AI Beyond the Basics: Build Your Personal AI Toolkit for Work and Life Three months ago, I set ambitious goals for Q2. Some I crushed, others humbled me. But here’s what I learned about growth, fear, and the power of showing up—plus the bold commitments I’m making for Q3. Looking Back: Q2 Was My AI Renaissance This past quarter was transformative, though not always in the ways I expected. I called it my “AI domination” phase, and honestly, that’s exactly what it was. I dove headfirst into AI agents, consuming countless articles, videos, and courses. The learning curve was steep—I went from prompting AI like anyone else would to building a conversational AI for onboarding that could handle complex customer scenarios, and a personal AI that helps me on my daily endeavours. What fascinated me most was discovering how AI amplifies human creativity rather than replacing it. There’s research from MIT showing that workers using AI tools like ChatGPT saw productivity increases of 37% for writing tasks, but the real magic happened when I learned to combine AI capabilities with my own insights and domain knowledge. It wasn’t just about using the technology—it was about understanding how to dance with it. But the real wins went deeper than code. I made a conscious effort to prioritize relationships—family, friends, and my partner—and discovered something profound: vulnerability creates connection. When I started being more open about my goals and struggles, our conversations became richer. I’d call my family more often, not just for obligatory check-ins but to actually share what I was learning and working on. With friends, I moved beyond surface-level catching up to deeper discussions about life direction and challenges. And in general I have now openly shared with my closest friends and family all my ambitious goals! Harvard’s Grant Study, which has followed subjects for over 80 years, consistently shows that good relationships are the strongest predictor of happiness and life satisfaction. I felt this truth viscerally as my relationships deepened. My girlfriend and I started having more honest conversations about our future, aligning our individual ambitions with our shared vision. The connection became stronger because I wasn’t hiding behind a facade of having everything figured out. Getting back into calisthenics after a long break reminded me that physical challenges mirror mental ones: the comeback is always harder than the original journey, but infinitely more rewarding. My shoulder, which had been bothering me for months, started improving as I committed to consistent stretching and bodyweight exercises. There’s something humbling about struggling with movements that once felt effortless, but research shows that neuroplasticity—our brain’s ability to reorganize—actually increases when we’re relearning familiar skills. Highlights Successfully completing a demo version for actual clients. Nothing pushes you out of your comfort zone like real stakes and real people depending on your work. I remember the moment when the client tested the AI system and of course found something not working—I couldn’t figure out what it was that made it break. That’s when I realized I wasn’t just building cool projects anymore; I was solving real problems for real people. Pushing through to understand and fix every bug that popped up along the way, was what underlined what I had already known: I will never give up! Reality Check Time management became my biggest nemesis. Balancing work, personal projects, and social commitments felt like juggling flaming torches while riding a unicycle. Daily Bites, my app project, didn’t get the attention it deserved because I was spreading myself too thin. Research from the University of California, Irvine found that it takes an average of 23 minutes and 15 seconds to refocus after a task interruption—and I was interrupting myself constantly, switching between projects without giving any single one the deep work it deserved. Present Reality: I’m Ready But Scared Here’s where I stand today: professionally, I’m in the best place I’ve been in years. I’m working on projects I genuinely love, feeling energized and focused. My life satisfaction ratings tell the story—I’m at 9.5/10 for work and ambition, 10/10 for learning and growth. But ratings are just numbers until you understand what they represent. The 9.5 in work comes from finally landing in a role where I’m building things I believe in, where my boss trusts my judgment, and where every day brings new challenges that stretch my capabilities. It’s not just about the technical work—it’s about the alignment between what I’m doing and what matters to me. Cal Newport’s research on “Deep Work” shows that people who can focus intensely on cognitively demanding tasks report higher job satisfaction and better performance. I’m experiencing this firsthand. But there’s a gap that’s been staring me in the face, and it’s the gap between competence and confidence, between creating and sharing. I’m still not seeing results from my own work. I mean, how could I?  I’m building incredible things, learning voraciously, but I’m not putting myself out there. The brutal truth? I’ve been recording myself for over four weeks and haven’t edited a single video. I have hours of footage sitting on my hard drive, documenting interesting projects, insights, and reflections—but they’re invisible to the world. This hits on something psychologists call “impostor syndrome,” but I think it’s more nuanced than that. Research from the International Journal of Behavioral Science shows that 70% of people experience impostor syndrome at some point, but for creators and entrepreneurs, there’s an additional layer: the fear of being seen as self-promotional or inauthentic. Let me explain: I had the idea to approach strangers in London to offer free photo editing in exchange for experience and connections—a win-win that could lead to paid work or unknown opportunities—but fear held me back. Standing there in London, camera in hand, I felt the weight of every “what if” scenario. What if they think I’m trying to scam them? What if my work isn’t good enough? What if I’m just bothering people? But here’s what research from Stanford’s psychology department reveals: the “spotlight

Tired of feeling like your life isn’t ‘interesting enough’ to document? Discover why your authentic, unfiltered daily experiences are your greatest story. Learn how simply starting to record your life, even imperfectly, can unlock profound personal growth, boost confidence, and foster genuine connection. It’s time to embrace the unfiltered truth and begin your documentation journey today.

Explore how our innate curiosity, a vital force for innovation and human progress, is often lost in structured environments. This post delves into why asking ‘why’ is crucial for personal growth and societal advancement.

Maximize Downtime: Boost Productivity & Well-being In our super busy lives, those little moments of quiet often feel like wasted time. We find ourselves waiting in lines, commuting, or just having a few minutes between tasks, and too often, we just scroll through our phones or let the time slip away. This habit of ignoring small pockets of time is a huge missed opportunity for maximizing downtime for productivity and well-being. Did you know that a survey by the Bureau of Labor Statistics found that a whopping 83% of people said they spent no time relaxing during their day? It really shows how much we tend to overlook these crucial moments. We often complain about not having enough time for our passions, or wish we had more hours in the day to pursue personal goals. But what if the “extra time” we’re always dreaming about is actually hidden in these very moments we’re currently throwing away? What if we could change that? What if these brief, often-ignored periods could become powerful chances for us to grow, recharge, and even perform better? This idea is all about “micro-breaks” and “intentional downtime”—short, purposeful pauses we sprinkle throughout our day. Studies actually show that just a few minutes away from work regularly can stop you from getting totally exhausted and really boost your performance. ² This post will show you how to turn those overlooked moments into valuable assets, giving you practical ways to make the most of your downtime for better productivity and overall well-being. The Hidden Power of Downtime: More Than Just a Break We used to think of downtime as just being lazy or unproductive, but that idea is quickly becoming old news. Now, we’re starting to see these periods as smart opportunities—like investing in ourselves for peak performance and lasting well-being. The modern workplace is changing big time, realizing that true productivity comes from a mix of focused work and smart use of downtime. It’s like good time management on a bigger scale, transforming what seemed like doing nothing into a key part of being efficient. ³ This shift means that the time we often feel we lack for personal projects, learning, or simply recharging, is actually within our grasp if we learn to harness these overlooked moments. The Science of Short Breaks: Boosting Brainpower and Battling Burnout Science strongly backs up why short breaks are so good for us, going way beyond just making us less tired. When you’re working hard, your brain gets tired, just like a muscle. Short breaks help it recharge, improving your focus and memory. Think of it as a quick reset for your brain. ⁴ Working non-stop can also build up stress. Taking breaks, especially when you feel overwhelmed, helps lower stress hormones and keeps you from burning out. Simple things like deep breathing or stretching during these pauses can calm your body and mind, making it easier to handle emotions. In fact, even tiny breaks can reduce stress and bad moods by the end of the day. ⁵ Breaks are also great for sparking new ideas and solving problems. When you step away, your brain keeps working on things in the background, often leading to creative breakthroughs you might not have found if you kept pushing. Even just doing something you enjoy can bring unexpected solutions and energy. And don’t forget your body! Sitting too long isn’t good for you. Moving around during breaks, like stretching or a short walk, improves circulation, eases muscle strain, and boosts your energy. Plus, it sends more blood to your brain, helping you focus and think clearly. ⁶ The Cost of Neglect: Why Downtime is Non-Negotiable Even though breaks are super beneficial, most of us don’t take them. A survey found that a huge 83% of people said they spent no time relaxing during their day. This isn’t just a small problem; it leads to big issues for both us and society. Ignoring downtime can really hurt. Things like work-related stress, depression, and anxiety are huge problems, costing a lot in lost productivity. For example, in the UK, millions of working days were lost because of these mental health challenges. A big reason? Many people skip breaks, often feeling too busy or stressed. It’s a strange “productivity paradox”: 38% of employees feel they need to work longer to seem more productive. But studies show that working too much actually makes you less productive after a certain point. Plus, it’s linked to more mental health issues and serious physical problems. It’s like we’ve created a culture where just being there matters more than actually getting things done. But here’s the good news: things are changing! More and more companies are realizing that downtime isn’t a luxury; it’s a smart investment. Think about Google’s famous “20% time” policy, where employees spend part of their week on personal projects, leading to cool stuff like Gmail. Other big names like Apple and Netflix also focus on employee well-being with creative spaces and mindfulness. This shows that downtime is a powerful way to boost creativity and overall output. It’s a clear sign that we, too, can start seeing our personal downtime as a valuable tool for staying on top of our game. Actionable Strategies: Your Downtime Playbook Turning those small pockets of downtime into productive and refreshing moments needs some real, actionable strategies. This playbook gives you concrete, practical tips, sorted into categories so they’re easy to use. A. Productivity Power-Ups These strategies use short moments to help you focus and get things done. Micro-Learning: Expand Your Mind in Minutes Use short bursts of downtime to learn something new. This could be listening to a quick podcast, reading a summary of a non-fiction book, or watching a short educational video. Successful people often keep learning by fitting tiny learning sessions into their daily routines. ⁷ For example, apps like Blinkist or Deepstash give you condensed insights from books and articles, making it easy to learn during short breaks. ⁸ Online