How to use automation to free up time in your schedule

At the office, administrative tasks are a way of life. Keeping up with the daily busywork is unavoidable, but for most people, it’s a pain and annoyance.

If you’re like most employees, checking your email is the first thing you do after logging in for the day. While this mundane task is necessary, all the extra stress that comes with it doesn’t have to be.

For instance, you know you need to clear your overloaded email inbox, while prioritizing the important emails that are relevant to your job. Most people view daily email management as a waste of time. But what if there was a way to automate routine office tasks such as checking your email?

A handful of apps (and even some chatbots) let you do just that. These six apps make your office life easier and free up more time for you to focus on important tasks.

1. Use IfThisThenThat to create a chain reaction

It’s all too easy to get overrun with information at the office. How many times have you gathered information in one facet of your work life and had to re-type that same information into another document or app? If you want to connect your life, IfThisThenThat, or IFTTT, is the app you need.

Working much like a simple coding language, IFTTT transfers information automatically from one app to another. Do you need to transfer information from Excel to a Google Doc? Just set it up using this app, and watch as your work and personal life get connected like never before!

2. Use TextExpander to reply faster

A desktop on a table in an office image from RawPixel

You probably have some repetitive tasks during your workday. For example, you may find yourself sending the same email explanation or response multiple times a day. Instead of retyping the same information over and over, what if you could record snippets of text and copy/paste them using an abbreviation?

TextExpander is an app that saves you time when you need to send a stock response. By shortening the time it takes for you to handle these mundane tasks, you can shift focus to checking off more important things on your to-do list.

Article source: https://www.technobuffalo.com/2017/11/19/how-to-use-automation-to-free-up-time-in-your-schedule/