A Week Without My Smart Home

My home automation system was down for a week, and I actually missed it. That’s when I realized just how much I rely on these small conveniences every day.

Some of my favorite automations include having the bathroom lights turn on whenever I walk in and off when I leave, my lights turning on as soon as I get home from work, and my fan turning off while all my lights turn on when I wake up. These are pretty simple automations, but they’re reliable—they’ve worked consistently, with only a couple of issues over the past two years. And while they aren’t particularly complicated, I did miss them during that week without my setup.

I think one reason these automations feel more practical to me than frustrating is that I’m single, so I don’t have to worry about accommodating anyone else’s preferences or explaining how things work. That may change in the future, but for now, I’m happy that all the time and effort I’ve put into creating these automations is actually worth it. They bring real convenience to my daily life, and, honestly, a little bit of joy.