If you're anything like me, you have waited a few years for “smart home” (or technologies that automate many of the features in your home and tasks in your life) to mature a bit before adopting any particular solution, type of equipment, or brand. Since the beginning of the pandemic and working from home, I've gradually implemented some options and it has made a wonderful difference in my life. I share some of those below. I hope my recommendations will help others who have been sitting on the fence finally take the plunge.
Table of Contents
Deploy a digital assistant like Alexa (or optionally, Google Assistant or Apple Home)
I have three units strategically placed throughout my home and the app on my phone. Alexa responds to vocal commands so using the app is not always necessary unless you want to fully explore all of its capabilities (a fun rabbit hole sometimes). I can also monitor devices and my home when I'm not there and enjoy certain features in my car, sure, but what I really enjoy are the features I leverage when I'm at home:
Gone are the days of mechanical outlet timers which served me well for decades. Routines are my jam! Routines such as playing specific music playlists across all devices, turning lamps and deck lights on at sunset and off at whatever time I designate for each (or when I tell Alexa “good night”), setting timers while cooking, telling me the news of the day, what's on my calendar, reporting the weather (including National Weather Service weather-related alerts), reminding me to drink water when I cough, telling me when packages are arriving or have been delivered, telling me what my commute looks like when I leave the house, setting ambient lighting and playing soft music when I announce it's dinnertime, and so much more. Your options seem almost limitless and often depend on what compatible devices and third-party services you connect with Alexa.
Reminders are essential. I have set up reminders for taking out the recycling on recycling day, another for regular garbage day, running specific errands, doing specific chores, alerting me when new seasons of my favorite shows are available, what memberships or subscriptions I need to cancel or renew based on their expiration dates, to take a walk, regular maintenance that needs to be done around the home, to make doctor appointments and much more. I figure if I ever really start to lose my memory, I'll appreciate Alexa‘s ability to remind me of anything!
Install motion and time-activated outdoor lighting
For a while, I invested in cheap solar motion lights that I would mount in high-traffic areas to illuminate my driveway and walkway in an effort to make it safer for myself and my visitors. All of these devices died within months and were a waste of money.
The investment that finally worked, believe it or not, was cheaper and simple: motion-detecting dusk-to-dawn LED light bulbs. While this solution has been great for my front and back doors, I still have to better illuminate my driveway and main front walkway. Instead of going for just any motion light, I will be forgoing any battery or solar and selecting something more stable. It's on my home improvement list.
30% Off Annual Membership with code: annual30aff
Take advantage of Modes and Routines and IFTTT-like apps on your smartphone
I've utilized the IFTTT app off and on for years. With the recent upgrade to Android 13, I noticed a handy dandy new Samsung app called Modes and Routines (formerly Bixby, apparently) and I'm encouraged. I love all these apps and devices that include a healthy dose of options for integration and automation. If you're an Apple user, though, I don't know what your equivalent options are but I highly suggest searching for similar apps (native to the Apple OS or otherwise).
With Modes and Routines, for example, I can now set my phone to Do Not Disturb mode during working hours and only allow certain family and friends to get through if they need to. Until now, any app I would use only offered an all-or-nothing option — either full do not disturb or everyone can call.
I'm seeing the potential for more conveniences with advances in these apps. I plan to do more exploring.
Monitor your health via wearables
Health monitoring wearables have come a long way in recent years. I have personally enjoyed various Fitbits for a number of years now (including a compatible scale) not only to monitor overall activity but to keep track of my sleep. I have struggled with insomnia for more than a decade and insights into my sleep patterns have been helpful. There's a lot of choice in the activity and fitness tracker space.
Utilize Billpay (in banking)
Yes, I realize this option has been around for decades but I'm constantly amazed by the number of people who still write checks to pay bills — including hand-delivering some of them! I understand that living paycheck to paycheck or having a fear of technology is often the reason for doing this for many, so I don't want to seem like I'm pressuring or criticizing those who fall into either category. My recommendation is more for those who have a smartphone and have mostly embraced technology, but their one last hold-out is relinquishing control to a system that will do their bill paying for them. I want to set it and (mostly) forget it! I wish the same for you.
Have your groceries delivered
I detest grocery shopping. Always have. It always annoyed me that, for the average person, the one thing we “have” to do with some frequency couldn't be affordably hired out or handled by someone else. It always felt like such a time waster to me. Thank goodness there are options now!
I love being able to add items to a “virtual” cart all week long and then when I'm ready, schedule delivery. It's worth whatever monthly fees or tips and my time is better spent on other activities.
Two major options for grocery delivery are Whole Foods Market and Walmart. And if there are items you buy with some frequency, consider subscribing, setting the frequency for deliveries, and saving some money when you bundle a bunch of products at the same time. I get my coffee and supplements that way. There are many options.
Get a virtual mailbox
Who hates junk mail?! I do! Monitored and managed via a smartphone app, a virtual mailbox service throws out your junk mail for you and holds your mail and packages until you're ready to pick them up. Sweet!
Honestly, that was all I needed to know to be sold on the idea. I used to have a USPS box but it was often a struggle to get there and once I did, would discover most of it was sheer junk anyway. Because I access most of my statements and bills electronically, it's not often I get any real mail of substance. A virtual mailbox is a time and hassle-saver.
This option is especially helpful for those who travel a lot or split their living between multiple homes (e.g, snowbirds), too.
Spoil yourself by spoiling your pets
I'm not one of those people who feed my pets on my schedule. I keep the food out for them and allow them to determine when they will eat. To best facilitate that, I use and recommend automated food and water dispensers.
For those times when you're out for the day or your pets want to play in the middle of the night while you're trying to sleep, automated interactive pet toys are great options for keeping them busy and entertained.
And for those with a cat(s), there's rarely a downside to a reliable self-cleaning litter box.
Display and enjoy your photos – and a lot of them
I hope most of us with smartphones are backing up our photos to the cloud or personal storage devices.
Did you know that if you have a Fire Stick, you can set your television's screensaver to cycle through many of your photos? This would be a fun feature when you have company or a party and leave the TV on to simply cycle through and broadcast photos to your guests. Think of it as an unattended digital version of the old-fashioned home projector (I am recalling those in the 70s, which means I'm dating myself).
Another great option for displaying a lot of photos is digital picture frames. These make great gifts too!
Reduce your chores around the house while amusing your pets
One of the best inventions is robotic vacuum cleaners. You can schedule these suckers, some are self-emptying/cleaning, and they often provide great amusement or stress for pets, apparently. I don't know too many people who are without one these days. Now, if they would just invent something that empties the dishwasher. Heh.
Beyond housecleaning, there is a constantly growing list of home automation options to explore.
See what I mean?
And that is my list for now. In a year or two, I may come out with another depending on how many additional ways to automate my own life I discover and implement. I'm excited to see what the future brings . . .
