How to Automate Your Morning with Tech

Mornings can be hectic especially if you're juggling kids, work, or just trying to get out the door on time. But what if your tech could take care of the little things, giving you a calmer, more productive start to your day?

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In 2025, smart home gadgets and automation apps have come a long way. From brewing your morning coffee to setting the perfect lighting, it’s now easier than ever to take control of your mornings using technology.

In this guide, I’ll walk you through how to automate your morning with tech, using smart devices, apps, and clever routines. Whether you're a seasoned smart home user or just getting started, there’s something here for everyone.

Why Automate Your Morning?

You might be wondering do I really need more tech in my life first thing in the morning?

The answer is: only if it makes things easier.

Morning automation isn’t about being fancy. It’s about removing decision fatigue, reducing stress, and giving you time to focus on what matters like enjoying a proper breakfast or getting out the door without forgetting your keys.

Automation helps with:

• Consistency: Your routine runs the same every day

• Efficiency: Saves time on tasks like heating, lighting, or brewing coffee

• Focus: Lets you start the day with less distraction

• Well being: Encourages better habits (hydration, stretching, meditation, etc.)

  
  

Let’s break it down step by step.

1. Start with a Smart Alarm or Sleep Tracker

Forget harsh buzzers. A smart alarm clock can ease you into the day using gentle light, soothing sounds, or even voice prompts. Some models track your sleep cycles to wake you during a lighter stage, making it easier to get up.

Options to try:

• Google Nest Hub (2nd Gen): Built in sleep tracking and sunrise alarm

• Amazon Echo Dot with Clock: Wake up to music, weather, or personalised routines

• Philips SmartSleep Light: Gradual sunrise simulation

  
  

Top Tip: Use your smart assistant (like Alexa or Google Assistant) to greet you with the time, weather, and calendar appointments as soon as your alarm goes off.

2. Automate Your Lights and Curtains

Bright light helps reset your circadian rhythm and tells your body it’s time to wake up. Automating your bedroom lights or curtains can give you a more natural, energising start.

How to do it:

• Install smart bulbs (e.g. Philips Hue or TP Link Kasa) and schedule them to brighten gradually around wake up time.

• Use smart blinds or curtain motors (like SwitchBot Curtain or Aqara Curtain Driver) to let in natural light automatically.

  
  

You can even link these to your smart alarm, so the whole room wakes up with you.

3. Schedule the Kettle or Coffee Machine

Few things say “good morning” like a fresh cuppa. With a smart plug, you can automate your kettle or coffee machine to switch on just before you wake up.

What you need:

• A smart plug like TP Link Kasa, Meross, or Amazon Smart Plug

• A kettle or coffee machine with a mechanical on/off switch (so it starts brewing when powered)

  
  

You can schedule it daily, or use a voice command like “Alexa, start the kettle.”

Bonus Tip: Use a smart coffee maker like Nespresso Vertuo Next with Wi Fi to brew custom coffee blends via an app.

4. Set Up a Morning Routine with Your Voice Assistant

Voice assistants like Alexa, Google Assistant, and Apple Siri can run a whole chain of actions with a single command, such as:

“Good morning.”

This could trigger:

• Lights turning on gradually

• The weather forecast and news headlines

• Your favourite playlist or radio station

• The smart kettle turning on

• A reminder to take vitamins or stretch

  
  

How to do it:

• Open your smart assistant app (e.g. Amazon Alexa or Google Home)

• Go to Routines and create a new one

• Choose a trigger (voice command or time of day)

• Add actions: lights, media, announcements, smart plug controls, etc.

  
  

Pro Tip: Add a motivational playlist or podcast to your routine for a boost of morning energy.

5. Smart Bathroom Basics

No more stumbling into a freezing bathroom. A few upgrades can make your morning grooming routine more pleasant:

• Smart heating: Use a smart thermostat (e.g. Hive or Nest) to warm up the bathroom just before you wake

• Motion sensing lights: Ideal for early risers who don’t want to wake the whole house

• Bluetooth speaker mirrors: Listen to news, weather, or music while brushing your teeth

  
  

Optional: Some homes use smart showers to preheat water or start at a preferred temperature more common in high end setups, but worth exploring if you’re renovating.

6. Automate Your News and Calendar Briefing

Staying informed doesn’t mean doom scrolling in bed. Use tech to deliver bite sized updates instead.

Tools to use:

• Alexa Flash Briefing or Google Assistant’s Morning Report for news, weather, and calendar

• Smart displays like Nest Hub or Echo Show for at a glance info

• Widgets on your phone’s home screen for headlines and reminders

  
  

Pro Tip: Use an RSS feed reader like Feedly or a news aggregator like Flipboard to personalise what you see each morning.

7. Automate Your Commute or School Run

Before heading out, you can automate:

• Traffic updates: Smart assistants can check routes and suggest departure times

• Weather alerts: So you know whether to pack an umbrella

• Car warm up: Some modern vehicles offer remote start or heating from an app

• Door locks and alarms: Secure your home with a voice command or schedule

  
  

If you're managing a school run, create reminders for lunch boxes, PE kits, or music lessons using smart reminders on your phone or smart speaker.

8. Smart Fridge and Breakfast Prep

While not essential, smart kitchen gadgets can streamline your breakfast routine too:

• Smart fridge: Get alerts if you’re low on milk or eggs (Samsung Family Hub)

• Connected toaster: Set crispness levels via app (yes, it’s a thing!)

• Meal planning apps: Automate your weekly breakfast choices using apps like Yummly or Mealime

  
  

Practical Tip: Use a whiteboard smart display in the kitchen (like Echo Show 15) to display recipes, shopping lists, and calendars.

Final Thoughts: A Morning That Works for You

The best tech automation doesn’t overcomplicate things it simplifies your day. Even small changes like automating your lights or setting a voice assistant routine can make a noticeable difference to how you start your morning.

Start with one or two tools that solve a real problem like forgetting to turn on the heating or skipping breakfast and build from there.

In 2025, we have more tools than ever to take control of our time. Why not use them to create a calmer, smoother start to your day? — Simon Wilson | Tech Tips & How-To Guides | The Tech Advisor