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Week 5 -

Analog Day: A Weekly Break from AI

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AI is everywhere now—autocomplete, chatbots, AI-powered search, smart assistants. But there was a time, not too long ago, when we worked without all these enhancements.

I've decided to introduce a new habit into my weekly routine—one full day without AI. No AI-generated responses, no predictive tools, no smart assistants. Just me, my thoughts, and the old-fashioned way of doing things.

I’m calling it Analog Day, and I plan to do this every Wednesday.

Why Wednesday?

  • It’s the midpoint of the week—a natural time to pause, reflect, and reset.
  • Mondays are too hectic, and Fridays feel too close to the weekend.
  • A midweek break from AI helps balance productivity with intentional thinking.

What Does Analog Day Mean?

On this day, I will avoid:

  • AI-generated suggestions, completions, and automation.
  • AI-powered search engines or chatbots.
  • Auto-correct, predictive text, and recommendation algorithms.

Instead, I’ll:

  • Manually search for information instead of asking AI.
  • Write and code without AI assistance—no Copilot, no ChatGPT, no predictive text.
  • Take notes and brainstorm by hand instead of relying on digital summaries.
  • Rely on my own memory and judgment instead of instant AI-powered recommendations.

Why This Matters

AI makes work easier, but over-reliance on it comes at a cost. A break from AI:

  • Sharpens problem-solving skills by forcing me to think independently.
  • Boosts creativity by removing AI-generated suggestions.
  • Strengthens memory since I’m not outsourcing thinking to AI.
  • Increases focus by reducing distractions from AI-driven content.

Challenges & Expectations

This will take some adjustment. AI has become second nature, and I might instinctively try to use it. But over time, I hope to:

  • Regain a deeper sense of control over my work.
  • Reduce dependency on AI for basic tasks.
  • Appreciate the skill of working without instant automation.

This is an experiment, and I’ll refine the rules as I go. But for now, Analog Day is set. Let’s see what happens.

Would you consider working like it’s 2015 for a day? What tools would you rely on?

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