Automate Those Mundane Repetitive Tasks for a Happier, Healthier You

In the context of well-being, we talk a lot about finding a balance between work and personal life. This is more easily said than done in a post-Covid, work-from-home environment. This article is less about talking and more about doing things differently – smartly. Specifically, finding balance by tackling those mundane, repetitive tasks that consume valuable time and energy and contribute to stress and burnout.

There’s a revolutionary solution gaining momentum: workplace automation. Below, we explore the impact of automating repetitive tasks on overall well-being, highlight startups in the workplace automation sector, and draw inspiration from well-being influencers who advocate for a more balanced and fulfilling life.

The Wellbeing Impact of Automation:

It’s no secret that repetitive tasks can drain mental and emotional resources. Constantly switching between monotonous activities leads to decreased productivity and negatively affects our mental health. Automating these tasks allows us to reclaim our time and focus on activities that bring us joy and fulfilment.

The rise of startups in the workplace automation sector has ushered in a new era of efficiency and improved mental well-being. By leveraging technologies such as artificial intelligence and machine learning, these companies are streamlining workflows, reducing errors, and allowing employees to engage in more meaningful work. The tools below target corporate HR to facilitate change enterprise-wide, which is great in the long term, but it does little for the individual who is stuck doing things that could/should be automated and whose job is consequently under threat. The good news is that we can all access simple free tools like Autohotkey to enable the automation of most repetitive tasks that the employee is subjected to using Windows software. It’s time to get ahead of the curve.

Let’s start with the startups.

Startups Leading the Way:

1. UiPath: specializes in developing robotic process automation (RPA) software that helps businesses automate repetitive tasks using software robots.
2. Automation Anywhere: provides a platform that enables businesses to automate their processes using robotic process automation (RPA), artificial intelligence (AI), and machine learning (ML) technologies.
3. Zapier: offers a user-friendly platform that connects different web applications and services, allowing users to automate workflows without requiring any coding knowledge.
4. Airtable: Combines the flexibility of a spreadsheet with the power of a database, allowing users to create customizable workflows and automate tasks.
5. Trello: A collaboration tool that organizes projects into boards, Trello allows users to automate repetitive tasks through its Butler feature.
6. Slack: A popular communication platform that integrates with numerous third-party apps, enabling users to automate workflows and streamline communication.
7. Asana: is a project management tool that offers automation features to help teams streamline their processes and workflows.
8. Notion: Provides an all-in-one workspace for teams to collaborate, with automation capabilities to simplify task management and project workflows.
9. HubSpot: Offers a suite of marketing, sales, and customer service software with automation features to streamline processes and improve efficiency.
10. Coda: Combines documents, spreadsheets, and applications into a single platform, allowing users to create custom automated workflows.
11. Monday.com: A work operating system that enables teams to manage projects and workflows, with automation features to streamline processes.
12. Process Street: provides a platform that helps businesses create and automate workflows, checklists, and standard operating procedures.
13. Kissflow: offers a digital workplace platform with automation capabilities that help manage workflows, projects, and business processes.
14. Workato: integrates with various applications and services to automate business workflows, allowing for the creation of custom integrations and automation.
15. Alloy Automation: focuses on automating repetitive tasks within e-commerce operations, such as order processing, inventory management, and customer support.

Wellbeing Influencers Speak Out:

Wellbeing influencers who emphasize the importance of automating mundane tasks for a healthier work-life balance:

1. Arianna Huffington: “Burnout comes from chronic workplace stress. Automating repetitive tasks boosts productivity and allows us to create a work environment that promotes wellbeing.” Arianna Huffington
2. Tim Ferriss: “The goal is not to simply eliminate the bad, but to pursue and experience the best in the world. Automation can be a powerful tool to help us achieve that by freeing up time for meaningful experiences.” Tim Ferriss
3. Gretchen Rubin: “Happiness and productivity are intertwined. Automating tasks that drain your energy opens up space for activities that bring you joy and fulfilment.” Gretchen Rubin

In a world where time is our most precious commodity, automating mundane tasks is a game-changer for overall well-being. Startups in the workplace automation sector are leading the charge, bringing automation to the masses by providing innovative solutions that enhance efficiency and contribute to a healthier work-life balance.

Workplace automation arose over a decade ago with the rise of Autohotkey, a “free, open-source scripting language for Windows that allows users to easily create small to complex scripts for all kinds of tasks such as form fillers, auto-clicking, macros, copy-pasting between software etc.” It’s extremely easy to use and a gateway to the world of scripting that’s great for students to learn before entering today’s workplace.

Its use is only limited by your imagination and creativity. Any Windows software-based task can be automated, and scripts can be shared, so administrators working at smaller companies should look to automate this way before investing in startup tools.