Considering where we are / where things are headed, I'm trying harder to ensure I break my own patterns and maintain autopilot of better habits, especially as we are slowly getting reduced to prompt-engineering-are-you-on-muting-fully-aligning amoebas if the platforms have their way. This is not just an AI thing, but as a business-conducting society we have slipped since Lockdown. All things point to being on your laptop. These are all so obvious and not exactly ground breaking, but I've honestly been forgetting and not doing a lot of this... 1. If its a vid call/catchup with no need for visuals, turn it into a phonecall, then get out, ideally walk, drive (if hands-free of course), or if you can't do either just sit outside. It's good to be away from things, you feel more creative, and you aren't staring at screen, maybe getting distracted. I've been doing this more now as I started getting annoyed thinking the auto creation of Google Meets links shouldn't dictate my movement. 2. If you can't leave - move around a bit and defy the laptop posture. It's good to do so, those eyes need a break from the screen. 3. Use AI to help you do the things to save time, e.g. set up for note taking or reading documents, don't defy the purpose by ironically sitting there taking forever to play, learning aside. 4. But if you are using AI for research or generative purposes, question everything. This is my big worry... we must NOT lose the ability to critically think. LLMs are built to share the consensus, often which is human derived. But I worry about atrophy. There are times I have asked an engine to look at something when I could easily just have done myself. Sometimes it is smart to do, other times just lazy. Think balance, think long term value too! 5. Eat fruit, bananas are good for energy if flagging. 6. Have water on your desk. A bottle maybe. Especially when thinking/working deep - I genunely let myself become a camel if not careful. 7. Meet humans. Especially if self employed or an employed remote worker. Human actual talk is where the good feelings come from (in the main) and you can never get that from a sanitised 'nothing to add from me' video call. 8. If you can't meet, check in. See how people are going. The physical isolation of the early 2020s is now surpassed by potential psychological isolation and anxieties, let's be kinder to each other. 9. And on that note, if you are going to be on your laptop, aimlessly scrolling here (glad you did as you saw this), be nice but constructive to those who get something wrong or have a different opinion. Challenge but don't be a dick. (10) (Also personal one) Stop saying 'Vibe Coding', I know it is exciting but it sounds you-know-what. This comes from an individual with ADHD, and what is working for me. But I know a lot of this is universal. I am just saying - we need to go against the prevalent grain of tech giants taking over our minds and bodies and fight it where possible. See you outside!
Love this. The point about water 👌
A phone call and a walk goes a long way