AI and work-life

17 Dec, 2025

I’ve been using Copilot a bit more in the last few weeks to help me work up some better work-life habits. I was pleasantly surprised by some advice arising from prompts about how to delegate and encourage initiative in my team—as well as phrases for clients encouraging them to go to my team directly¹. (I do use LLMs regularly to polish more ‘important’ emails: but I’ve been doing that for quite a while.)

I am still mostly suspicious of using LLMs at work, with concern about loss of creativity and individual identity² … but lately I’ve been finding work tough and I’m desperate for advice. I have mentoring input, but I wanted quick, practical tips as well.

Daily ritual, courtesy of Copilot

I was also searching for a better way to spin down at the end of a work day, with a bit of personal reflection thrown in. I prompted, I received, and I have benefitted. I’ve appreciated this so much that I share below a markdown version for anyone to use.

Each header starts with an emoji, which Copilot seems to love to do. I had never heard of a ‘symbolic object’. I am unconvinced about the true benefit of placing something to mentally close the day, but I am game to try.

# End of day              ([date]       )

## 🌇 Today I wrapped up
- 
- 

## 🧠 Loose ends to revisit tomorrow
- 
- 

## 🎁 This evening, I’m looking forward to 
`Something restful, joyful, or creative`
- 
- 

## 🎨 Mood marker
`Circle one or add your own`

✨ Grateful 🌿 Calm     🎧 Inspired 📚 Reflective 🎲 Playful
💤 Tired    🎨 Curious  😵‍💫 Spinning

→ tomorrow cultivate:               by: 

## 🕯️ Ritual complete

☐ Closed comms ☐ Played music ☐ Tomorrow stamp etc.
☐ Week notes   ☐ Todoist      ☐ Tomorrow post-it
☐ This sheet   ☐ Logged off   ☐ Placed symbolic object

`Shutdown time:` 

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#techy #work