I automated this a long time ago.And then I never used it. I have this thing where I tend to jump into creating a workflow for something a little too early. I think it’s something I’ll do a bunch of times and then I end up not using it all that often.
Here are some examples:
- Workflow (iOS) flow to grab a photo and then add text and write topics related to it then select those topics to create headings and send it to Evernote. I did this for the notecards I was drawing a few weeks ago and then I stopped drawing notecards as often.
- Automator (MacOS) script to make a Keynote presentation quickly from a plain text list. It was useful but I haven’t gotten the time back that I put into learning how to make it.
- Workflow (iOS) flow to turn an Evernote note into Markdown and find and replace things to eventually post it as a draft to WordPress.
I’m using that last one right now. And… I think it’s going to work pretty well. I forgot I had it at all but looking at it I’m remembering that it took a good amount of trial and error to get it to work.
It might even handle this image properly. (Update: it didn’t!)
I made these things that I don’t end up using. And that’s okay.
There are plenty of other things that I automated or made a little bit easier that I actually do use daily or at least weekly. I learned things through these other unused automations that allow me to make the ones that I use.
There’s value in that. And there’s value in keeping the mindset of looking for ways to make things that much easier.
Fixing a broken window here and there, leaving the campsite a little cleaner than when you arrived—it all adds up.