Hi there,
The idea of a "smart home" can sound futuristic, expensive, or even complicated. But at its best, smart home technology isn't about fancy gadgets; it's about automating the tedious little tasks that drain your time and energy every single day.
This week, we're cutting through the hype. We're sharing simple, affordable smart devices that genuinely deliver on the promise of an easier, more effortless everyday life. Get ready to reclaim minutes and mental energy with just a few clever upgrades.
đź› Tool of the Week: Smart Plugs
Want to automate your home without a huge investment? Smart plugs are the unsung heroes of simple home automation. These small, affordable devices plug into any standard outlet, allowing you to control whatever's plugged into them (lamps, coffee makers, fans, holiday lights) via your phone app or voice assistant.
Why it's great: They turn "dumb" appliances into smart ones. You can set schedules (e.g., coffee maker on at 6:30 AM), turn things on/off remotely, or group them for "good morning" or "goodnight" routines. Simple, effective, and budget-friendly.
Find them here: Search for "smart plug" on Amazon, Best Buy, or any electronics retailer (brands like TP-Link Kasa, Meross, Wyze are popular).
⏱ Quick Habit: The "Schedule One Light" Rule
Pick one lamp in your home that you turn on and off regularly (e.g., a living room lamp, a bedside lamp). If you have a smart plug or smart bulb, use its app to schedule it to turn on and off automatically at specific times each day (e.g., on at sunset, off at bedtime).
This tiny automation removes a daily micro-task, creating a small moment of effortless convenience and reminding you of smart tech's potential.
🔄 Micro-Routine Reset: 5-Minute "Voice Command Inventory"
Most people only scratch the surface of what their voice assistant (Google Assistant, Alexa, Siri) can do. Take 5 minutes to explore or reset your most used voice commands:
Open your voice assistant's app (Google Home, Amazon Alexa, Apple Home).
Review your existing routines or common commands.
Add one new simple command that automates something you do daily (e.g., "Good morning" to tell you the weather, "Goodnight" to turn off all lights).
This quick audit reminds you of the powerful helper living in your home and helps you leverage it more effectively.
✨ Mindset Reframe: "Automation isn't about laziness; it's about leverage."
Sometimes, we feel guilty about automating tasks, thinking it's "lazy." Shift your perspective: automation is about leveraging technology to free up your most valuable resources—your time and mental energy—for things that truly matter. It's about working smarter, not harder, in your home life, just as you do in your work life.
Want to go beyond bite-sized tips? This Friday, premium subscribers are getting a deep dive into "Effortless Living: Automating Your Home for Maximum Flow." MLS will share comprehensive strategies for integrating smart devices into powerful routines that reclaim hours each week, from climate control to chore management and security.
Subscribe to Modern Life, Simplified
Become a supercharged subscriber of Modern Life, Simplified to get access to this post and other subscriber-only content.
Upgrade