10 AI workflows that save me 5 hours/week

Most people think AI saves time only if you build complex bots. The truth: simple, boring workflows are the ones that stack up every week.

The 10 workflows

1. Weekly planning prompt (15 minutes saved).
2. Auto-summarize meetings into tasks (30 minutes saved).
3. Inbox triage with AI highlights (45 minutes saved).
4. Calendar cleanup and focus blocks (20 minutes saved).
5. Draft email replies for low-risk threads (30 minutes saved).
6. Turn brainstorms into checklists (20 minutes saved).
7. Auto-label receipts and invoices (10 minutes saved).
8. Reformat messy notes into summaries (20 minutes saved).
9. Generate follow-up reminders (15 minutes saved).
10. Create status updates from task lists (30 minutes saved).

Step-by-step: build your stack

1. Pick three tasks you repeat every week.
2. Write a prompt for each task and store it in a notes doc.
3. Test the prompt on one real example.
4. Save the output format you want (checklist, bullet summary, table).
5. Automate the trigger with a shortcut or Zap.
6. Review results weekly and refine the prompt.

What to measure

Track how long you spent before and after. Time saved is your KPI. If a workflow saves less than 10 minutes a week, drop it.

FAQ

Do I need to code any of this?

No. Most workflows are prompts + a light automation tool.

How long does setup take?

A focused setup takes 1-2 hours once, then you save time every week.