Chapter 37: Work Is Not Life

Find a Balance

Ciao and happy Friday!

Hope you had a good week.

So, at the risk of boring you with my past, I used to be a workaholic.

Yeah, me, the wellness guy.

I was not well.

I never used to be like that.

I used to be pretty happy. I made sure that I got enough R&R and enjoyed my time off.

Especially when things started off with Fiia.

But then things took a turn.

I found myself unconsciously taking on more and more work so that I could stay at work longer.

I'd get home late so I wouldn't have to deal with the drama.

I noticed that when I drove to work in the AM, that everyone drove fast to get to work.

But when I drove home, everyone drove really slow.

Were they all like me - dreading to go home and be with their families?

Anyways, I think the last straw came when I fell asleep in a meeting.

We were doing a patient review.

The room was small. It was hot. It was in the basement.

I'd spend a lot of nights at my desk doing extra work.

I could feel myself nearly passing out.

One of my collogues had to poke me to wake me up.

Our boss called me out.

I don't think I was ever that embarrassed.

At that moment, I vowed to change my life.

Wish I had AI back then.

I did this to myself.

But some of you don't have a choice today.

You have to work 2-3 jobs just to stay afloat.

I hear ya.

Balancing work and life can often feel like an impossible task.

Juggling professional responsibilities with personal commitments can be overwhelming.

By leveraging AI tools and insights, you can manage your time more effectively, reduce stress, and find more joy in both your professional and personal life.

HOW?

1. Task Management: AI can help you prioritize tasks, set reminders, and keep track of deadlines to ensure you stay on top of your responsibilities.
2. Automating Routine Tasks: AI can automate repetitive tasks, freeing up more time for important activities and personal interests. This I do a lot.
3. Time Tracking and Analysis: AI can analyze how you spend your time and provide insights on how to optimize it for better balance.
4. Personalized Recommendations: AI can suggest personalized activities to help you relax and recharge based on your preferences and schedule.
5. Mindfulness and Stress Reduction: AI can guide you through mindfulness exercises and relaxation techniques to reduce stress and improve overall well-being.

STORY

Let’s talk about Emma. Emma struggled to balance her demanding job with her personal life. She often felt overwhelmed and stressed. Emma decided to use an AI assistant to help manage her time better. The AI helped her prioritize tasks, set reminders for deadlines, and automate routine work. It also suggested relaxation activities like short meditation sessions and recommended personalized workout plans to keep her active. With these AI-driven tools, Emma found it easier to manage her work responsibilities while enjoying her personal life. She felt more relaxed, productive, and happier.

WAYS

How to start...

1. Choose an AI Assistant: Look for AI assistants like Google Assistant, Siri, or specialized apps like Todoist and Trello that offer task management and scheduling features.
2. Set Up Task Management: Use the AI to create a list of tasks and prioritize them based on deadlines and importance. Set reminders for key deadlines and review your task list regularly.
3. Automate Routine Tasks: Identify repetitive tasks that can be automated using AI tools. This could include email sorting, scheduling meetings, or generating reports.
4. Track Your Time: Use AI tools to track how you spend your time. Analyze the data to identify areas where you can optimize your schedule.
5. Schedule Personal Time: Block out time for personal activities and relaxation. Use AI to remind you to take breaks and enjoy your hobbies.
6. Incorporate Mindfulness Practices: Use AI-guided mindfulness exercises and stress reduction techniques to stay calm and focused.

Here’s how a conversation might look between you and an AI assistant on this:

You: Hey, I’m having trouble balancing my work and personal life. Can you help me with that?

AI: Absolutely! Let’s start by understanding your current schedule. How do you usually spend your day?

You: My day is mostly filled with work tasks, meetings, and responding to emails. I rarely find time for myself. But I’m not sure how an AI can really help with this.

AI: I understand your skepticism. It might seem unusual to rely on AI for personal balance, but let’s break it down. AI can help by organizing your tasks, setting reminders, and even suggesting ways to manage your time better. Would you like to hear how we can start with something simple?

You: Sure, but I’m not convinced it’ll make much difference.

AI: Let’s start with prioritizing your tasks. How about you list out your tasks for today, and I’ll help you organize them based on importance and deadlines. This way, you can see how a structured approach can make a difference. What do you think?

You: Okay, I have a few tasks: a project report, three meetings, responding to emails, and preparing a presentation.

AI: Great, thanks for sharing that. Here’s a suggestion: Focus first on the project report, as it’s likely time-sensitive. Next, prepare for your meetings. Allocate specific times for responding to emails, perhaps twice a day, so it doesn’t interrupt your workflow. Finally, set aside some time to work on your presentation. How does that sound?

You: That sounds reasonable, but I still don’t see how AI is better than just making a to-do list.

AI: That’s a good point. The difference is that AI can do this dynamically, adjusting as new tasks come in and reminding you in real-time. Plus, I can help automate some of these tasks, like managing your emails. For example, setting up filters to prioritize important messages. Would you like to try that?

You: Maybe. But how does AI help with making time for personal stuff?

AI: Great question! AI can help you schedule regular breaks and personal activities. By analyzing your daily patterns, I can suggest the best times for you to take breaks, reminding you to step away from work. For instance, a short walk or a quick exercise session can boost your productivity and well-being. How about we start by scheduling a couple of short breaks today?

You: I guess it wouldn’t hurt to try. What’s next?

AI: Let’s set a reminder for a 10-minute break every two hours. You can do this using your phone’s alarm or a calendar app. During these breaks, you can stretch, take a walk, or simply relax. Additionally, let’s schedule some personal time in the evening for your hobbies or relaxation. Do you have any specific hobbies or activities you enjoy?

You: I like reading and gardening, but I rarely find time for them.

AI: Let’s make time for those! How about we schedule 30 minutes for reading before bed and 30 minutes for gardening over the weekend? You can set reminders for these activities on your phone or calendar app. This way, you’ll have a structured plan that includes both work and personal activities. Does that sound good?

You: It does sound good, but what if I forget to stick to the schedule?

AI: That’s where reminders come in handy. I recommend using a reminder app or your phone’s calendar to set alerts for your breaks and personal time. This will help you stay on track. Plus, by reviewing your schedule regularly, you can adjust it as needed to ensure it works for you. Let’s give it a try for a week and see how it goes. What do you think?

You: Alright, let’s try it. But I’m still not fully convinced.

AI: I understand. Let’s take it one step at a time. We’ll start with the basics and see how it improves your day. If it works, we can expand and fine-tune the approach. Remember, the goal is to make your life easier and more balanced. I’m here to help you achieve that. Ready to get started?

You: Okay, I’m ready to give it a shot.

AI: Great! Let’s start with today’s schedule. Set reminders for your breaks and personal activities using your phone or calendar app. Let’s check in at the end of the day to see how it went and make any necessary adjustments. Sound good?

You: Sounds good. Thanks, I’m looking forward to seeing how this works.

AI: You’re welcome! I’m here to support you every step of the way. Let’s make today productive and balanced. Talk to you soon!

WRAPPING UP

If you think about it, its tough for us to deal with this world.

We need to use tech to hep us to recapture the time we need to stay healthy and well.

Use AI to help you figure out what works for you.

Use tech to remind you to do things.

Carve out time for R&R.

Shoutout to Nik for helping me with the work side of this.

THOUGHTS?

Love to hear from on this or any other chapter so far.

Have a great weekend!

See you next week.

Leo Serrano, Editor, Fulfillment Fridays, 10xYOU​

Remember, you can always email me directly at leo@10xyou.us​