How I'm Learning to Use AI Without Losing Myself

I caught myself doing something weird last Tuesday.

I was writing an email to my friend about weekend plans. Simple stuff. But halfway through, I stopped and opened ChatGPT to finish it for me.

An email to my friend.

That's when it hit me. I was losing the ability to do basic things on my own.

And I'm not alone in this.

92% of students now use AI for their homework. 35% of people use AI tools every single day. In just one study, AI dependency among teens jumped from 17% to 24%.

We're all becoming dependent on these tools. And it's happening faster than anyone expected.

Here's what scares me most.

I talked to a college student last week. She told me she can't complete assignments without AI anymore. She doesn't know how.

My coworker gets anxious when his AI tool crashes. He literally can't write reports without it.

My cousin asks AI to make every decision for her. What to eat. What to wear. How to respond to texts.

Scientists are calling this "brain rot." Our brains are getting weaker because we're not using them.

And nobody's talking about it.

But here's the thing. I don't think AI is bad. I really don't.

I think we're just using it wrong.

Think of it like this. A calculator is a great tool. But if you use a calculator for every math problem, you forget how to do math in your head.

That's what's happening with AI. We're using it for everything, and we're forgetting how to think.

So I started doing something different.

Now when I need to write something, I write my own thoughts first. Then I might ask AI to help me polish it. But the thinking is mine.

When I have a problem, I try to solve it myself first. I sit with it. I think about it. Only after I've tried do I ask AI for ideas.

I call this "AI that helps, not AI that replaces."

And it's changed everything for me.

My brain feels sharper. My confidence is coming back. I'm actually getting better at thinking, not worse.

Let me share what's working for me.

First, I set boundaries. I have two hours every day where I don't use any AI tools. Just me and my brain.

It was hard at first. Really hard. But now those are my most creative hours.

Second, I ask myself one question before using AI: "Can I do this myself first?"

If the answer is yes, I try. Even if it takes longer. Even if it's not perfect.

Third, I never accept AI answers without thinking about them.

When AI gives me an answer, I ask myself: "Does this make sense? Would I reach the same conclusion?"

This simple habit has saved me from so many mistakes.

Fourth, I practice real conversations with real people.

I know it sounds obvious. But so many of us are choosing AI chats over human talks because they're easier.

I'm forcing myself to call friends instead of texting. To have face-to-face meetings instead of just emails.

It's messier. It's harder. But it's making me more human, not less.

Here's what the research says helps most.

People who maintain their independence from AI have one thing in common. They're good at managing their emotions.

They don't run to AI every time they feel stressed or confused. They sit with those feelings. They work through them.

They use AI as a tool, not as an emotional crutch.

Scientists also found something interesting. Creating tech-free spaces really works.

When you have places where you never use AI or phones, your brain stays stronger. Your thinking stays clearer.

I made my bedroom AI-free. No phone. No laptop. Just books and notebooks.

Best decision I ever made.

Now here's what I want you to try.

Pick one task today and do it completely on your own. No AI help. No shortcuts.

Maybe it's writing an email. Solving a work problem. Making a decision about dinner.

Just one task where you use only your brain.

Notice how it feels. Is it hard? Does it take longer? That's okay. You're exercising your thinking muscles.

Then tomorrow, do it again. And again.

Over time, you'll notice something amazing. You'll get better at thinking. Your confidence will grow. You'll trust yourself more.

Because here's the truth nobody wants to say out loud.

AI is getting smarter every day. But we're getting less smart every day.

Not because AI is bad. But because we're letting it do too much for us.

The future belongs to people who can think with AI, not people who need AI to think.

I want to be someone who uses these incredible tools to become better, not someone who becomes helpless without them.

The AI market is growing like crazy. By 2030, it'll be worth almost 2 trillion dollars.

This technology isn't going anywhere. It's going to be part of our lives forever.

So we have a choice.

We can let it make us weaker. Or we can use it to make us stronger.

I'm choosing stronger.

I'm choosing to keep my human brain active and sharp. To maintain my ability to think, feel, and decide on my own.

I'm choosing to use AI like a bicycle. It helps me go faster and farther. But I'm still the one pedalling.

My challenge for you this week: Try going AI-free for just two hours each day.

See what happens. See what you discover about yourself.

You might be surprised at how much you're actually capable of when you give your brain a chance.

Because you're smarter than you think. You're more creative than you realise. You're more capable than you know.

You just need to remind your brain of that.

Let's not lose our humanity in the race to use more technology.

Let's be the generation that figures out how to use AI wisely, not the generation that becomes dependent on it.

Your brain is the most powerful tool you'll ever have. Don't forget how to use it.

Before You Go

What's one thing you'll do today without AI help? I'd love to hear about it.

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