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Lighten Your Load: How I Use AI Everyday to Save Time at Work and Home

August 25, 2025

Reading Time: 16 minutes

How to set boundaries

Do You Need an “Anna Day?” An Inside-Look at my Quarterly Reset Ritual for Staying Motivated, Energized and Sane as a Working Mom

Today, I’m sharing the little secret that keeps me motivated through the chaos of the year and maintains my sanity as a mom. It’s a simple but powerful habit I’ve been keeping for the past few years, and I call it… Anna Day.

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I’m so glad you’re here – especially for this episode, because we’re talking about something that might feel a little unexpected for a podcast about time management… and that’s AI.

Or maybe it’s not all that unexpected — because let’s be honest, AI is everywhere right now. You’ve probably seen commercials for AI tools during your favorite shows, scrolled past AI-generated images or captions on Instagram, or maybe even gotten a pop-up from your phone offering to summarize your emails or plan your day. It feels like every new app or platform is announcing some kind of “smart assistant” or “AI-powered” feature.

And that can feel a little overwhelming — like the world is sprinting ahead with this whole AI thing and you’re just trying to figure out what to make for dinner or how to get your inbox down to zero.

But don’t worry — this episode is not going to be a tech-heavy, jargon-filled deep dive into the world of artificial intelligence. Instead, I’m sharing a real-life, behind-the-scenes look at how I personally use AI to save time — in my work as a time management coach, and in my day-to-day life as a mom, business owner, and human who’s just trying to stay afloat without constantly reinventing the wheel.

So in this episode, I’m telling you all about:

  • How I use AI to organize my thoughts and content so I’m not starting from scratch every time
  • How AI helps me make faster decisions — from what to eat to what to pack for a trip
  • How I use AI to streamline little everyday tasks that can eat up time and mental energy
  • And how I’ve used AI to bring more fun and creativity into my home life with my girls

New to AI? No Problem

Now before I dive into all the ways I’m using AI in my daily life, I want to take a moment to recognize that not everyone listening is coming to this conversation from the same place.

Some of you might be total pros by now. You’re using AI at work, maybe it’s helping you write reports, draft presentations, even organize your team’s tasks. Maybe you’ve used it to plan a vacation or brainstorm gift ideas. You’ve played around with it, and it’s just another tool in your toolkit.

And if that’s you — amazing! I hope this episode gives you even more ideas and inspiration for how to take it further or use it in new, creative ways.

But for others, AI might still feel new, maybe even a little intimidating. You’ve heard people talk about ChatGPT, maybe you’ve seen it mentioned on social or in the news, but you’re not quite sure what it actually does or how it could possibly help you.

First of all — that’s okay. You’re not behind. You’re not missing out. You’re just where you are, and that’s exactly where you’re supposed to be.

And second — I want you to know that you do not have to be a tech person to benefit from AI. Seriously. You don’t need to understand how it works or what’s happening “under the hood” to use it in a way that helps you get more done, feel more focused, or just breathe a little easier.

New things can feel weird. That’s normal. But one of the best ways to make something feel less weird is to see how it shows up in real life — not in theory, but in the day-to-day.

So that’s exactly what I’m going to share with you next.

I’m walking you through the real ways I’ve used AI to save time — as a coach, a mom, and a regular human who’s trying to juggle all the things. Some of these are creative. Some are super practical. Some might surprise you.

And who knows? One of them might just be the spark you need to try it out for yourself.

Alright, let’s kick things off with how I use AI in my work life — especially for content creation and admin tasks.

How I Use AI at Work as a Time Management Coach

You know I love a good system, and I also know that blank pages can feel really overwhelming — whether it’s writing an email, outlining a new offer, or even planning a podcast episode like this one.

How I use AI to Create Content and Draft Emails

So let’s start right there — with this episode.

When I sat down to create this episode, I already had a ton of ideas. I knew I wanted to share personal stories, offer encouragement, and walk through how AI can be a helpful time-saving tool. But my brain was feeling a little all over the place — which, let’s be honest, happens more often than I’d like.

So I opened ChatGPT and said, “Here are the ideas I want to include — can you help me organize these into a clear, logical flow?”

It didn’t write the episode for me, but it gave me a solid outline I could build from. It was like having a thinking partner to bring structure to my brain dump — which saved me a lot of time, and probably a lot of second-guessing.

Another way I use AI regularly in my workday is with emails — especially the ones that feel important or a little tricky to write.

Like recently, I got an email from a local magazine editor asking if I’d be interested in advertising in an upcoming issue. I knew this was a relationship I wanted to nurture, but I also knew that print advertising wasn’t in my plan at the moment.

Normally, I would’ve stared at that email for way too long, trying to figure out how to say “Not right now” without shutting the door entirely. But instead, I copied the email into ChatGPT and said, “I want to respond kindly and professionally, letting her know I’m not able to move forward with advertising right now, but I’d love to stay in touch.”

ChatGPT gave me a great starting draft. I edited it to sound more like me, and in the end, what normally would’ve taken me 30 minutes — took less than 5. And I felt really good about how I showed up in that message.

How I Use AI To Organize Admin To-Dos

And here’s one that might surprise you — I also use ChatGPT to help me batch and organize my admin to-dos.

You’ve probably heard me talk about pebbles — those smaller tasks that aren’t big rocks but still have to get done. Sometimes I’ll have a long list of pebbles and feel totally scattered on where to start.

So I’ll drop the whole list into ChatGPT and say, “Can you help me group these by type and put them in a logical order for the day? I’d like to be done by 3 PM and take a 30-minute lunch break around noon.”

ChatGPT will batch the similar tasks together, put them in an efficient flow, and give me an agenda I can follow — no decision fatigue required. It’s such a small shift, but it makes a big difference in my focus and flow.

And one thing that’s awesome about this is that if timing doesn’t go as planned, I can pop into the original chatGPT conversation, give an update on what i’ve completed and what’s left, and it will recalibrate my tasks for me with an updated schedule and recommendations on what to shift to the next day. 

How I Use AI to Create my Weekly CEO Routine

And here’s another way AI helps me work smarter — I used it to create my Weekly CEO Routine.

This is a routine I do every Monday to keep a pulse on the big picture of my business — things like planning the week, reviewing numbers, content, and strategy.

I asked ChatGPT to help me design an agenda based on what I wanted to include, and it suggested a few smart additions I hadn’t thought of — like reviewing recent wins or checking in on long-term goals.

I refined it to fit my style, and now it’s a consistent rhythm that helps me start each week with intention and clarity.

How I Use the Voice Chat Feature in ChatGPT

And finally — this one’s kind of a game changer — I’ve been using the voice chat feature in ChatGPT while I’m driving.

You know those moments where your brain is buzzing with ideas — but you’re on the road, or running errands, or just can’t write them down? Instead of losing those ideas or letting them swirl around in my head, I open the voice chat feature and just start talking.

I’ve done full-on idea downloads while driving, and then asked ChatGPT to clean up and organize my thoughts so I can come back later and actually do something with them.

Fun fact — I actually “wrote” the entire webpage for The It’s About Time Academy this way. I talked through what I wanted to say while driving, then later opened up the notes ChatGPT had created and refined it into the final version.

It felt effortless — because I captured my ideas while they were fresh, and didn’t have to recreate the moment later when I was back at my desk.

So whether it’s outlining an episode, writing a clear email, organizing my tasks, or capturing thoughts on the go — AI has become a powerful part of how I work smarter, not harder. And I love that it’s there when I need it, but never takes over my voice or my vision.

How I Use AI in my Personal Life as a Time Management Coach

Now let’s shift from work mode to something a little more personal: routines and planning.

You know I’m a big believer in creating routines that support your life — not box you in. But even as someone who teaches routines, I still need help optimizing them from time to time — and AI has been a really useful tool for that.

One of the first ways I used AI in my personal routines was actually with skincare.

So here’s the thing — I love a good skincare product. I’ve got some Counter (formerly BeautyCounter) favorites, a few clinical-grade products I got at a retreat swag bag, and a couple tried-and-true drugstore picks. Oh, and don’t forget the facemasks.

Over time, I’d built up this little skincare arsenal, but I wasn’t totally sure how to use everything — or if I was even using it in the right order. So, I went to ChatGPT and said, “Here are my skincare goals — mostly anti-aging, now that I’m 40 — and here’s a list of every product I have. Can you create a morning and evening routine using what I already own?”

Not only did it build a super simple daily protocol for me, but it also pointed out that one of the products I’d been using at night was actually meant for mornings. I had no idea!

I printed out the routine and taped it inside my closet. It’s one less thing I have to think about, and I feel so much more confident that I’m actually using what I’ve invested in — and using it well.

How I Use AI for Packing

Another big time saver  — let’s talk about packing.

When we took our family trip to Disney back in January, I pieced together recommendations from blogs and websites — you know, the ones with the “Ultimate Park Bag Packing List” and so on.

But of course, not every list is tailored to a family with two girls, ages 3 and 5. So I grabbed a few of my favorite blog lists, pasted them into ChatGPT, and said, “Based on these recommendations, and the fact that we’re a family of four — two adults, two young girls, and that we’re renting a double stroller with storage underneath — can you create a prioritized park bag packing list for us?”

It gave me a smart, customized list that made our park days so much smoother. I’m not even joking – When my husband Scott took our stroller and park bag through the security checkpoint at the Magic Kingdom, the cast member going through our gear told him “sir, this is the most efficiently packed park bag and stroller I’ve ever seen.” 

Yes – that basically means we won the Disney World packing game, thanks to ChatGPT.

I did the same thing with our overall packing list for the trip: how many days we’d be gone, what the weather looked like, what our itinerary included.

I even told it about personal touches, like adding Ross Puppy — my daughter’s favorite stuffed animal — to make sure we didn’t forget anything essential.

It took what could have been hours of prep and overthinking and simplified it into something I could print and check off quickly.

So whether it’s skincare, family travel, or simply cutting down on decision fatigue, AI helps me build and refine routines that work for my life — no more guessing, no more starting from scratch.

And that’s really what it’s all about — not making more work for yourself, but using a tool that helps you bring order to the chaos and move forward with confidence.

How I Use AI to Save Time in Everyday Life

Alright, now let’s talk about the real-life moments. The ones where things don’t go as planned. Where you’re standing in your kitchen with no idea what to make for breakfast, or it’s summer break and the kids are not feeling the toys they played with yesterday and it’s WAY too hot to go to the park. 

This is where AI really shines as a flexible, creative problem-solver.

Using AI for Meal Planning

Let’s start with food — specifically, breakfast. Now in our house, Scott usually handles the meal planning and grocery shopping, which is amazing. But like every family, sometimes things don’t go as planned.

One Monday morning — a low-carb day for me since I follow the Faster Way to Fat Loss carb cycle method — I opened the fridge ready to make my go-to bacon and eggs… and we were out of bacon. 

If you’re curious about Faster Way or what carb cycling looks like, check it out here. It’s been a great fit for me, and I know some of you might find it helpful too.

Anyway, back to that bacon-less Monday.

We did have prosciutto, ham, mozzarella, and a few other random ingredients — but here’s the thing: I’m not a “throw something together” kind of cook. I love a good recipe. I love instructions. And I just didn’t have time to scroll Pinterest or hunt through Google.

So I opened ChatGPT and said, “I need a high-fat, high-protein breakfast using what I have in the fridge. I listed out a handful of ingredients I felt like I could work with. And added the stovetop only — no oven.”

It gave me five creative options, including a prosciutto mozzarella scramble that has now become one of my favorite go-to breakfasts.

It was fast, it fit my macros, and best of all — it didn’t require me to overthink it.

Using AI to Keep the Kids Entertained

Another moment when AI came to the rescue? Keeping my kids entertained. 

One day this summer, the girls were just not in the mood. We try to keep screen time limited, but the usual toys and playroom setup just weren’t cutting it.

So I said, “Hey — want to do a scavenger hunt?” And they instantly perked up. It was something different! 

I popped into ChatGPT and said, “Can you create a fun, 20-item scavenger hunt list for kids around the house? Make sure my six-year-old can read and understand the clues.”

Within seconds, I had the cutest list — things like “something soft,” “something in Mom’s favorite color,” “something that smells good.”

I printed it, popped it on a clipboard, and handed it to them. Instant joy. Millie could read the clues, and she Bitsie ran all over the house giggling, searching, and getting creative filling a beach bag with random stuff like they were racing against a clock. It was adorable. 

How We Used AI and Theme Days Over the Summer

And on a similar note, over the summer I tried something new to help keep our days from getting too repetitive — I created Theme Days.

We had “Make It Monday,” “Treat Yourself Tuesday,” “Where We Going Wednesday,” “Pool Thursday,” and “Movie Night Friday.”

On “Make It Monday,” I wanted to do fun, simple crafts — but I didn’t want to scroll Pinterest or dig through saved Instagram posts. So I asked ChatGPT:

“Can you give me some craft ideas for two girls, ages 4 and 6, using basic supplies and items we probably already have at home.” I didn’t even list what we had on hand

It gave me several ideas, including making rainbow collage using magazine clippings, paper plates and gluesticks, and a “paint with stickers” activity grouped stickers of different colors to make a picture. 

The girls loved it, it kept them busy, and it cost us nothing — no craft store run needed.

So these aren’t big, life-changing moments.

But they’re the daily things — the little stuck points that slow us down, frustrate us, or steal our energy.

And honestly? These are also the moments where it’s so easy to slip into default mode.

I could’ve just turned on the TV to keep the girls busy. I could’ve said, “Figure it out” and kept moving. 

I could’ve paused my entire morning to run to the store for bacon, or just poured a bowl of cereal and called it close enough.

And sometimes — hey, let’s be real — that’s exactly what I do. No shame in that.

But having a tool like AI helps me get creative, stay aligned with my goals, and make the intentional choice more often — even when I’m tired, distracted, or pressed for time.

It gives me a fast, relevant, personalized way to move forward — so I can stay focused on what matters most, instead of getting bogged down by the little stuff.

Which AI Tool Should You Use?

Before I dive into some tips for getting the most out of AI, let’s talk about something that can feel like a big hurdle at the very beginning: Which AI tool should you even use?

I get it — there are so many out there right now. It feels like a new one launches every week. There’s ChatGPT, which is probably the most well-known at this point. That’s the one I use most often — and the one I’ve used for everything I’ve mentioned in this episode so far.

But there are other options out there too — like Claude, Jasper, and Perplexity — each with their own specialties and features.

There are also tools that are more niche or built for specific use cases — like AI schedulers and calendar assistants. If you’re curious about those, look into things like:

Reclaim.ai, which can help automatically time block your calendar

– Or Motion, which reorganizes your schedule dynamically based on task priority

– Or Clockwise, which helps teams find focus time by moving meetings around

5 Tips to Use AI to Save Time

So here are five simple tips that will help you make the most of AI — and maybe even have a little fun with it, too.

You don’t have to try them all. You don’t even have to research them all.

My best advice? Start with one.

If you’re just getting started, I recommend beginning with ChatGPT — it’s simple, easy to access, and can handle pretty much everything we’ve talked about today. There’s a free version that works great, and a paid version that gives you access to more advanced features, including the voice chat I mentioned earlier.

Once you feel more comfortable and start seeing how AI fits into your life, then you can explore other tools if and when you need them.

Don’t let the flood of options stop you from trying something. You don’t need the perfect tool — just one that helps you take the next step.

So now that you’ve got a sense of where to start, let’s talk about how to get the most out of whatever AI tool you’re using…

Like anything new, there’s a learning curve — but I promise, it doesn’t have to be steep. You don’t need to be a tech whiz or know fancy prompts to get something helpful out of a tool like ChatGPT.

So here are five simple tips that will help you make the most of AI — and maybe even have a little fun with it, too.

Tip #1: Know What a Prompt Is

First things first — let’s define a prompt. A prompt is just the message or question you type into the AI. Think of it like giving directions to a helpful assistant. The more clearly you explain what you want, the more helpful the response will be.

Tip #2: Be Specific

The biggest difference between a helpful response and a generic one is how specific your prompt is.

For example: “What should I make for dinner?” — Eh, kind of vague.

But — “What can I make with chicken thighs, broccoli, and quinoa using the stovetop in under 30 minutes?” — now that is going to get you something useful.

The more context you give, the better the results.

Tip #3: Start with What You Already Have

You don’t need to start from scratch. One of my favorite ways to use AI is to take something I’ve already created — like a rough email, a packing list, or a big messy mindsweep of ideas — and ask ChatGPT to clean it up or organize it.

It’s like handing off the mental load to a whip smart super fast assistant and saying, “Can you make sense of this for me?”

Tip #4: Don’t Expect Perfection

ChatGPT is helpful, but it’s not perfect — and it doesn’t need to be.

I almost always tweak the responses I get to sound more like me, or to fit what I really want. Think of it as a collaborator, not a final-draft writer. You’re still in control — you’re just not doing all the heavy lifting alone. 

Tip #5: Be Curious and Play

Some of my favorite uses of AI came from just playing around.
I asked it to make a scavenger hunt. I asked for kid-friendly crafts using paper plates and stickers. I’ve even asked for fun ways to shake up a Tuesday when we all needed a mood boost.

You truly can’t break it — so be curious, experiment, and see what happens.

Bonus Tip: Give a Little Context

You don’t have to share your life story, but it is helpful to give a little background. Something like, “I’m a working mom with two kids and I’m trying to meal prep lunches for the week” will help the AI give you responses that actually fit your real life.

So whether you’re using AI for a creative brainstorm, a meal plan, a packing list, or just to organize your swirling thoughts — these tips will help you get something helpful and relevant, without needing to be tech-savvy or know all the right words.

It’s really about learning how to talk to it like a teammate. Start simple, stay curious, and make it work for you.

How Can You Use AI to Save Time?

So now that you’ve heard all these real-life ways I’ve used AI — from work projects and routines to last-minute breakfasts and rainy day scavenger hunts — I want to turn it back to you.

What’s one area of your life where you feel stuck, scattered, or just tired of figuring things out from scratch?

Maybe it’s the mental load of planning meals.

Or writing that email that’s been sitting in your drafts for three days.

Maybe it’s coming up with something fun to do with your kids — that doesn’t involve another trip to Target or turning on Disney+

Wherever that pressure point is for you, I just want to say:

You don’t have to carry it alone.

And you don’t need to have it all figured out to start lightening the load.

AI is just a tool — not a solution to everything, not something that replaces your brain or your voice — but a very useful tool that can save you time, reduce stress, and help you focus your energy where it matters most.

You don’t have to use it every day. You don’t even have to love it.

But what if you let yourself try? Just once? No pressure, no performance — just play.

Maybe that looks like:

– Asking for five dinner ideas based on what’s in your pantry

– Getting help crafting a kind but clear email reply

– Asking for a rainy-day activity for two kids under age 7

– Or organizing that long to-do list into a realistic, time-blocked plan

Small, simple experiments like these can open the door to big relief.

And if nothing else, I hope this episode gave you permission to get a little creative — and to give yourself grace for not doing everything the hard way.

Grab My Free Cheatsheet: 20 Time-Saving Prompts to Make Life Easier and Lighten Your Mental Load

If you’re thinking, “Okay, I want to try this… but I’m not sure where to start,” I’ve got you covered.

I created a free cheat sheet just for you called Everyday AI: 20 Time-Saving Prompts to Make Life Easier and Lighten Your Mental Load.

Inside, you’ll find 20 simple, ready-to-use prompts that you can copy and paste into ChatGPT — no tech skills required. These are real prompts I’ve used for everything from packing lists and skincare routines to email drafts and kid-friendly activities.

So if you’re ready to dip your toe into the world of AI — in a way that feels practical, personal, totally doable and saves you time — this is your next step.

DM me on Instagram or shoot me an email at anna@annadkornick.com and tell me your favorite way to use AI — or let me know if this episode gave you a new idea to try. I always love hearing from you and cheering you on.

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