Automate automate automate

Lately, I’ve been thinking a lot about automation—probably more than usual. As an engineer with a passion for software development, you’d think I’d already have embraced automation fully to improve productivity and streamline my life. But the truth is, we often fall into what I call “the Stockholm syndrome of habits”—we get trapped in routines we’ve built, without realizing how much time or mental energy we’re wasting.

Once you’ve settled into these routines, it’s easy to overlook the mental effort required to manage day-to-day tasks. You forget things, commit to them without proper tracking, and later have that sinking feeling of “I forgot to write it down.” These small distractions pile up, pulling your focus away from more important tasks.

Recently, since I was promoted to Director of Engineering, I decided to step back and reevaluate my habits and processes. Being part of a new team and product has also forced me to challenge the assumptions I’ve carried for years. Fresh perspectives are invaluable—they can highlight inefficiencies we’re blind to after being too close to the work for too long.

As a software engineer at heart, I’ve been thinking about how to introduce more automation. For non-programmers, tools like Zapier or Make offer viable solutions, but I tend to shy away from third-party platforms unless they’ve been vetted and adopted company-wide. Trust is a big factor for me when it comes to sharing data, especially when it involves sensitive information.

Lately, I’ve been on a mission to automate as much of my workflow as possible. From my role as a lead to now as a director, I’m constantly evaluating the steps I take to see if they can be streamlined. My goal is to build systems that reduce mental load—not just for me, but for my team as well.

One thing I’ve come to realize is that creating new habits is similar to automating tasks. Make the new habit as effortless as possible. For example, if you take an allergy pill daily but keep forgetting, place it next to your toothbrush. You already brush your teeth daily, so it’s easy to integrate the new habit into an existing one.

For me, since I spend so much time in my browser, I’ve been experimenting with creating extensions that fit seamlessly into my workflow. These small automations make it easier to capture tasks, reduce distractions, and focus on what matters.

Automation is not just about eliminating repetitive tasks; it’s about creating systems that push tasks to you, instead of relying on memory. Whether it’s reminders, documents needing approval, or meetings, having these things surface automatically can be a game-changer.

At the core, it’s about making things easier to manage. One exercise I recommend is writing down where you spend your time every day for a week. Often, this simple activity can reveal opportunities to optimize your workflow. Look for the tasks that consume unnecessary mental energy and ask yourself: “Can this be automated?”

Thoughts

We’re often so focused on getting things done that we lose sight of how we could be doing them more efficiently. There are many opportunities for automation in our daily routines, but we won’t see them unless we take the time to pause, reflect, and evaluate.

Take a step back, write down your processes, and identify where you can automate or streamline. Doing this not only frees up time but also lets you focus on the things that truly matter—whether that’s the deeper work that requires focus or supporting your team in more meaningful ways.