✨ the SPARK 247 ~ When You Need Forward Motion But Can't Handle Your Actual To-Do List
How to use AI on the days when "productive" looks different
The world feels a little, um… topsy-turvy right now, doesn’t it?
I feel like I’m living in a constant dichotomy. Caught up in all I’m learning (and loving with AI), and in a complete state of disbelief at what we’re all living through.
Maybe you’re having trouble focusing on your usual work. Maybe you’re doom-scrolling more than you’d like to admit. Maybe you’re somewhere in between - not inspired enough to tackle your big projects, but not in a place to check out either completely.
I’ve had more than a few of those days lately.
That weird liminal space where you’re not quite ready to dive into “real” work, but you also can’t just watch “Only Murders in the Building” reruns (though let’s be honest, that’s always a solid option. I love the quirkiness of that trio 😉).
Believe it or not, AI is surprisingly perfect for these in-between moments, not in a “productivity hack” way, but in a “here’s how to keep some forward momentum without demanding too much from yourself” way (and whenever possible, unplug, get outside in nature, or hang with your pets!).
So if you’re having one of those days - or weeks - here are some ways to use AI that might actually help.
When You Want to Make Progress (On Literally Anything Else)
Sometimes you need to feel like you’re making progress on something, just not the thing you’re supposed to be working on.
Earlier this year, I used ChatGPT and Notion to create a future vision exercise for myself. Not a business plan or a strategy doc - just a clear picture of what I want my life and business to look like a year from now.
ChatGPT asked me questions I wouldn’t have thought to ask myself, helped me organize my scattered thoughts, and turned them into something coherent.
I don’t remember how long it took to do this exercise, but it gave me clarity on some things I hadn’t had a chance to go deeper with. This is also when I learned that ChatGPT could create Notion CSV files (it’s also a great tutor if you want to understand how to do something in Notion).
Here’s the video if you want to go through that exercise yourself:
Other things that work when you’re in this space:
✔️ Ask AI to set up a research agent that gathers information on something you’ve been curious about but haven’t had time to explore.
✔️ Or have it help you finally organize that chaotic Google Drive or Desktop folder situation. These feel productive without requiring your full brain power.
When You Need Perspective (And Maybe a Little Hope)
This one’s been my go-to more than I expected.
When the news feels overwhelming and the future feels uncertain, I’ve found it genuinely helpful to ask AI about historical moments that felt similarly chaotic - and what came out of them. Not in a toxic positivity way, but in a “humans have navigated hard things before and good still happened” way.
It’s not about ignoring reality.
It’s about remembering that we’ve been through uncertain times before, and that people still built and created things and moved forward. Sometimes you just need that reminder, and AI can deliver it in a way that feels informative rather than preachy.
When You Need a Complete Distraction (But Want It to Feel Worthwhile)
Let’s be real - some days you just need to think about something else entirely.
This is where AI becomes your trusted partner to explore that thing you’ve been curious about, finally, but never had time to learn.
✔️ Always wanted to understand how sourdough starters actually work? Ask AI to teach you.
✔️ Curious about a historical period but never got around to reading about it? Have a conversation with AI about it.
Want to learn basic astronomy? Design theory? How airplanes stay in the sky? The basics of woodworking? AI will meet you wherever your random curiosity takes you.
The beauty of this is that you’re still engaging your brain in a positive way, but there’s zero pressure. You’re not building anything for your business. You’re not creating content. You’re just learning something because it’s interesting. Full stop. No side-hustle necessary.
After my little brain injury a month ago, I’ve had a few fun conversations understanding more about the brain. I still talked to my neurologist 😉, who shared that I get what’s called vestibular migraines (explains so much, except why I had the incident, lol).
The call with the doc was short, but I could go as deep as I wanted with AI to understand what those migraines are and what I can do to minimize getting them.
The Real Point of All This
AI won’t fix everything that’s feeling hard right now.
It can’t.
But it can give you something to do with your hands and your brain when you’re not quite ready to tackle your regular work, but you’re also not ready to fully disengage.
Some days, that in-between space is exactly where you need to be. And having tools that meet you there - whether it’s helping you envision your future, giving you a historical perspective, or teaching you something random and interesting - is pretty valuable.
So if you’re having one of those days, try one of these. No pressure, no expectations, just something to do that might actually help.
And if none of these sound appealing? “Only Murders in the Building” reruns are always a solid choice. No judgment here. 😉
SPARK Spotlight 🔥
I’m probably a little biased here, but this is from my good friend & email genius, Jason Resnick.
Why all the big email service providers don’t include this is beyond me. Right now it’s for Kit only and is a lifetime deal! Jason is also getting on calls with beta users.
Trckly identifies genuine human clicks in real time so you can finally trust your analytics, segment with confidence, and grow your business on real engagement—not inflated numbers.
A Little Brainpower 🧠
Excited to share that
published a post of mine this week! “What if we’re using AI Wrong?”I just discovered Slow AI and I’m hooked. Read “When AI Answers Too Fast, We Stop Thinking,” by
.Is AI misleading you? Here are “5 Simple Tips To Train AI To Give Accurate Answers (Before It Gives Dangerous Ones),” by
Tool Time ⚒️
Video: If you don’t have time to watch a full video but need specific elements, paste the YouTube link to get highlight reels & insights. Try TLDW free here (Too Long, Didn’t Watch).
Social Media: The latest from Google Labs! Drop in your business URL, and it will pull all your brand elements, then you can create images for a social media campaign with one prompt. Here’s a quick video from Google (55 seconds), and you can try Pomelli by Google here.
Content: Get a complete keyword strategy and content briefs with substance and context. Created by
. Try Yahini free here.Marketing: Connect your marketing tools and let Toffu analyze data, run campaigns, create content, and optimize performance through conversation. Try Toffu.ai free here.
Video: If you want to create tutorials and demos, this might be for you (I’m definitely trying this!). Create a free video with Tutorial AI here.
BONUS: If you missed my note last week, I shared that Google Labs Image FX lets you create images in square, landscape, or vertical (something that stopped working with Nano Banana). You also get four images at a time & it’s fast! It’s quickly becoming my go-to for images. Oh… and it’s free! Try Google Labs ImageFX here.
Anyone else? 😂
So here’s the thing (cue Adele): you already know when you need to go easy on yourself.
If all you manage is one tiny experiment with AI, or just making it through the day with a little less doom-scrolling than yesterday, that counts.
We’re all navigating some heavy stuff right now, and there’s no trophy for powering through on empty.
Sometimes the most productive thing you can do is admit you need a softer landing - and maybe let AI (or Steve, Martin, and Selena) help you find it.
You’ve got this, even on the days when “this” looks a lot smaller than usual.
With coffee & kindness,
Kim
AI won't fix everything that's hard. But how your suggestions on how to use it are always right on.
Thanks for the shout-out in your post!!! Happy Sunday.