As the calendar flips to another year, the age-old question arises: “What are your New Year’s resolutions?” Typically, this would prompt a series of contemplative dog walks, reflecting on life’s grand questions. But this year? I handed the task over to AI. And let me tell you, it was faster and more effective than walking the dog since half the walk I am thinking of how I should have worn more layers.
If you’re new to the world of AI-assisted planning, let me give you the lowdown on how I made this magic happen. Over the years, my conversations with AI have been frequent and varied, so it already knows quite a bit about me. For instance, it’s well aware of my Iron Maiden obsession, my passion for drones, and the juggling act of parenting two kids. It even knows what’s often on the dinner table, who my pets are and my style of humor.
Armed with all this context, I simply kicked things off by asking the AI, “What are some suggestions for New Year’s resolutions for me?” Within seconds, it churned out a comprehensive list spanning personal goals, family aspirations, work ambitions, and lifestyle improvements. But the first draft, while solid, wasn’t quite “me.” So, I fed it more data—specifics about my priorities and challenges—and let it refine the suggestions. The result? A tailored, witty, and actionable set of goals that genuinely resonated.
1. Tell It Your Troubles
Start by outlining where you feel stuck or what areas of life you’d like to improve. Are you struggling to stick to a fitness routine? Is work-life balance feeling more like work-work imbalance? The more context you provide, the better AI can tailor its advice.
For example, I’ve been thinking about knee strengthening (thanks, skateboarding). By sharing these details, AI didn’t just give me generic “get healthy” tips—it suggested targeted exercises that aligned with my goals.
2. Share Your Goals
Once you’ve outlined your challenges, it’s time to dream big. Tell the AI what you want to achieve. Whether it’s a career milestone, spending more quality time with family, or finally learning how to do that drone trick shot, the AI can help you break these down into actionable steps.
3. Get Specific
Generic resolutions like “be more organized” or “spend more time with family” are a recipe for failure. Be specific. Tell AI how much time you want to spend on a new hobby or what kind of organizational tools you’re open to trying. For instance, I told it I needed to carve out 30 minutes a day for focused work while managing two kids, a dog, and a home office. It responded with suggestions that included time-blocking techniques and even ways to involve the family in my planning.
The Final Touch
One of my favorite parts of this process was having the AI rewrite my resolutions in my preferred style of humor. Because, let’s face it, if your goals don’t make you smile, you’re less likely to stick to them. For example, instead of a boring “exercise more,” it gave me: “Strengthen knees so skateboarding doesn’t land you in a hospital bed, dreaming of your glory days.”
By the end of the process, not only did I have a list of resolutions that felt achievable, but they also felt like me. And that, my friends, is the beauty of working with AI—it learns, adapts, and helps you see yourself in a clearer, more actionable light.
So, as you gear up for 2025, consider enlisting AI as your planning partner. It’s like having a personal coach, a brainstorming buddy, and a humorist all rolled into one. Here’s to a year of goals achieved and dreams realized—with a little help from technology and maybe still a few dog walks for old time’s sake.
