There is more to managing a website than just creativity and technical skills. A big chunk involves monotonous work like backing up files, resizing images, clearing caches, and folder organization. Little by little, these minor tasks add up and drain one’s energy. From a psychological point of view, particularly concerning our relationship with systems and environments, these tasks can splinter attention and diminish control over one’s workflow.
The Importance of a Holistic Approach
We are less likely to interact with a ‘whole picture’ if we approach a task as a series of fragmentary ‘islands’ or components. That’s why technologies such as macOS Automator are so valuable. MacOS Automator helps unify routines and integrate small tasks into a larger framework that ensures that we remain focused on our overarching objectives rather than our smaller tasks.
Creating Unique Workflows with Automator
You can create unique workflows to complete pre-defined tasks using Automator. These tasks might range from a simple file renaming batch to more sophisticated programming like compressing folders and transferring them on an FTP server. All of these enhancements assist content creators, web developers, and site managers regain both mentally and digitally, a sense of internal order and flow.
The Risk of Tool Clutter
Nonetheless, tools do have the potential to become clutter in and of themselves. If you have developed numerous workflows over time, it is possible some workflows are irrelevant or, even more concerning, hinder the seamless functioning of your system. Knowing steps to fix these situations, including removing obsolete workflows from Automator on your Mac, improves clarity both on a personal level as well as in one’s digital workspace.
Automating Website Maintenance
To help you bring more presence and order to your work, I’ll show you how to automate website maintenance using Automator.
List all the repetitive tasks that fall under website maintenance.
Do not open Automator right away; instead, spend 2-3 days observing your work processes. Identify which repetitive tasks you find tedious or exhausting, for instance:
Uploading and resizing images.
Backing up databases or specific folders.
Renaming files to established protocols.
Archiving previously published blog posts.
Open Automator from Applications and select the appropriate Workflow type.
Choose the document type:
- Workflow: Runs within Automator.
- Application: Runs when opened.
- Quick Action: Runs from Finder or Services.
Application or Quick Action are the most suitable for website tasks, especially if they are done using the Quick Action approach.
Let’s say you often resize images for blog posts:
- Make sure to select Files & Folders on the left pane.
- Drag in Get Specified Finder Items.
- Then, select Scale Images from the Photos category.
- Optionally, add Move Finder Items if you want to change the location of the results.
- Save it as an Application after running the workflow successfully.
You can customize the application quickly through the Dock, Calendar, or LaunchAgents. Trigger with Shortcuts or Keyboard Maestro.
As with any new habit, automation workflows require a review to ensure they are meeting the intended goals. Am I automating out of avoidance or awareness?
If there are issues, recall the order of files and rules. Check if permission is granted to those files as well.
When Automator Doesn’t Meet Your Expectations
For more advanced solutions, such as API integration or conditional logic, consider the following:
- Utilizing AppleScript or shell scripting alongside Automator.
- Using external applications such as Hazel, Shortcuts, or Keyboard Maestro.
Effects of Automating Repetitive Tasks
Psychologically speaking, each repetitive task we automate and offload frees up inner “mental” space. That mental space is now available for free associative thought, deep focus, or rest. The emotional impact of automation transcends technical efficiency; it can affect wellbeing. A disorganized to-do list or a file structure can cause some people stress or guilt. Easing that stress with automation can provide a sense of calm control.
Furthermore, automation fosters some sense of stewardship over the systems we inhabit. The decision of what to automate invites reflection on what matters. The process of deciding what to automate is discerning and therefore self-organizing. This preserved order enables us to connect with our intentions more clearly, which allows us to design our work lives to suit ourselves.
Final Thoughts
The purpose of automating tasks in our day-to-day activities goes beyond saving time and improving productivity; it acts to restore order and cohesion to our lives. When ordinary processes and tasks are thoughtfully automated, instead of being irrelevant background noise, they transform into helpful systems that improve daily life.
It can be a single step pattern that frustrates you or distracts you from your work—choose it, automate it, and observe the change. While you enhance your digital habits, you may also notice that you have greater clarity regarding how you spend your time throughout the day, greater presence within daily tasks, and greater choice in how to approach the day’s activities.
