Teacher Skills To Master: Automation

Automate more, feel anxious less!

Let’s dive into how automation can make life easier—and why it’s especially important for teachers.

While we’re not yet at the stage where AI can handle all our marking, automating daily tasks should be a high priority for every teacher.

Before we dive in, let’s clarify how automation is unique for those of us in education.

Getting Pedantic About Automation

For teachers, automation is about creating systems and tools that improve efficiency. This might look like email templates or updated checklists that eliminate guesswork.

Teachers need to consider automating processes both inside and outside the classroom. The demands from students, parents, and school schedules can quickly consume all your time. Thankfully, there are ways to manage this—though, of course, with some challenges.

Living a Rich Teacher Life Necessitates Automation

Teaching is unique in how it structures our time. The workday typically runs from 8:00 to 3:30, but meetings, clubs, and tutorials extend this. Meanwhile, most banks and services operate from 9 to 5—posing a unique challenge for teachers.

In my experience, most teachers leave sometime after 4 PM—if not later. And then there are workaholics like me, who could be found lingering around school past 6 PM.

Don’t judge! Having dinner with the night time custodial staff is a time honoured way for teachers to maintain a social life!

The point here isn’t to glorify long hours; it’s to show how ‘teaching’ hours don’t align with ‘banking’ hours. Most new and mid-career teachers hesitate to take time off during class for appointments…

Well, let’s just say as a teacher building a bit of automation into your life is not so much a ‘nice-to-have’ as a ‘can’t-do-without.’

If only there were someone who could help with that…

Ramit Sethi & The Value of Financial Automation

“Automate it and forget about it…”

Ramit Sethi is an author, YouTuber, and host of the popular Netflix program How To Get Rich. He encourages people to define what a “rich life” means for them. This is crucial, especially since teachers often achieve “riches” on paper.

However, most teachers would tell you that “when” that happens feels far removed from “now.”

This disconnect becomes especially apparent during the yearly pension planning workshop.

Ramit’s focus on automation in shaping your rich life helps you feel better now—not simply reduce future anxiety.

Automating Finances: Essential for Teachers

What’s great about Ramit’s approach is that he focuses on "$30,000 questions over $3 ones." Later this month, I’ll use meal prepping to illustrate the importance of min/maxing in a new teacher’s life. Many teachers tend to focus on minor costs instead of making impactful decisions that boost their current and long-term wellbeing.

If this sounds familiar, consider checking out Ramit’s YouTube channel to learn more. And beyond finances, start thinking about ways to automate your teacher lifestyle—both at work and at home. The sooner you build these systems, the sooner you’ll reclaim your time and peace of mind.

So ask yourself… 

Can I automate that?