Think about everything you do manually that could run on its own. The coffee maker that could start automatically. The lights that could be on a schedule. The grocery shopping that could be delivered. The household tasks that someone else could do.
Automation isn't about being lazy—it's about freeing your mental bandwidth for the things that actually matter. Every task you automate is time you reclaim.
I'm Jennifer Brooks, mom to Jack (9), Lily (7), and Charlie (4). Here's my complete guide to automating your household.
The Automation Mindset
Before we dive into specifics, let's talk about mindset. Automation is about trading money for time, or one-time effort for ongoing savings. Sometimes automation costs money (a robot vacuum, a delivery service). Sometimes it costs time upfront (setting up systems) for time savings ongoing.
The question to ask: "Is this worth trading [resource] for [time/cost savings]?"
Home Technology That Saves Time
The Smart Home Essentials
These are the automations I consider essential:
- Smart thermostat: Programmable so you're not heating an empty house, but it's warm when you wake up
- Smart lights: Turn on/off on schedule, no more "did I leave the lights on?"
- Smart lock: No more losing keys, can let in service people remotely
- Robot vacuum: Runs every day while we're at school, keeps floors clean without effort
- Coffee maker on timer: Coffee ready when you wake up
The Nice-to-Have Tech
- Smart plugs (turn any appliance on/off remotely)
- Automated blinds
- Video doorbell (see who's at the door without getting up)
- Smart speakers for reminders and timers
Service Automation
Subscriptions That Deliver
These have replaced most of our errands:
- Amazon Subscribe & Save: Paper products, cleaning supplies, diapers delivered on schedule
- Grocery delivery: We use delivery for big shops, pickup for quick trips
- Meal kit services: When we've used them, they've reduced meal planning stress
- Streaming services: Instead of TV, we've cut the cord entirely
Service You Can Outsource
Some tasks are worth paying someone else to do:
- House cleaning: $150 biweekly has been worth every penny
- Lawn care: Weekly mowing means we never have to think about it
- Oil changes: Mobile services come to your office parking lot
- Grocery pickup: $6.99 delivery fee saves hours of shopping
Household System Automation
The Launchpad System
I wrote about our command center here. Everything has a home. Everything goes back to its home. This prevents lost items and morning chaos.
The Cleaning Schedule
I wrote about the 15-minute daily reset here. Daily maintenance prevents weekend marathons.
The Meal Planning System
I wrote about meal planning here. Theme nights reduce decision fatigue. Grocery delivery reduces shopping time.
The Time Audit
Want to find automation opportunities? Track your time for one week. Every time you do a task, note it. Then ask:
- Does this need to be done?
- Can it be done less frequently?
- Can someone/something else do it?
- Can it be batched with similar tasks?
Most tasks can be eliminated, outsourced, or automated. You just have to look.
The ROI Calculation
Here's how I decide if automation is worth it:
Cost of automation vs. value of time saved. Example: $150/month cleaning lady = 8 hours of my time (2 days of cleaning I no longer do). If my hour is worth $20+, it's worth it.
Calculate your "hourly value" by dividing your income by hours worked. Even at minimum wage, many household tasks aren't worth your time.
For more on systems and automation, check out my articles on household systems and weekly reset. Automate what you can. You'll get hours of your life back.
