Beating Procrastination in the AI Age: A Human-Centric Approach
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Hi! I'm Andrea J. Miller and this is my “On Leading Well” Newsletter. I send this to people in my networks, people I’ve met recently, and friends I want to keep in touch with. You can unsubscribe (AT THE VERY BOTTOM OF THE EMAIL) anytime, I won’t be offended.
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Today, we’ll talk about How to Beat Procrastination in the Age of AI
Also this week:
LinkedIn Live: AI-Era Branding: Unlocking Your Professional Potential
The Lighter Side of (My) Procrastination
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Beating Procrastination in the AI Age: A Human-Centric Approach
It's 11 PM, and you're staring at your screen, surrounded by productivity apps, yet that important project still remains untouched.
Sound familiar?
In our AI-enhanced world, why do we still grapple with procrastination?
Let's unpack this challenge and discover how to combine our innate drive with smart tech to beat procrastination once and for all.
The Procrastination Puzzle in the Digital Era
Why? Despite our technological advancements we still struggle with getting things done, the core reasons for procrastination remain deeply human:
1. Information Overload: With endless options at our fingertips, we often find ourselves paralyzed by choices.
2. Perfectionism: The desire and now promise of perfection with AI can make us hesitant to produce "merely human" work.
3. Digital Distractions: Each notification is a siren song, pulling us away from our tasks.
4. Fear of Failure: The age-old worry that our efforts might not measure up can haunt us, perhaps even more in the age of AI.
Strategies to Beat Procrastination: Blending Human Wisdom with AI Support
Let's walk through a day to see how you can blend traditional techniques with judicious use of technology:
1. Morning: Enhancing Self-Awareness
You start your day with a brief journaling session, noting your mood and energy levels. You can use a simple AI-powered mood-tracking app to spot patterns over time, gaining insights into when you're most prone to procrastination.
2. Mid-Morning: Optimizing the Environment
As you settle into work, you activate a distraction-free mode on your device. Smart home integration adjusts lighting and temperature for optimal focus. The key is creating an environment that nudges you towards productivity.
3. Afternoon: Mastering Task Management
Facing a daunting project, you break it down into smaller tasks. For the trickier parts, you use an AI project management tool to suggest optimal task sequences. However, YOU make the final decisions, ensuring they remain in control.
4. Evening: Building Accountability
As the day winds down, you check in with your accountability partner - a mix of AI-moderated check-ins for consistency, and weekly human video calls for that irreplaceable personal connection.
A Personal Journey: From Procrastination to Consistent Creation
For years, I wanted to do videos for my business but always found reasons to delay. The turning point came when I realized I was waiting for the perfect conditions that would never arrive and this needed to happen yesterday.
Here's how I finally overcame my content creation procrastination:
1. I started small, recording short, scripted videos just for me.
2. I set a realistic schedule of one video per week, not daily as I'd ambitiously (and unrealistically) planned before.
3. I found a supportive community of creators who provided encouragement and constructive feedback.
4. When writer's block struck, I used an AI writing assistant to generate ideas, but always ensured the final content was authentically mine.
5. Most importantly, I celebrated each video created, regardless of views or perceived quality.
The result? A consistent content creation habit that supports my vision for my professional life.
Begin by starting small to manage the overwhelm.
Balancing Technology and Human Effort
In our continual quest to beat procrastination, it's important to see technology as a supportive tool, not a crutch. Here's how:
• Use AI for initial brainstorming or editing, but trust your unique voice for the final product.
• Implement regular "tech-free" focus sessions to build your concentration muscles.
• Set strict time limits for AI tool usage to prevent falling down technological rabbit holes.
Remember, while AI can provide valuable support, true productivity stems from your intentions, efforts, and habits.
Your Turn: Reflect, Act, and Connect
Think about a task you've been putting off. What's really holding you back?
How might a blend of time-tested techniques and thoughtful use of technology help you tackle it?
Now, let's turn these insights into action:
1. Join me this week for my LinkedIn Live: "Build Your Global Leadership Edge: Cultural Intelligence for Team Success." We'll explore the impact of culture on your and your team’s success.
2. Follow me on LinkedIn to ensure you don't miss my future productivity-focused LinkedIn Lives. I'll be sharing more strategies to help you stay on top of your game in our AI-enhanced world.
3. DM me. I'm here to help you be at your productive best, offering personalized insights to overcome your specific hurdles.
In this AI-enhanced world, conquering procrastination isn't about finding a tech silver bullet.
It's about thoughtfully combining tested productivity principles with innovative tools, always keeping your human goals, abilities, and values at the center.
Your journey to balanced, tech-savvy productivity starts now.
What will you get done today?
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A Few Interesting Reads:
Optimism Wards off Procrastination
A new study found that people who anticipate lower stress in the future are less prone to severe procrastination.
One Potential Key to Knicks’ Season: Friendship
Jalen Brunson, Josh Hart, and Donte DiVincenzo have been buddies since college, a situation that those who study the workplace say can foster success.
Miami tech company launches new AI health tool
I recently shared some insights into DecodyGPT’s new precision health technology.
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The Lighter Side of (My) Procrastination
This has nothing to do with procrastination, it just made me laugh…if you’ve ever taken the train when it’s “showtime,” you’ll understand my “procrastination” and need to include this.
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That’s it for this week. Thank you for being a subscriber!
If you enjoyed this newsletter, please forward it to a friend (or 5 :) or someone you feel would benefit from reading it!
And, if you have feedback or suggestions for subjects to cover, please message me…it, like it’s author, is a work in progress.
Andrea J. Miller
+1 (646) 556-5401 (Whatsapp)