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Tuesday, February 10, 2026

Calendar Automation: The Time Saver

Better By Redesign – Calendar Automation
Better By Redesign: Experiments in getting life to run itself.

Experiment 1: Calendar Automation with Smart Buffers

Ever feel like your meetings bleed into each other, leaving no breathing room? In this experiment we’ll add smart buffers automatically, so you get the focus time you deserve without manual tweaks.

The Hack Details

  1. Open your preferred calendar (Google Calendar, Outlook, etc.).
  2. Navigate to the settings → Event Settings → Default duration and set your typical meeting length.
  3. Enable “Add buffer before/after events” (many calendars have this as a native feature or via a third‑party add‑on).
  4. Set the buffer length (e.g., 10 min before, 5 min after). The buffer will automatically appear on every new event.
  5. Optional: Use a tool like Zapier or Make.com to add a “Travel Buffer” based on event location.
  6. Test by creating a couple of events and watch the extra time appear in your day view.
  7. Adjust the buffer lengths as needed – the goal is to protect focus without over‑inflating your day.
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Tuesday, February 3, 2026

Self‑Watering Plant Scheduler

Experiment 11: The Self‑Watering Plant Scheduler

Imagine never having to wonder if you remembered to water your fern, cactus, or herb garden. With a few cheap sensors and a little automation, your plants can get the exact amount of water they need—while you focus on the things that truly matter.

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Step‑by‑Step Details

  1. Gather the hardware. You’ll need:
    • 2‑3 cheap soil‑moisture sensors (e.g., Capacitive Soil Moisture Sensor).
    • A Wi‑Fi enabled microcontroller (ESP‑01/ESP‑32) or a smart plug with IFTTT/Webhooks support.
    • A small water pump or a smart‑plug‑controlled drip system.
    • A power source and a waterproof container for the pump.
  2. Wire the sensors. Connect each sensor’s analog output to the microcontroller’s ADC pins. Power them with 3.3 V and ground.
  3. Program the controller. Use Arduino IDE or PlatformIO to read sensor values and publish them to a cloud service (e.g., MQTT broker, Adafruit IO, or IFTTT webhook).
  4. Create a simple rule. In your automation platform, set a trigger:
    If moisture level < threshold → turn on pump for X seconds.
  5. Calibrate. Test each plant’s ideal moisture threshold (usually 30‑40 % for most houseplants). Adjust the threshold in the rule accordingly.
  6. Deploy. Place sensors in each pot, hide the pump tubing, and let the system run. Check the dashboard once a week to ensure everything is healthy.
  7. Enjoy the peace of mind. No more missed waterings, wilted leaves, or frantic “Did I water the basil?” moments.
Plant Scheduler Illustration

Further Reading & Tools

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Tuesday, December 16, 2025

How to Organize Your Desktop Files Once and Never Lose Them Again

The 5-Minute Hack to Cure Your Desktop Chaos

Stop drowning in files. Learn how one simple script can organize your entire digital life while you sleep.

5 Minutes Setup
∞ Hours Saved
0 Coding Skills

The "Digital Hoarding" Trap

Does your computer desktop look like a war zone? We've all been there. You save a file "just for a second," download a PDF to read later, or take a quick screenshot. Before you know it, your beautiful wallpaper is covered in hundreds of icons.

The Problem: It takes too much brainpower to manually drag-and-drop every single file into a folder. The Solution: Automation that works while you binge Netflix.
File Organization Visual

What is this "Automation Hack"?

You don't need to be a programmer to use this. The hack is a tiny script—think of it as a digital robot butler—that lives on your computer and never takes a day off.

Here's how it works in plain English:

  • Looks at the messy pile of files on your Desktop
  • Reads the file type (Is it a picture? A document? A video?)
  • Moves the file instantly into a designated folder (e.g., "All Photos" or "Work Docs")
  • Runs automatically every hour, day, or whenever you want

Find Your Perfect Automation Strategy

Not sure how this fits your life? Take this interactive quiz to discover your personalized automation plan—complete with actual code you can copy-paste.

Why This Actually Works (Science!)

Research shows that visual clutter reduces your ability to focus by up to 32%. When your desktop is organized, your brain doesn't waste energy processing irrelevant visual information. You literally get smarter by cleaning up your files.

🚀 Ready to Level Up?

Automate the Boring Stuff PowerShell Guide IFTTT Automation
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Saturday, December 6, 2025

The Automated Bedtime Story

The Automated Bedtime Story

Think of this blog as a cozy workshop where every tool is enchanted. You’re not just reading stories; you’re building a system that helps your child drift off while you finally get to sit down.

Below is the actual tool I built to generate our nightly routine.

The Setup

It starts with the environment. Here is our reading corner.

Fig 1: A space designed for sleep.

See It In Action

When the story ends, the automation takes over. This is what the transition looks like:

Relevant Links

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Saturday, November 15, 2025

Experiment 07: Your Life, Automated - Chart-Topping Hits

Ever feel like you're stuck on a hamster wheel of repetitive tasks? The laundry, the grocery lists, the endless stream of emails. It’s a daily grind that can leave little room for creativity and the things that truly matter. But what if you could automate the mundane and free up your time and mental energy for more inspiring pursuits? What if that pursuit was, say, creating a hit song?

It might sound like science fiction, but the future of automation is already here and it’s more accessible than you think. In a surprising turn, an artist known as Breaking Rust climbed to the top of the Billboard Country Digital Song Sales chart. The twist? Breaking Rust is an AI musician, with vocals and songs generated by algorithms. 1 This isn’t just a gimmick. It’s a preview of how automation can create something new and unexpected.

This new wave of creativity is powered by user-friendly AI music tools. Platforms like SOUNDRAW and Boomy are designed for beginners, letting anyone generate royalty-free music in minutes. 2 3 You pick a mood, genre, and instruments, and the AI composes a unique track for you.

  • Genre: Lo-fi, pop, electronic, cinematic

  • Mood: Happy, dark, chill, dramatic

  • Tempo: Fast or slow

    • This is the only part where your brain does any heavy lifting.

    2. Use an AI Melody Generator

    Tools like Suno, Udio, Soundraw, or Beatoven can instantly generate melody lines based on your prompt.

    • Type in your style (example: “moody electronic with slow build”).

    • Pick one of the auto-generated melodies.

    • Download it.

    Boom, you’ve done the hardest part.

    3. Automate Your Drum Beat

    Drum beat in GarageBand


    Drum automation tools like Groove.ai, Drummer in GarageBand, or LMMS beat makers can create the rhythm for you.

    • Select a preset style.

    • Adjust intensity (soft, medium, aggressive).

    • Let the app auto-fill the beat for the whole track.

    You now have a melody and a beat without touching an instrument.

    4. Auto-Generate Chords That Match

    Use chord-generation apps like ChordChord, OneMotion, or Hookpad to generate chords that match your melody.

    • Import your melody (if the tool supports it) or

    • Pick chord progressions from presets

    • Export as MIDI.

    This gives your music emotional depth without requiring music theory.

    5. Layer Everything Automatically


    Home Studio

    Drag your files into a simple DAW (digital audio workstation):

    • GarageBand

    • BandLab (free, in browser)

    • Audacity (free)

    • FL Studio (paid)

    Most DAWs have auto-leveling and auto-mixing options.
    Turn them on. Let the computer pretend it’s your sound engineer.

    6. Automate Vocals (Optional)

    If you want vocals:

    • Use AI lyric generators to write lyrics

    • Use AI voice models to sing them (Suno, Kits AI, Udio vocals)

    • Or record your own voice and apply auto-tune + auto-EQ with one click

    Zero singing skills required.

    7. Auto-Master the Final Track

    Mastering makes your song sound louder, cleaner, and cohesive.
    Use auto-mastering tools like:

    • Landr

    • BandLab Mastering (free!)

    • CloudBounce

    Upload your track, pick a style, download the final version.

    You now have a fully mastered song without touching knobs like a confused raccoon.

    8. Automate Your Release

    If you want to actually publish:

    • Use DistroKid, SoundCloud, or YouTube Music

    • Most platforms let you schedule your release

    • Upload once, set the date, forget it

      • The music manages itself from here.

      Wrap-Up

      Automation doesn’t replace creativity, but it does remove the annoying parts between “I have an idea” and “Here’s my song.” With a few tools and a couple of prompts, you can produce a track in minutes instead of weeks.

      Sources

      1. soundraw.io
      2. soundverse.ai
      3. clicktime.com
      4. getmagical.com
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    Tuesday, November 11, 2025

    Experiment 06: Automation for People Who Forget Clean Laundry

    If I can make my washer tattletale on itself, maybe—just maybe—I’ll stop discovering forgotten, half-damp laundry that smells like existential regret. The goal: set up an automated reminder that pings my phone and motivates me to actually move it to the dryer.

    The Setup

    You’ll need:

    1. A smart plug (TP-Link Kasa, Gosund, or Meross—anything that plays nice with Alexa or Google Home).

    2. A routine app (Alexa, Google Home, or SmartThings).

    3. A playlist that convinces you to stand up—mine’s titled “Laundry or Perish.”

    This experiment doesn’t require coding, but it will require you to admit that you’ve rewashed the same load three times this month.

    ⚙️ Step 1: Give the Washer a Voice

    Washer with smart setup

    1. Plug your washer into the smart plug.

    2. In the smart plug’s app, turn on Energy Monitoring (most have this).

    3. Set an automation rule: when power usage drops to near zero, it means the wash cycle ended.

    Your smart plug now knows when the washer’s done—like a digital tattletale that never gets tired of being right.

    🔔 Step 2: Make It Snitch Nicely

    Now connect that event to your favorite automation tool:

    For Alexa:

    • Open the Alexa app → More → Routines → Create Routine

    • Trigger: “Smart Plug power < 2W”

    • Action: “Send notification to my phone” or “Announce ‘Laundry is done!’ on every device.”

    For Google Home:

    • Use Home → Automations → Add new → Starter: device changes state → Smart Plug OFF

    • Add an Action: “Send a notification” or “Play a song on my speaker.”

    This means you’ll get a gentle digital nudge instead of realizing at midnight that your clothes are now technically compost.

    🎵 Step 3: Motivation Mode (Optional but Fun)

    Motivation mix for your laundry routine


    You know that one song that makes you feel capable of folding towels like a functioning adult? Connect that.

    Create an extra action in your automation:

    When washer stops → play “Motivation Mode” playlist on [your preferred device].

    Spotify, Apple Music, or YouTube can all be triggered through smart routines or IFTTT.

    Mine starts with Eye of the Tiger and ends with Lo-fi Beats to Pretend You’re Productive To.

    🧺 Step 4: Optional Upgrade – “The Dryer Whisperer”

    If you want to go pro, add a second smart plug for the dryer. Sync both to a Google Sheet or app like IFTTT so it logs:

    • Wash started

    • Wash ended

    • Dry cycle started

    • Dry cycle ended

    Bonus: you’ll have data to prove that laundry takes up 17% of your adult life.

    📊 Results



    ✅ Loads completed on time: 100% (okay, 80%).
    ✅ Forgotten laundry: zero (for now).


    🧭 Verdict

    Automation can’t make laundry fun, but it can make it less tragic. You’ll still have to fold, but at least now you’ll be doing it to the sound of your victory playlist instead of the scent of mildew. 



    For more ways to automate everyday chores, check out Consumer Reports: How to Use Smart Plugs for Smarter Home Automation .

    Relevant Links

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    Friday, November 7, 2025

    Experiment 04: Budgeting That Runs Itself (Almost)

     Ever notice how budgeting feels like a part-time job that doesn’t pay? Between receipts, bills, subscriptions, and the “how did DoorDash get me again?” moments, the math gets ugly fast. But what if your budget could quietly update itself while you’re living your life — or better, while you’re ignoring your life?


    The Setup

    Here’s the hack: connect Google Sheets with Tiller Money (or if you prefer all-cloud simplicity, use Notion + Zapier). Both setups turn your messy stream of expenses into clean, living dashboards that don’t need your daily attention.

    • Tiller Money + Google Sheets:
      Link your bank accounts once, and Tiller automatically imports new transactions every day. Your sheet becomes a self-updating snapshot — graphs, categories, spending limits — all without you touching a cell. You can even color-code when you go over budget (because shame can be motivating).

    • Phone app
      Automatic imports


    • Notion + Zapier:
      If you’re more into dashboards than spreadsheets, create a Notion “Budget Tracker” page and use Zapier to pull in daily spending from your bank’s notification emails. Every purchase automatically lands in your Notion database, tagged and timestamped.

    • Budget Tracker
      Budget made simple


    The Experiment

    I set both systems to run side-by-side for two weeks. The result? My phone stopped pinging with overdraft anxiety, and my budget started predicting when I’d run low on coffee money. It was less “accountant at a desk,” more “budget ghost doing chores.”

    The Takeaway






    Automation doesn’t make you careless with money — it just removes the friction that makes you avoid dealing with it. Once you see your spending trends visualized in real time, budgeting stops being punishment and starts feeling like strategy.

    If your finances are chaos in a spreadsheet right now, you don’t need discipline — you need delegation. Hand it off to the bots.

    Relevant Links

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