AI chatLLMs promise so much, but diving in can feel overwhelming – like trying to drink from a firehose. This potential for overload can be particularly intense if you’re neurodiverse, perhaps with traits like ADHD affecting working memory (that’s me!), as the sheer volume of content AI generates requires tracking that can quickly become untenable. When that happens, the very real opportunity for AI to help you stay on top of things can get lost in the noise. So, whether you’re seeking clarity on a big goal, trying to boost productivity, or simply exploring new ideas, using these powerful tools effectively without getting lost requires strategy. Can you harness AI’s potential without the panic, especially given its known limits? Yes – if you understand how to work with it smartly.
The Overwhelm Trap
AI can be an incredible tool. It can analyze patterns you might miss, brainstorm possibilities you hadn’t considered, and process information at lightning speed.
But here’s the trap: asking vague questions is ineffective partly because current AI doesn’t truly “understand” context or “remember” past interactions dynamically like a human might (that’s a core continuity challenge with today’s LLMs). You’ll often get generic output overload. Furthermore, AI can generate so much so fast – ideas, tasks, information – that it’s easy to get overwhelmed by the sheer volume, feeling pressure to chase every possibility simply because the tool makes it seem feasible. This can reinforce that “ugh, this tech stuff is too complex and demanding” feeling.
Practical Tips to Use AI Without Losing Your Mind
How do you harness the power without the panic, working around these limitations? It’s about giving the AI clear boundaries and staying firmly in the driver’s seat. Think of yourself as the director, and AI as a very capable (but often forgetful and very literal) assistant.
The master file. The first and best tip I have for you is actually outside of any AI tool. Create a Master file, separate from your AI system. Use it as a high level reference document to track the most important things in your life: your goals, your strategies, priorities. For example if you’re starting venture, keep your USP, tagline, avatar, market pain points, and other specifics in this file. Update the file when necessary. you can also ask your LLM tool to reference this file if needed, or keep a duplicate in your saved instructions (more on this below).
Get Laser Specific. Forget huge, open-ended requests. Because AI doesn’t maintain perfect memory or track complex goals over time on its own, you need to break things down. Ask AI to perform narrow, focused tasks each time you interact.
Instead of: “Tell me about marketing.” Try: “List 5 common strategies for marketing a small online course.” or “Summarize the key points of this article about content marketing [link/text].” Think of each interaction as a fresh request for a specific job.
Use a Framework (Yours or Someone Else’s). Since AI lacks that long-term continuity, you must provide the ongoing structure for complex tasks. Don’t just randomly throw prompts at it hoping it builds towards something. Use a step-by-step process where you track the progress.
Example: If outlining a project, you decide the sections first, then ask AI to help brainstorm points for each specific section, one by one. You provide the overarching direction AI inherently lacks.
You Are the Curator & Integrator. AI can generate a mountain of ideas or text. Its job is processing. Yourjob is curation, wisdom, and integration. Remember, AI often works in its own silo – it might give you brilliant text, but it likely can’t automatically update your spreadsheet or collaborate in your project management tool (that frustrating compartmentalization!).
Use AI for brainstorming or drafting, then you filter based on your goals and critical judgment. You take the output and integrate it meaningfully into your notes, plans, or other tools. AI provides the raw materials; you provide the meaning and connect the dots.
Start Small & Simple. The publicly available AI tools are incredibly powerful, but often intentionally streamlined. You don’t need the most complex AI or prompt sequence. Start with accessible tools and focus on mastering one useful task first.
Example: Use it just to help rephrase awkward sentences in an email, or to generate different headline options for a report. Small, focused wins build confidence and show practical value.
Go Deeper, Not Just Wider. AI’s efficiency is amazing. It can free up time. Resist the immediate temptation to simply fill that space by doing more things – exploring more tangents AI uncovers, starting more side projects. Instead, make a conscious choice to reinvest that newfound capacity. Use the extra bandwidth AI provides to refine your core idea, deepen your understanding through better research, or elevate the quality of your most important work. Use AI’s efficiency to improve what matters, not just to multiply your task list.
Leverage “Saved Info” & Custom Instructions. Most LLMs (like Gemini or ChatGPT) have a feature for persistent instructions – often called ‘Custom Instructions’ or similar – where you tell the AI how to act for all your future conversations. Use this prolifically! It helps keep responses consistently useful to your specific needs, whatever they may be. (If your LLM of choice doesn’t have this feature, you can add it as a file at the start of each chat, which is a bit of an inconvenience but worth it for useful responses.) You can use these instructions to:
- Provide ongoing background context for your main projects or areas of focus.
- Define key roles or terms you frequently use.
- Outline your primary objectives for interacting with the AI.
- Instruct it to use simple, specific language and keep things concise.
- Ask it to adopt a critical thinking approach (e.g., challenging assumptions or considering alternatives).
- Tell it how to structure its output (e.g., numbering points for easy reference).
- Tailoring these instructions makes the AI a much more personalized and effective tool for any purpose.
Use AI Purposefully, Don’t Just ‘Play’. While experimenting is useful initially, avoid the common trap of falling into the “AI playground” – spending hours generating interesting novelties without a clear objective tied to your actual work. Instead, start with your task or goal. Identify what you need to accomplish or where you’re stuck, then ask: “Can AI help accelerate this specific step or overcome this particular block?” Integrate AI thoughtfully into your existing workflow when it serves a purpose; don’t let aimless exploration become the main activity.
AI tools aren’t magic, and they have real limitations in continuity and integration. But understanding these helps you use them effectively rather than getting frustrated, especially if you’re prone to feeling overwhelmed by information overload. Think of AI as a powerful but specialized assistant that needs clear direction and purposeful application. By focusing it on specific tasks within your own structure, acting as the curator who integrates its output, starting simple, directing its efficiency towards depth, meticulously crafting its standing orders via custom instructions, and integrating it purposefully into your workflow, you can leverage AI’s strengths without getting swept away by the overwhelm or novelty. You remain in control, directing the AI to genuinely support your goals.