If you do the same thing in a spreadsheet every week, it's probably automatable. Here are five tasks worth automating first.

Weekly Report Compilation

Pulling data from multiple sheets or sources into one report is tedious and error-prone. A simple script or workflow can combine the data, apply the same formatting, and produce the report on a schedule. You review; the system compiles.

Data Refresh From External Sources

When you manually download CSV exports and paste them into a spreadsheet, you're wasting time. Many tools offer APIs or scheduled exports. Connect them to your spreadsheet—or a database—so data updates automatically.

Formatting and Validation

Applying the same formatting (dates, numbers, headers) or running the same validation checks every time is repetitive. Create a template or a short script that does it in one click. Consistency improves; errors decrease.

Distribution of Reports

Emailing the same report to the same people every Monday? Automate the distribution. Tools like Google Sheets, Power Automate, or simple scripts can send reports on a schedule. You set it up once; it runs every time.

Backup and Versioning

If you're manually copying files to create backups, you're at risk of forgetting or overwriting. Automate backups—daily or weekly—so you always have a recent copy. Version history in cloud tools helps, but a separate backup is safer.

Start with the task that hurts most. Automate that one, then move to the next. Small automations add up to significant time savings over time.