The Bureau of Labor Statistics estimates that the average American has a whopping five hours of free time a day. But what if you could increase your daily free time? By automating certain areas of your life, you can eliminate unnecessary tasks and become your most productive self. Online shopping, automated billing, smart devices, and voice assistants can help knock some things off your plate.
How to automate your life and use technology to increase productivity
Time is our most precious, valuable resource—which is why you deserve the tools to make the most of it. By letting technology do the work for you, you’ll make more space in your life for the important things, like family, friends, and passion projects.
Get groceries and essential items delivered
Ordering groceries online from the comfort of your home can help you get the ingredients you need without ever having to spend time running to the store. The busier life gets, the harder it may be to make a grocery store trip or put a home-cooked meal on the table. Looking online to see which grocers in your area offer delivery services is a great place to start. Depending on how far you live from the store, local delivery for groceries might be free. Find out whether your grocer has an app or call and ask to speak to a store representative to get started. You can also order other essential items, such as toilet paper, diapers, and clothing from all your favorite retail businesses.
Invest in smart devices
According to survey data, 57% of smart home device users in the U.S. claim their devices save them time every day. With your smart home devices, there are nearly endless scheduling possibilities. Here are just some of the smart devices that can save you time:
- Smart thermostat
- Smart lighting
- Sprinkler systems
- Home security system
- Smart fridge
You can also automate nearly every room of your house, including your kitchen, home office, and home gym.
Set reminders using Alexa
From asking Alexa for the weather forecast to creating a reminder to pay a bill on time, there’s no doubt that voice assistants have enhanced our lives. You might have an Alexa device in your kitchen and use it as a timer, reminder, or food ordering system. You can also keep one in the bedroom or living area to play music and set alarms.
Link your apps together
Linking all your favorite apps is a great way to stay on top of things. For example, the Google apps family works together seamlessly. You can connect your calendar to Google Drive to your Gmail account—and beyond! Linking your apps together creates one streamlined system for keeping track of your busy life.
Use shortcuts on your phone
If you have an iPhone, the shortcuts feature on your phone is a quick and easy way to complete tasks. Apple advertises that you can automate a wide variety of tasks with shortcuts, such as getting directions to the next event on your calendar, moving text between apps, and producing expense reports. This feature can also remind you to work out when you’re near your gym or automatically respond to messages for you.
Sign up for automated billing
Instead of writing checks or entering your credit card number online every month, save time with automated billing. AutoPay is the most convenient way to ensure your bill is always paid on time. There are three easy ways to set it up — on the My CenturyLink website, on the app, or with a paper form.
No matter how busy your life gets, your bill always gets paid on time. One less thing to worry about! Plus, you can sign in to My CenturyLink at any time to view and print your bills. You can enter one payment option today and update it at any time. Learn more about how Autopay works.
Self-service tools can save you time
It’s no secret that self-service is the future of customer service. In fact, most people tend to prefer this form of service. It allows busy customers to solve issues in their own time and is typically more efficient and quicker than calling or chatting.
In a global survey conducted by PwC, 70% of customers say fast, convenient answers are their top priority when it comes to provider services. Because most self-service tools are self-paced and self-guided, you can answer support questions at your own tempo.
What have you automated in your life? Let us know how technology is maximizing your time in the comments below.
