Life as Sakti

An extremely busy day left me exhausted. While work has been demanding yet exciting, my social and voluntary involvements have also grown demanding lately—but this is by choice, as I volunteered for them myself.

In an era where AI is hailed for making life easier and more effortless, feeling exhausted might seem paradoxical. AI could undoubtedly enhance the efficiency of the work I perform, including research, experimentation, ideation, project planning, and execution. AI has become an incredibly handy and convenient tool.

However, what exhausts me is the endless loop of achievement and opportunity it creates. You accomplish something using AI tools, only to discover new ideas and possibilities that beckon you forward. This infinite loop can be draining. The key lesson here is focus: dedicate yourself to solving one problem thoroughly before moving on. This focused approach can help me achieve more without burning out.

Recently, I took on the role of president for the IIMB Orators Club—a Toastmasters club for IIM alumni—for the term July to December. This prestigious club, maintained at the highest standards for over 15 years, is both a responsibility and an honor. Here again, AI has been tremendously helpful. With Perplexity Pro, along with access to their agentic browser Comet, I can accomplish in minutes what would have otherwise taken hours.

Yet, the outcome is not always what I expect. I often find myself taking on more work and kickstarting new initiatives simply because I can. This also becomes exhausting. So another lesson is to set clear limits: fix the tasks you want to accomplish in a day, and use the saved time for doing nothing.

Doing nothing will become a new ritual for me—what I call Mind Gym. Reflecting back on school and college days, when transportation was limited, I naturally cycled or walked significant distances daily without effort. Today, we have to consciously allocate time to walk or go to the gym—it feels like an added task.

AI now handles many tasks, which diminishes our natural ability to create and think freely without technology. Earlier, ideas would flow effortlessly as I started writing; today, I often sit staring at a blank screen for hours before finding my words. This loss of creative practice is real.

Therefore, it’s crucial for me to dedicate time every day to activities without technology—and to do nothing consciously. This is my Mind Gym.

How are you experiencing this new revolution in our mental space with the rise of powerful AI? Share your thoughts in the comments!