One of the easiest places to start with automation when you already have a Mac is with the built-in app Shortcuts. It was introduced to iOS and macOS after Apple acquired the Workflow app, which was built around a similar structure.

At first, I didn’t see the use of it for myself, since all the example shortcuts felt gimmicky—things like ‘Remind me at work,’ ‘How many days until…,’ and ‘Send the last photo as an email.’ These didn’t add much value to my workflow. So, in this post, I’ll take you through some Shortcuts I actually use on a regular basis.