Reclaiming Time: Using AI to Enhance Life Balance

There’s something exhilarating about the age we’re living in. It’s not just about new technology or the ever-increasing speed of life – it’s about the possibilities.

AI isn’t just another tool in my creative and business toolkit; it’s become a way to think differently, to step outside my usual patterns, and to explore new ways of working.

It’s easy to see AI as part of a problem, or just another cog in the hyper-productivity machine, but I’ve started seeing it as something else entirely – a way to reclaim time, focus, and meaning.

What if I (and we) treated AI as a collaborator rather than a machine?

• Not a Command Tool

Instead of simply asking AI to generate content, I’ve started using it as a creative sounding board. When I toss ideas back and forth, it helps refine my thoughts, push boundaries, and explore angles I might not have considered.

• Respect for the process

Just like photography requires patience and an eye for detail, AI works best when I take the time to engage with it thoughtfully. The difference between good results and great ones often comes down to how I frame my questions and ideas.

• Shifting from “Doing More” to “Living More”

AI can do more than just help me work faster; it can help me work smarter – and more importantly, live better. AI has already saved me hours of work, so now I have time for me. Instead of filling AI with more tasks, I’ve started using it to focus on my creative projects, spend time with my family, or just enjoy a quiet moment in the garden. AI can take care of the repetitive, mundane work. I see that as an opportunity to protect the time it frees up – to be present, to think, to create.

• Choosing Presence over Perpetual Striving

I’ve spent plenty of time chasing goals, starting new projects and taking old projects out of hiatus. But what if I let AI help me step away from that? What if I used it to enhance my experience rather than accelerate my output?

• Enjoying the Journey

AI has helped me see that life isn’t just about the end result. The process matters – the brainstorming, the creative spark, the moments where an idea takes shape. By letting AI handle the tedious stuff, I can focus on the parts that actually bring me joy.

• Redistributing my Time:

The real wealth isn’t in numbers or achievements – it’s in the relationships I nurture, the creative energy I cultivate, and the sense of balance I maintain. AI helps me get some of that time back.

How I Use AI with Intention

To make sure AI is actually serving me – and not the other way around – I’ve developed a few guiding principles to help me both use AI in my online hobbies, but also to keep doing my real-world hobbies:

1. Ask Better Questions:
   Instead of “give me an answer,” I ask, “help me to create, design and do better.”
2. Check my Alignment:
   Before using AI, I consider whether the task serves my bigger purpose or just adds to the noise. Which is why you won’t see me for days or weeks – I spend a lot of time asking AI interesting questions to ensure the results are accurate, pertinent, and relatable…..
3. Practise Gratitude:
   Even though AI isn’t sentient, I take a moment to appreciate the way it helps me save time, refine ideas, and expand my creativity. Some of us (including me) use human salutations to greet and communicate with AI: Whilst it seems to work, I am discovering it’s just responding how it ‘learns’ from what we write.
4. Create, Don’t Just Accumulate:
   I use AI to enhance my work, not just generate more of it. Quality over quantity, every time. Yet simultaneously, AI can help generate fiction information (i.e. story structure, character depth, etc).

My Final Takeaway

AI, like any tool, reflects how we choose to use it. I could let it push me deeper into the cycle of hyper-productivity, or I could use it as a way to slow down, focus, and reconnect with what truly matters. The way I engage with AI isn’t just about efficiency; it’s about the kind of life I want to live.

For me, the future isn’t about chasing the next big thing – it’s about being present, creating with intention, and embracing the journey. And if AI can help me do that, then it’s a tool worth using.