6 Smart Home Routines You Should be Using

smart speaker next to bright window with coffee and newspaper

Smart home innovations in recent years have certainly made our lives easier. But are you maximizing the use of your devices to really make your days as seamless as possible? Here are some clever routines that can help maximize your productivity and improve your peace of mind.

Alexa Routines

Amazon’s Alexa is one of the most popular smart home assistants, and it just so happens that there are many routines you can take advantage of to make the most out of your smart device. One way to do this is through “Alexa Skills”. These are best compared to what app is to a smartphone as these skills allow the assistant to perform tasks and interact with other devices. What makes them even more like an app is the fact that they’re commonly created by independent developers or other smart tech companies, meaning that these “skills” are easily compatible with other devices. You can usually browse the various skills offered on the Amazon Alexa app.

From there, you can set up Alexa routines with the Alexa app on your smartphone or tablet. Click the upper left and routines will be an option in the drop down list. This is also where you should go to see what routines you currently have set up. To make routines, you need to have “triggers” that prompt them to happen. These could be a variety of things: voice commands, a time of day, alarm, or even location of your phone, and so on. These triggers prompt an action, which makes up the routine.

laptop with journal smart speaker and coffee in home work area

Google Home Routines

Your Google Home is also capable of setting up routines to use around your home. To do so, go to the Google Assistant app and press the blue icon in the upper right-hand corner. From there, tap the three vertical dots and select “settings”. Scroll down and select Services under the “Routines” sub-section. Choose from the selection of tasks and routines in this menu to help automate your home and simplify your life.

1. Play Music in the Morning

You can set-up your hub to play music in the morning in a room separate from your bedroom in order to help you get out of bed. This is a good routine to set up to keep you on a regular morning schedule.

man touching smart speaker from bed

2. Nighttime Routine

Shutting down the house for the night can really feel like a chore. Have your smart hub help you through a nighttime routine. Your hub can work with other smart home technology to shut off lights, turn your bedroom light on, lock the doors, and adjust the temperature. This can be set to happen automatically each night at designated times or through a voice command.

3. Encourage Chores

You can encourage your kiddos to complete their chores with smart hub routines. For instance, set up a routine that tells your kids at a certain time each day that it’s time to clean their room, set the table, or put away their laundry. This way, you can hold them accountable to completing their chore as soon as the daily reminder occurs.

smart speaker in kitchen next to food and sink

4. Turn On Appliances

Your smart devices can work to turn on appliances within your home at designated times. For instance, have coffee percolating when you wake up or run the dishwasher overnight for clean dishes and utensils in the morning.

5. Nightlight

Have your device act as a nightlight in your home to prevent bumps and tripping during those middle of the night trips to the bathroom. This is a simple routine to have the nightlight turn on each evening, but it makes a difference.

6. Door Open Announcement

Especially if you have little ones in the house, having your device announce when any of the doors to your home are open is a great routine and wonderful security feature. This way, you’re always aware if something is amiss.

It’s never been so easy to automate your life, making things more safe, efficient, and simple as you go through your days around the house.