Smart speakers can be extremely helpful in your everyday life and have noticeably added value. Besides answering questions or playing music, smart speakers can also set routines. Alexa is a prime example, with which you can set and manage your routines, which have multiple benefits.
Why Routines are Important:
- Structure: Firstly, through routines, people know what to expect and what is expected of people, this reduces anxiety and stress
- Efficiency: Routines reduce the need to plan and make decisions daily making us more efficient. Another side effect is that time management improves as procrastination declines.
- Habits: Routines make it easier to start new healthy behaviors and break unhealthy ones.
- Health: Routines reduce symptoms of depression, anxiety and other mental health disorders, which improves mental health and sleeping routines.
- Goal Achievement: Routines can help break down your goal into smaller tasks, which will result in consistent progress towards achieving your goal.
In total, routines ensure that you take care of your mental, emotional, and physical health as well as supporting cognitive functions.
Managing Routines with Alexa
To create a routine, you use the Alexa App. First, select the ‘More’ button on the menu and select ‘Routines’. Click the ‘Plus’ to determine the name for the routine and which trigger is required to start it. Each trigger phrase will require at least one action, but you have unlimited possibilities to incorporate as many steps in a routine as you want.
You can set featured routines or make up your own with Alexa. This list mentions some routines you should consider implementing in your schedule.
Morning Routine
You can set up a routine to start your day. The trigger could either be you dismissing your alarm or an audio command such as ‘Alexa, start my day’. The action performed by Alexa could be to turn on your smart lights, play your favorite radio station, report the weather forecast, read the news or turn on your smart coffee maker. There are nearly unlimited opportunities for you, it depends on your likes to start into the day.
Bedtime Routine
An ‘Alexa, goodnight’ command can begin your bedtime routine. This includes turning off all smart lights in the house, locking the doors (smart locks required), setting an alarm for the next morning and playing soothing sounds or music to help you sleep. Whatever your preferences are, it will be possible to personalise the bedtime routine and tailor it around your needs.
Likewise, if you need a power nap throughout the day, a command such as ‘Alexa, nap time’ can turn off lights and close the curtains. Additionally, relaxing sounds can be played as well as an alarm waking you up in 30 minutes time.
You can also develop bedtime routines for your child. A routine could be set to make your child brush their teeth and go to bed. Dimming smart lights in the room and making Alexa play a lullaby on the Amazon Echo Dot Kids will help them fall asleep.
Workout Routine
A routine can be set to start playing your workout playlist, read out your workout plan or even start a guided workout with a command such as ‘Alexa, start my workout’. Likewise, Alexa can give recommendations for the ultimate workout experience. Reminding you to stretch before and hydrate after your exercise will benefit you.
After an intense Workout, the smart speaker can help with relaxation so that your mind and body can recover.
Study and Work Routine
Whether you are a child doing homework, a student studying or an adult working from home, you can set a routine to help you be productive. A study or work routine can turn off distracting devices, play focus-enhancing music and set timers for working periods and breaks.
Cooking Routine
A previous article already outlined Alexa’s kitchen skills. If you often cook with Alexa’s help, you can set a routine that starts a cooking timer, reads out your favourite recipes and plays your preferred cooking music with a command like ‘Alexa, let’s cook’.
Additionally, you can use your Amazon smart speaker to notify other members in the house that Dinner is ready. Instead of shouting across your home, the message can be delivered across devices. This will inform your kids to come to the dinner table.
Leaving Home Routine
With a command like ‘Alexa, I’m leaving’, you could have Alexa turn off all the lights, adjust the thermostat, lock the doors, and ensure all smart devices are off. Alternatively, you could customise the routine to keep some lights on to leave the impression someone is home. This would make potential robbers believe that someone is at home. Whatever it is you prefer, you can customise and personalise your routine.
Movie Time Routine
With the command ‘Alexa, let’s watch a movie’, Alexa can dim the lights and draw the curtains to set the scene to watch a movie with the perfect ambience. Similarly, Alexa could make movie recommendations to help you decide what to watch.
Reminder Routine
You can set routines to set reminders of important activities. Alexa can remind you to take your medicine if you have to or to visit the doctor regularly. Reminders may also be simple such as to drink water or stand up and move.
Routines with Alexa
For these routines to work, you will require compatible smart devices. Since routines are customisable, use your imagination to become as creative as you like- there are no boundaries to set routines with Alexa. The routines you set can be as simple or complex as you like- these were just a few ideas.
