5 Practical Python Automation Tricks That Save Hours
Repetitive computer tasks are soul-crushing. Why click through menus or manually edit files when Python can do it for you? Here are five real-world automations I use weekly to reclaim my time.
1. Browser Automation with Playwright (No Coding Needed!)
Use Case: Automate form filling, scraping, or testing without writing complex Selenium scripts.
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pip install playwright
playwright install # Gets browsers
Magic Trick:
- Run playwright codegen in your terminal
- Interact with a website (click, type, navigate)
- Watch as Playwright generates the Python code for your actions
- Copy-paste into a script—instant automation!
Why It’s Gold:
- Records exact clicks/inputs
- Handles JavaScript-heavy sites
- Exports ready-to-run code
2. Schedule Tasks Like a Pro
Use Case: Daily reports, auto-backups, or reminders without cron jobs.
python
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import schedule
import time
def send_reminder():
print(“⏰ Time to stand up and stretch!”)
# Run every 30 minutes
schedule.every(30).minutes.do(send_reminder)
# Daily at 9 AM
schedule.every().day.at(“09:00”).do(lambda: print(“☕ Morning report ready”))
while True:
schedule.run_pending()
time.sleep(1)
Pro Tip: Run this on a Raspberry Pi for 24/7 scheduling.
3. Batch Edit Images in 3 Lines
Use Case: Process hundreds of product photos (rotate, sharpen, convert to grayscale).
python
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from PIL import Image, ImageFilter
import os
for photo in os.listdir(‘raw_photos’):
img = Image.open(f’raw_photos/{photo}’)
img.rotate(90).filter(ImageFilter.SHARPEN).convert(‘L’).save(f’processed/{photo}’)
Workflow Hack:
- Drop images in /raw_photos
- Run script → get edited versions in /processed
4. Download YouTube Videos Programmatically
Use Case: Archive tutorials or save music for offline use.
python
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from pytube import YouTube
def download_video(url, save_path=”~/Downloads”):
yt = YouTube(url)
stream = yt.streams.get_highest_resolution()
print(f”Downloading: {yt.title} ({stream.filesize_mb}MB)”)
stream.download(output_path=save_path)
download_video(“https://youtu.be/dQw4w9WgXcQ”)
Ethical Note: Only download content you have rights to!
5. Merge PDFs Without Adobe
Use Case: Combine reports, invoices, or scanned documents.
python
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import PyPDF2
import os
pdf_merger = PyPDF2.PdfMerger()
for file in os.listdir():
if file.endswith(“.pdf”):
pdf_merger.append(file)
pdf_merger.write(“merged_documents.pdf”)
pdf_merger.close()
Time Saver: Drag PDFs into a folder → run script → get single merged file.
Why This Beats Manual Work
| Task | Manual Time | Python Time |
| Process 100 images | 45 min | 12 sec |
| Daily data backup | 5 min/day | 0 min |
| Merge 20 PDFs | 15 min | 3 sec |
Getting Started
- Pick one annoying task (e.g., renaming files)
- Google “[task] Python automation”
- Adapt a script (most need <10 lines)
- Run it → Enjoy your free time
“Automation isn’t about laziness—it’s about working smarter so you can focus on what matters.”
