6 Great Automated Routines for Travellers on Google Nest Hub

One of the most powerful yet underutilized features on Google Nest devices is Routines or Automations. Besides playing your favorite tracks and updating you about the weather outside, Google Nest devices like the Nest Hub can run certain preset automations using a trigger word or phrase.

From ensuring your house is safe before departure to keeping your bedroom ready for your arrival when traveling, here are some of our favorite automations and routines for Google Nest devices.

1. Brief Me

Here’s a routine you can use to get updated about your travel the following day. Before you go to bed, simply say, “Hey, Google, brief me.” Your Nest Hub will then inform you about tomorrow’s weather conditions, your flight timings from the Calendar app, travel time to the airport, and even ask you what time you want the alarm to go off.

This is a handy routine for staying updated about the following day’s conditions so you can start early if there’s heavy rainfall or the commute to the airport is long. All you must do is head to the Get info and reminders section within Automations and select the relevant options. Set the trigger phrase, and you’re good to go.

In fact, you can even use this routine while you’re vacationing to know about your day ahead, where you’re visiting, and the time to commute to that place. Set up a new routine with a different name and enter the location where you’re headed. Knowing the weather and other details about the new location and help you explore it more efficiently.

2. I’m Leaving

While the previous automation performs some actions for you, this one is more like a safety mechanism to ensure you don’t forget to perform some rudimentary tasks before stepping out. I like to use it to remind me to turn off the stove, close the curtains, and switch off the water heater and other such appliances.

After setting the trigger phrase, select the Communicate and announce option and choose Make an announcement. Enter all the reminders you want your Nest Hub to play and save the routine. Now, announce that you’re leaving before heading out, and Google will remind you to perform these checks. This is also handy if you want Google to remind you to carry an umbrella or something important before you leave.

3. Goodbye

Both automations mentioned previously were triggered by a certain keyphrase. However, I will help you program this one to trigger automatically as soon as you leave your house. That’s because it’s one of the most important routines that I use all the time when traveling.

So, how this works is that as soon as I leave home, all my lights, fans, ACs, TVs, and other devices connected to smart plugs automatically turn off. Thanks to this, I don’t have to spend time and energy going around the entire house to turn off individual devices one by one. Think of it as a safety mechanism. Since I also have a smart lock, this routine also locks my door behind me as soon as I leave.

Create a new routine and select the Starter as Arrive/leave a location. Then, select Leave and enter the location as your home. Set a low radius and tap on Add starter. As for the action, select Adjust Home devices and individually choose what you want to do with each device. You can even set your thermostat to a certain temperature till you return. Once you start using this routine, there’s no going back.

4. Water My Plants

As the name suggests, this routine is for when you’re headed on a long vacation, and you want to ensure your plants remain healthy. Set the action to trigger at a specific time with a frequency of your choice.

Then, link your smart irrigator to the Google Assistant and set it to turn on. Now, your plants will be watered automatically at the set interval without any human intervention. You can enjoy your vacation while your plants enjoy their hydration.

5. Vacation Mode

Now, this automation is more of a simulation of sorts for safety purposes. If you live in a neighborhood that’s notorious for burglary, it’s best to make those around you feel like you are at home even when you’re not.

All you have to do is use the same trigger as the last routine and link your smart lights. Set them to turn on after sunset and turn off automatically at bedtime. This will make it seem like someone is living in your house even while you’re away.

6. I’m Back

After all of this, it’s time to return home and reverse all the tasks you’ve asked your Nest Hub to do. Repeat the same steps as in the Goodbye routine, but instead of Leave, select Arrive and enter the location of your house. Then, instead of turning off devices, turn them back on. This way, you won’t have to individually turn on all your devices.

You can also disable the watering plants and vacation mode routines since you can perform those actions manually now that you’re back home. Since I’ve mentioned pretty much every starter to trigger routines, you can now experiment and come up with your own automation to make your life easier.