Can you automate yourself? It seems like an odd question to ask. We automate things that are repetitive. We let machines or software assemble products and complete tasks because they can do it quicker and with less errors.

Note: This post includes an audio version. If you don't see the audio player above, Click here to listen. You can also subscribe in iTunes

Scaling the production of a product or business is all about automation. More efficiency is generally good for the bottom line. I’ll ask again, can you automate yourself?

It still sounds strange but I think you can. Not quite the same way as we use machines and software, but you can automate yourself or at least some of the things associated with being you and being alive. I think we all do this naturally by forming habits and routines.

The last couple of weeks I’ve been talking about creativity and productivity and the sometimes struggle between them. I talked about time from the perspective of each and mentioned I’d do the same with routines. Today will be a look at routines and productivity. Next week I’ll talk about routines through the lens of creativity.

Multitasking is an Illusion

I come down hard on multitasking, because it deserves it. Multitasking as people think of it is pure garbage. Human beings can’t do two things both consciously and effectively at the exact same time. We can do multiple things at once, only if all but one of those things are done automatically and without conscious thought.

For example you can walk down the street and have a conversation with someone because walking doesn’t require conscious thought. Somewhere early in life we figured out how to walk and now we just do it without having to think about it.

Some of you will probably disagree and say you can do two things that require conscious thought at once. Maybe you’re also typing to someone in a messenger app of some kind while walking down the street talking to your friend.

Despite what you might think you aren’t doing both at the same time. You’re bouncing back and forth between the conversation with your friend and the conversation in the messenger. You’re doing it so quickly you might think you’re doing both at the same time, but you aren’t. You’re bouncing back and forth between them.

You might say so what? You’re still having both conversations. I and science say you’re doing each thing less effectively and less efficiently when you try to do two things at once. You’re going to miss parts of each conversation if you try to have both at the same time. That might be ok depending on the conversations, but you are communicating less effectively than you would be if you were having the two conversations separately

Let Your Subconscious Take Over

Notice I said we can do multiple tasks at once when only one of them requires conscious thought. If we couldn’t we never would have made it out of our cribs. It would be difficult to be alive.

We clearly do different things at the same time. I know of at least two you’re doing right now, breathing and reading this. Hopefully your conscious thought is being used to read and it’s the breathing that’s automatic.

Moving things to your subconscious (like breathing and walking) allows you to do those things at the same time as you do something with conscious thought.

When you can do things and make decisions without conscious thought, it’s not unlike being on autopilot and automating your life and yourself.

When we develop habits and routines we help move things from conscious to unconscious thought. They’re in a sense automation that can help us be more productive because they free your conscious mind to work on other things.

Routines as Automation

Did you ever get in your car and start driving somewhere only to discover a few minutes later that you’re driving someplace you didn’t intend to go?

Maybe you turned on the radio or got lost in thought.