🧠 How I’m Using AI Automations to Save Time, Energy, and Eliminate Boring Tasks

Day 15 of 30 — Why I’m shifting from prompts to systems

Selim Uysal
June 15, 2025

Hi friend,

Let me start with a confession:

I’ve consumed a lot of productivity content over the years.

Apps, hacks, motivational posts, “you just need this one mindset shift,” you name it.

But here’s the truth:

Most of it doesn’t work, at least not in the way it’s sold.

There’s no single app, template, or shortcut that will magically eliminate your to-do list or turn you into a machine.

And if you’re doing knowledge work, especially creative or strategic work, the game is not about hustle, it’s about systems.

Lately, I’ve been shifting toward something more sustainable:

Not just ChatGPT prompts, but actual systems that reduce manual work across:

My content creation process (newsletters, lead magnets, educational email courses)
My CRM system (HubSpot)
My task manager (Todoist)
My daily work as a trainer in a digital service company. (I don't try to automate this part myself, due to our company policies, and we already have internal tools.

I’m currently building with Zapier; a no-code automation platform that lets me say:

“If I do this over here, do that over there, automatically.”

Examples I’m setting up:

When a ghostwriting lead fills out my form → send them an automated personalized follow-up email
After an online meeting or training session → auto-send meeting notes and action points to participants
After I finalize a post in ChatGPT → auto-publish to my newsletter and social channels with a relevant image

💡 It’s not perfect. I’m still learning.

But even 10–20% automation makes a noticeable difference, especially on busy or low-energy days.

For now, I’m sticking to:

Zapier – my main automation hub
Airtable – something I might explore soon to manage content pipelines or CRM-style data

I’m keeping it lean and focused. The goal isn’t more tools; it’s more clarity.

Forget the productivity hype.

Start by identifying boring, repetitive tasks you can offload to AI.

Even small automations will buy you space to think and create.

Because if your inbox, tasks, calendar, and systems don’t talk to each other;

you’re not working, you’re just orchestrating chaos.

📬 Want to follow my automation journey?

→ Find all my posts at productiveknowledgeworker.com (You’ll also get a curated list of my favorite tools and workflows.)

—

P.S. Thinking of building your own writing system, newsletter, or CRM?

→ DM me “automate” and I’ll help you design a system that runs even when you’re low on energy.

—

Onward,

Selim

selimuysal.net | dailyhabits.blog