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Some days, it’s just me, my side hustle, and a mountain of to-dos.
That’s why I’ve learned to lean on little automations. Not the fancy kind, but the “thank you, tiny robot friend” kind. The ones that take something off my plate quietly, in the background.
This is the kickoff to my Side Hustle A to Z series: a mini project where I’m sharing small, doable tips for building your side hustle in a way that supports your life too.
No overwhelm. No all-or-nothing energy. Just one little shift at a time.
And we’re starting with one of my favorites:
A is for Automate.
Why automate?
Because honestly? I’m tired. 😂
I’m juggling a job, caregiving, and building something of my own — and I don’t have energy to waste doing the same task over and over again when a tiny system could do it for me.
Think:
🌀 Set it and forget it.
🧠 Save your brain for the good stuff.
💆🏾♀️ Protect your energy like it’s sacred (because it is).
Some automations I love:
- 🗓️ TidyCal lets people book time with me without the email back-and-forth. I can set my availability once and let the system handle the rest.
- 🏥 Amazon Subscribe & Save delivers Ensure for my grandma every other week (along with other household staples). Bonus: Alexa reminds me when stuff’s running low.
- 📅 Buffer lets me queue up LinkedIn posts when I’m in the mood to write, so they go out while I’m working, caregiving, or lying in bed watching Sweet Magnolias.
- 💸 Autopay for bills. Because who has time to remember due dates anymore?
- Related: you can automate savings + prescription refills too!
- ⌨️ Text replacement on my phone and laptop. When I type
zadd, it fills in my full address. Magic.
These might seem small, but together? They make me feel like I’ve got a tiny team working behind the scenes, even when it’s just me and my phone at 9:43 p.m.
Not sure where to start?
Here’s a tiny automation you can try today:
➡️ Set up text replacement on your phone for your email, address, or favorite hashtags.
(iPhone users: here’s a 43-second video on how to do it)
Takes 2 minutes. Saves you dozens over time.
Or ask yourself this:
What am I doing over and over again that makes me whisper,
“There has to be a better way”?
That’s your automation cue.
You don’t have to automate everything.
But even one small system can help you reclaim your time, energy, and a little peace.
And that’s the point of all of this, isn’t it?
Not just building a side hustle, but building a life that feels more you.
So if you’ve been feeling behind or overwhelmed or like it’s all too much…
Let the robots help. 🤖
Your future self will thank you.
💬 What would you love to automate?
Got a favorite time-saver you swear by? Something you’d like to automate but haven’t figured out yet?
Drop a comment and let’s swap ideas, because sometimes the best tips come from fellow side hustlers figuring it out in real-time.
P.S. This is part of the Side Hustler’s A to Z Survival Guide series: one small shift each week to help you grow your side hustle in a way that’s sustainable, joyful, and real.
Next up: B is for Breaks. Because… we all need them.
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