One-Tap Automations That Change Everything
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If you own an iPhone, there’s a hidden superpower sitting right under your thumb, Apple Shortcuts. These one-tap automations can save you hours every week, streamline repetitive tasks, and make your phone feel truly personal. The problem? Most people don’t know how to set them up or what to use them for.
I’ve been curious about Shortcuts for years, but like many iPhone users, I didn’t know where to start. After a lot of trial, error, and experimenting, I’ve discovered that you don’t need to be a tech wizard to make automations work for you. All it takes is a few smart ideas and a couple of taps to set them up.
Why Apple Shortcuts Are Worth Your Time
Shortcuts work by linking together actions from different apps and services into a single tap or voice command. Think of them like your phone’s personal butler, ready to perform multi-step tasks instantly, without you having to open a dozen apps or dig through settings.
Not only can this save time, but it also reduces decision fatigue. When you remove the need to constantly think about the little things, you free up your mental space for what actually matters.
Simple Shortcut Ideas That Work Instantly
If you’re not sure where to begin, start with these easy one-tap automations. They take minutes to set up but can make your day feel smoother.
Morning Routine Shortcut: One tap (or “Hey Siri, Good Morning”) can turn off Do Not Disturb, tell you the weather, read your calendar, and start your favourite playlist.
Running Late Text: Set up a shortcut that automatically sends “I’m running late, be there soon” to a selected contact, along with your ETA from Apple Maps.
Home Arrival Scene: Trigger your smart lights, thermostat, and favourite playlist the moment you get home. No fumbling with multiple apps.
Expense Logging: Open your expense tracker app and pre-fill today’s date, category, and amount in one tap. Perfect for freelancers or anyone tracking budgets.
Photo to Notes: Snap a photo and have it automatically saved to your Notes app in a specific folder for quick reference later.
Taking Shortcuts to the Next (Automation) Level
Once you’ve tried the basics, you can get more ambitious. Automations can trigger based on time, location, or even when you connect to certain Wi-Fi networks.
For example:
Automatically open your meditation app when your alarm goes off.
Send a reminder to drink water every time you leave the gym.
Open your to-do list app when you arrive at work.
The key is to think about the little tasks you repeat every day and ask yourself: Could my iPhone just do this for me?
How to Start Using Shortcuts Today
Open the Shortcuts App - It’s already on your iPhone. If you’ve deleted it, you can download it again from the App Store.
Explore the Gallery - Apple includes a selection of ready-to-use shortcuts to spark ideas.
Customise and Experiment - Tweak them to match your own routines and preferences.
The more you use Shortcuts, the more you’ll see opportunities to automate. Soon, you won’t just be using your iPhone - it’ll be working for you.
Final Thought
One-tap automations aren’t just about saving seconds here and there. They’re about removing friction from your day, making technology feel like a true assistant instead of a distraction.
Delete the digital mess, keep the best; and let your iPhone handle the rest.
