If you own an iPhone, you are walking around with a supercomputer in your pocket. Yet, most of us use it like a fancy pager. We tap the same icons, navigate the same menus, and perform the same repetitive tasks dozens of times a day. What if your phone could do those things for you, automatically, while you focus on what actually matters?
Enter the Shortcuts app. It is likely sitting in a folder on your iPhone right now, unused and unloved. But for those in the know, it is the secret weapon for reclaiming time. Shortcuts allow you to string together multiple steps across different apps and run them with a single tap or a voice command.
You don’t need to be a computer programmer or a tech wizard to use them. If you can follow a recipe, you can build—or simply download—a Shortcut. Let’s dive into how you can automate your life and save hours every single week.
The "Good Morning" Protocol
Mornings set the tone for the rest of the day. Unfortunately, they are often characterized by grogginess and the frantic scrolling of apps to check the weather, the news, and your calendar. Instead of opening three different apps while you are still half-asleep, you can create a single Shortcut to handle the heavy lifting.
Imagine waking up and simply saying, "Hey Siri, Good Morning." Instantly, your phone could trigger a sequence that prepares you for the day without you lifting a finger.
Pro Tip: You can set this Shortcut to trigger automatically when your alarm is stopped, meaning you don't even have to speak to Siri.
A typical morning automation might look like this:
- Turn off Sleep Focus: Your phone brightens up and allows notifications through.
- Fetch the Weather: Siri reads out the day's forecast so you know if you need an umbrella.
- Read Calendar Events: You get a summary of your first meeting time and topic.
- Play Audio: Your favorite upbeat playlist or daily news podcast starts playing immediately.
By automating this sequence, you eliminate the "doom scroll" that happens when you pick up your phone to check one thing and end up on social media for twenty minutes. You get the information you need, hands-free, while you brush your teeth.
The "Heading Home" ETA
One of the most common text messages sent in the modern world is: "I'm on my way, be there in X minutes." We usually send this while rushing out of the office or, dangerously, while driving. This repetitive task is prime territory for automation.
With a "Heading Home" shortcut, you can add an icon to your home screen that does the math for you. When you tap it, the iPhone calculates the travel time from your current location to your home address based on current traffic conditions. It then automatically composes and sends a text message to your partner or roommate saying, "I'm leaving now. The GPS says I'll be home in 35 minutes."
This saves you from opening maps, checking the time, switching to messages, and typing it out. It is safer, faster, and keeps your loved ones informed with zero friction.
Location-Based Reminders and Actions
The real magic happens when you stop thinking about Shortcuts as buttons you have to press, and start thinking of them as "Automations" that happen based on where you are. The Shortcuts app has an "Automation" tab that allows your phone to react to your environment.
Have you ever walked into the grocery store and immediately forgotten to open your shopping list? Or perhaps you walk into the gym and spend the first five minutes fiddling with your headphones and finding your workout playlist. You can fix this with location triggers.
Here are a few ways location automation can save you time:
- The Grocery Trigger: Set an automation so that the moment you arrive at your local supermarket, your "Reminders" grocery list automatically pops up on your screen.
- The Gym Mode: When you arrive at the gym, your phone can automatically turn on "Do Not Disturb" (so calls don't ruin your set), set the volume to 80%, and launch Apple Music.
- The Wi-Fi Toggle: When you leave your house, your phone can automatically turn off Wi-Fi to stop it from hunting for weak signals, saving your battery life.
Note: Location-based automations run in the background. You won't see them happen; you’ll just notice that your phone is suddenly ready for exactly what you are about to do.
The "Super Low Power" Mode
We have all been there: you are out late, you are far from a charger, and that dreaded 10% battery warning pops up. The standard "Low Power Mode" is great, but sometimes you need extreme measures to ensure your phone survives until you get an Uber.
You can create a "Panic Button" shortcut. With one tap, this shortcut can execute a checklist of battery-saving measures that would normally take you two minutes to toggle individually.
Your custom battery saver could instantly:
- Turn on the system Low Power Mode.
- Set screen brightness to 0%.
- Turn off Wi-Fi and Bluetooth.
- Turn off Cellular Data (optional, if you really need to save juice).
- Set "Voice & Data" to 4G instead of 5G.
This gives you the maximum possible runtime with a single click, saving you the anxiety of a dead phone.
How to Get Started (The Easy Way)
If you are feeling intimidated by the idea of "building" these, don't worry. Apple has created a massive library of pre-made shortcuts that you can browse and install just like apps.
Here is the easiest way to start saving time today:
- Open the Shortcuts App: It is pre-installed on every iPhone. If you deleted it, grab it from the App Store for free.
- Tap "Gallery": Look at the bottom right corner of the screen. The Gallery is a curated store of automations.
- Search or Browse: You will see categories like "Essentials," "Morning Routine," or "Work from Anywhere."
- Tap the "+" Icon: When you find one you like, just tap the plus sign. It is now in your library.
- Add to Home Screen: Go to your "Shortcuts" tab, tap the three dots on your new shortcut, tap the share arrow, and select "Add to Home Screen." Now it looks just like an app icon!
Automation isn't about being a robot; it's about removing the robotic parts of your life so you can be more human. By shaving off thirty seconds here and a minute there, you aren't just saving time; you are saving mental energy. Start with one simple shortcut today, and you will wonder how you ever lived without it.