replenish itself exactly when you need a restock? While you can’t get a Mary Poppins bag from Amazon, you can use automation to make the re-upping process a little easier.
Select a product that you don’t want to run out of, such as birth control. Then look for a company that uses a subscription service or has an auto-renewal program. With this feature enabled, your next shipment of birth control will be sent to your house before your existing supply runs out.
Most subscription services can be canceled on demand. If you no longer need to take the medication, you can place your orders on pause. While you still need it, however, automation ensures that you always have the amount you need on hand.
2. It Covers Recurring Bills
Little though you might like them, there are recurring bills that need to be covered every month. These range from necessities like rent or a mortgage payment to smaller, optional bills such as a Netflix account or gym membership. Trying to remember the due date for each individual bill can be a hassle, but not when automation comes into play.
If a company accepts online payments, they likely have an autopay option you can set up. Typically all you’ll have to do is accept any terms and conditions and toggle the autopay feature on. Connect a bank account, and the required amount will be withdrawn on the same day each month.
While you no longer have to remember each bill’s due date, you will need to pay close attention to your account balance. If a company makes a withdrawal and your account doesn’t have sufficient funds, you could incur an overdraft fee. Consider setting up alerts — more automation! — so you’re always up to date on your current finances.
3. It Helps You Save
Just as automation helps you pay bills, it can also help you save. Saving inherently involves a certain degree of self-sacrifice, but automation can lessen the sting. It’s easier to set aside funds when you don’t even have the chance to miss them.
Some banks have a round-up feature that can be easily enabled on whatever account you wish. What this capability does is round up, literally, every purchase you make to the nearest dollar. For example, if you buy a burger for $3.89, then your bank will take 11 cents and put it into savings. Over time, those little amounts will add up to serious cash.
Thinking bigger, you can use other automated tools to move a set amount of money into savings on a recurring date. Let’s say you want to move $250 dollars into your savings account every month to prepare for your wedding next year. You can let automation take care of that for you so you can focus your efforts on prepping for your big day.
4. It Puts Your House in Order
Take a brief moment to browse through the front page of the Amazon website, and you’ll see a host of automated tools at your disposal. Smart home electronics are constantly growing in popularity due to the convenience they provide. Not to mention, their sleek design will make it feel like you’re living in an episode of “The Jetsons.”
Perhaps the best example available is the smart thermostat. This device will regulate the temperature in your home whatever weather fluctuations occur. Smart thermostats can be scheduled to reduce the energy expended while you’re away and prep the house for maximum comfort upon your return. If you ever want to override the preset temperatures, you can do that via your smartphone.
There are smart door locks that engage after you leave, so your home is always secure. Smart ovens can preheat and turn off on their own, while security lights will flick on when they sense nightfall. All of these little pieces of automation combine to make your home life that much easier to handle. Add in a robot vacuum, and even some of the cleaning can be done automatically!
Having reservations about automation and artificial intelligence is understandable. Just be aware of the ways you could be setting yourself back by not embracing new technology. Do your research before investing in products, but don’t put off the purchases indefinitely. Once you make the jump, you’ll see the difference in your day-to-day life as you introduce automated solutions.
Image Credit: Photo by Minku Kang on Unsplash