Optimizing Personal Workflows with AI Agents using (n8n)
When I Let an AI Agent Handle My To-Do List (and Kind of Loved It)
There’s something deeply satisfying about checking off a to-do list. But what if your to-do list checked itself?
That’s the question I started asking when I stumbled across n8n, an open-source automation tool that lets you build no-code/low-code workflows — and more interestingly, connect with AI agents.
As someone who juggles projects, dashboards, emails, and (more often than not) overdue reminders, I wanted to see if I could automate parts of my personal workflow in a way that actually felt smart — not just robotic.
The Build
I started by identifying the tasks that drained the most time: checking my email for project updates, drafting status summaries, and sending follow-ups. Then I designed a workflow in n8n that:
Connected to Gmail and retrieved unread messages with project keywords
Parsed the content using OpenAI (via API) to summarize them in plain language
Auto-generated a status update and sent it to my Notion dashboard
If a message required follow-up, the system created a reminder in my calendar
All of this ran on a trigger — either time-based (every morning) or event-based (when new email arrives). The whole thing looked more like a flowchart than code, but the logic was solid and flexible.
What I Learned
This wasn’t just about saving time. It was about delegating repetitive mental load to something that could handle it — consistently.
I learned how to:
Work with APIs and structure HTTP requests without writing full scripts
Leverage natural language processing to extract meaning from raw text
Think modularly about my workflow — every step is a node, every node has a purpose
But most importantly, I learned how to prototype real-life AI-assisted systems, in a way that’s accessible and expandable.
Why This Matters
We talk a lot about AI in theory, but using it practically — even just to manage your inbox — changes your relationship with it.
It stops being futuristic and starts being useful.
This project made me realize that automation isn’t about eliminating work — it’s about clearing space for better work.
And sometimes, all it takes is a little curiosity and a flowchart.
