iPhone Shortcuts That Save Hours
Your iPhone can run more of your day for you. With just a few taps, you can set up automations and shortcuts that handle routines you'd otherwise manage manually. Here are three shortcuts that pay for themselves in convenience—and a whole lot of reclaimed time.
1 Automate Your Morning Routine
A 'Good Morning' automation triggers at your set wake time and handles multiple tasks without you lifting a finger. It can disable Do Not Disturb, brighten your screen to full, and read your calendar events aloud so you know what's ahead before you're even out of bed. Set it once, and this automation runs automatically every single day, eliminating those groggy manual adjustments. The beauty is that you can layer multiple actions into one trigger—your morning becomes streamlined without any effort.
2 One-Tap 'Heading Home' Shortcut
Forgetting to text your location or toggle smart lights happens at least once a week for most commuters. Create a 'Heading Home' shortcut that sends your live location to a trusted contact and commands your lights to turn on—all triggered by a single tap. You can even set it to run automatically when you leave work, making your arrival predictable and your home ready before you step through the door. This single action replaces three or four manual steps and takes just seconds to set up.
3 NFC Tag for Instant Bedtime Mode
Bedtime routines are easy to skip when your phone is already in your hand on the nightstand, keeping you scrolling when you should be sleeping. Program a cheap NFC tag to trigger your bedtime shortcut—Do Not Disturb activates, your screen dims, and your alarm sets to your default time, all with a single tap. NFC tags require no batteries or ongoing maintenance; simply place one on your nightstand or nightstand lamp. With the friction of just a single tap between you and sleep, you're far more likely to actually use your bedtime routine every night.
These shortcuts transform your phone from a tool you control into a device that works alongside your routine. Start with one, master it, and layer in the others as you get comfortable. Your future self—and your free time—will thank you.