I read a question from someone recently who mentioned they were frustrated with technology, with artificial intelligence trying to organize their life, and asked, ‘Can’t we just make our task lists as we did before?’ It made me smile, because its a question I ask myself, not just about my to-do list, but about so much more.
The Hand and the Tool
My grandfather taught me how to garden. He had a favourite trowel, its wooden handle worn smooth and dark from years of use. It fit his hand perfectly. He used to say a good tool feels like a part of you. It doesnt try to tell you where to dig; it just helps you do the digging you already know needs to be done. I feel this when I read about these AI planners that offer ‘irrelevant suggestions.’ They feel like a clumsy, new tool that doesn’t know the soil of your life. It gets in the way of the work. For me, planning my yoga classes or my week is a ritual. I use a simple, paper notebook. The act of writing, of feeling the pen move across the page, is part of the thinking. Its a conversation with myself. Its slow. Its deliberate. Like a yoga practice, the movement and the breath, the thought and the action, are one.
The Energy We Spend
These new ‘digital planning tools’ consume a lot of energy, and I think thats the most important part. Its not just the electricity, but our own energy. Our focus. Our peace. We live in a world that is constantly buzzing, demanding our attention, pulling us outward. But everything Ive learned teaches me that true clarity comes from turning inward. When I need to think, I dont look for an app; I walk down to the creek. The sound of the water flowing over the stones, the way the light filters through the leaves that is the best planner I have ever found. It doesnt give me suggestions, it gives me space. It doesnt add to the noise, it is a profound quiet that allows my own thoughts to surface.
So, do we need all this AI in our lives? I dont know the answer for everyone, but I know we need to be intentional. The best planner isnt an app, but a practice. Its about listening to yourself. What helps you feel grounded? What makes you feel more connected to your own intentions, and not the worlds expectations? Maybe its a simple notebook. Maybe its a walk in the forest. Maybe its just five minutes of quiet breathing before you start your day. Don’t look for a tool to tell you how to live. Look for a tool that feels like an extension of your own hand, your own heart. Find your own rhythm, and let the rest of the noise fade away.
With love and light,
Jessica