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Why Doesn’t AI Tell Me What to Do Already?
Aren’t we all perfectly on top of our tasks and lists by now?
Hasn’t technology fixed it all already?
It hasn’t? Why not?
I thought we’ve gotten pretty good with this whole AI-Internet-Computer thingy.
_________________________
When we come home at the end of the day, things only partially done, morning ambitions laughably untouched, one more list can make us scream.
The trouble isn’t that we haven’t mastered the technology.
It’s that these lists and tasks are a part of us.
Ideas and emotions come to us in waves, often many at once, while we can only do one thing at a time. With vessels of words we store our intentions, often with the fantasy that we might actually get to them.
And when we don’t, we discover yet another indictment of our inabilities to be more productive, more efficient, and somehow a better human being.
But our true failure is that we haven’t acknowledged our limitations as human beings.
At least two components that demand consideration are:
- Working memory
- Agency
We can only hold so much in mind at once. When we curse ourselves for forgetting something, we ignore this limitation. When we create lists that go well beyond what we can think through in a few moments, we effectively destroy their utility.
We can only decide in the moment. When we yell at our future selves, “Do homework!” in all its variations, Future You senses the arm twists waiting within our words. Of course we’d prefer to avoid them.
In this way, the work of work is still ours. What supports me will be different than what supports you. The onus for respect of agency and working memory for our future selves is on us.
Technology is still what it has always been: a tool to help our visions find fruition, not the creator of those visions themselves.
– Kourosh
PS Lists, Tasks, and Portals – Module 8 of Waves of Focus: Guiding a Wandering Mind is coming soon. From the emotional work through the technical, learn the fundamentals of storing your ideas, so you can more confidently set matters aside, engage well, and get to the places you want to be.
What is Productivity?
Productivity is many things. For some, it is about doing a lot in a little time.
But, truly, productivity is so much more. It is about:
- Setting yourself up for success.
- Being focused where you want to be.
- Doing things that you find meaningful.
- Being creative, sometimes even in harsh environments.
- Forging your own paths.
- Finding your voice and delivering it well.
- Knowing and actively deciding on your obligations.
- Knowing where and how to say “no”.
- Avoiding procrastination.
Too often, many of us fall into just going along with and fighting whatever the world throws at us. “Go with the flow!”, we say. Meanwhile, we might think, “I’d like to do that one thing. Maybe one day I will.” The days go by. The goal never arrives, and then we wonder why or blame circumstance.
But when we learn to take charge of our lives and the world
around us, we start living life with intention.
Of course, striking out may seem scary. It takes courage to live life with purpose and on purpose. Roadblocks and worries, fears and concerns show up everywhere.
This is my passion. I want to help you to find that sense of your own unique play to meet the world so that you can:
- Create a life that is yours.
- Find and follow an inner guide in a way that works for you and those you care for.
- Decide on your obligations and meet them while building the world you want.
Productivity Journal
The Good Work of Consolidation (plus an example in DEVONthink)
What do you do when the initial thrills of a new idea fall away?
Why Doesn’t AI Tell Me What to Do Already?
Aren't we all perfectly on top of our tasks and lists by now? Hasn't technology fixed it all already? It hasn't? Why not? I thought we've gotten pretty good with this whole AI-Internet-Computer thingy. _________________________ When we come home at the end of the day,...
Clock Time vs Self Time
How long will this take? Should I start it now? Tick tock, tick tock, ... When will it begin? When will I be done? Tick tock, tick tock, ... A clock's markers are vital to synchronizing the machinations of meetings amongst us. But our decisions and actions live in the...
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