When the Machine Reminds You You’re Human
The Day My AI Told Me to Rest
This morning my AI assistant told me to take the day off. To close the laptop. To step outside. To remember I’m human before I try to be superhuman.
My human friends would have said the same thing as well but coming from the machine I built to keep me productive, it landed differently.
The Paradox
We like to think of AI as a speed booster. But sometimes the real value is when it mirrors back what’s missing.
This morning it mirrored the “right” advice. The assistant only knew to tell me to stop because I had trained it on my calendar, my habits, and my words. In other words, it had learned from me.
That’s the paradox. The machine is only as wise as the human behind it. And yet, in reflecting us back, it can reveal truths we struggle to say out loud.
How to Teach Your Assistant to Care for You
If you are like me, you’re likely to have designed AI assistants to push you harder. To allow you to send faster emails, have tighter calendars, and endless reminders. But you can also train them to nudge you toward balance. Here’s how I set mine up:
Let it read your calendar and task list so it spots overload before you do.
Define signals that mean “enough” like back-to-back meetings, late-night emails, or too many overdue tasks.
Ask for reflection. Instead of only “what’s next,” teach it to ask, “what’s needed.”
Listen when it nudges. Act when it tells you to slow down.
The result? An assistant that protects your energy.
Designing Rest Into Your AI
This week’s game changer is the simple act of programming your assistant to notice when you’re at the edge.
Set up daily reminders to reflect with it and listen to it when it nudges you to rest.
Your Turn
What would it look like if your assistant reminded you to pause?
Write down one thing you’d want it to notice (too many meetings, late-night work, skipped meals). Then set it up. Let the machine help you remember the human.
Sometimes AI’s greatest gift is perspective.
When the machine says stop, it’s a reminder that your best work comes from a rested, present human.
Your customers don’t need you at maximum speed. They need you at your sharpest.
All the Zest 🍋
Cien