Taking a break from AI
so you don't lose yourself
In this new world of AI, there is SO much coming at us all day, every day. For me at least, it makes me want to jump on the wagon and test out all the new AI tools. Or build things that help me do my work.
But I’ve noticed that I’m losing a bit of my sharpness.
I didn’t know it initially, but in the course of using AI more and more, and having greater output, I lost my edge to think critically because I started using it too much.
Now, I’m not advocating for not using AI. Want to be clear about that.
Instead, we just need to remind ourselves that it’s okay to take a break from AI.
If you’re like me, and need a re-think on how you can use AI and not lose yourself, here are some things that have helped me.
Thinking through what I ask of AI before I ask. Giving myself those extra few minutes to think through the problem and how I can tackle it has helped me a lot. Not just in leveraging AI better when I do use it, but also not needing to go back and forth so much to get what I need.
Start the project or content with human input. For all of my projects and writing, I have a fully drafted version that I write myself first. This gives me the time and space to think through what I want to say and how I want to say it. Then I use AI to help me leap over hurtles like the flow of the info.
Take time to read something that isn’t on a screen. Over the last year I have been using AI and technology for so much. I’ve got a naturally curious mind, so as I was reading something online, I would fall down a rabbit hole of information. Now, I’ve started turn off all screens and read a physical book from the library.
Take a moment to do things without AI. We have gotten to the point where using AI is the go-to action for everything. We want to know how tall a giraffe is? We use AI. Try to not use AI during your day when you need info on something. Go searching for the info. Sift through all the different references to find what you’re looking for.
I know as you read these, you’re likely thinking “well, of course these are things you can do” and I felt the same way initially. But I found it hard to put them into practice.
It’s like AI had become my drug. Which is a scary thought.
I think it’s worth it for everyone to find a couple things that help take them out of the world of technology on a weekly basis.
Maybe you have a rule of no phones after 7pm. Or maybe every Saturday is a screen-free day.
Whatever you decide, I think we will all be better if we can find those things that work now. The world of technology is only going to get more and more “exciting” as we go along. You think the FOMO is real now, wait until AI is your real personal assistant and does things for you without even being asked.
We live in such an amazing time, but we shouldn’t lose our humanity.