5 Things I Stopped Doing Once AI Took Over (And You Can Too)

AI is great at first passes: quick drafts, summaries, ideas, and formats. I still edit for accuracy and personality, but I don’t start from zero. That’s the time-saver.

1) I don’t write first drafts from scratch anymore

Old way: Stare at a blinking cursor.
New way: I write a short outline and let AI turn it into a draft I can edit.

Try this prompt:

“Write a friendly first draft from this outline, in my voice: smart, upbeat, no fluff. Keep paragraphs short, add a few bullet lists, and include one quick example per section. Outline: [paste yours].”

Tools: ChatGPT for the draft, Grammarly/Hemingway for clarity.
Pro tip: Always add your own stories or screenshots so it sounds like you.

2) I don’t sort my inbox by hand

Old way: Click every email and hope I don’t miss anything important.
New way: Filters + one daily AI summary.

5-minute setup:

• Create 2 labels/folders: Later (newsletters, promos), Priority (boss, school, clients).

• Use rules/filters so newsletters go to Later automatically.

• Once a day, ask AI to summarize your Later items and flag deadlines.

Example request:

“Summarize unread emails from my ‘Later’ folder in 5 bullets. Highlight deadlines and anything that needs a reply today.”

3) I don’t brainstorm from a blank page

Old way: Spend an hour trying to be clever.
New way: Run a 10-minute idea sprint.

Try this prompt:

“Give me 10 blog post ideas for busy parents and side hustlers. For each, include a short, catchy title (under 60 chars) and a one-sentence hook.”

Pick your favorite 2–3 and delete the rest. Easy.

4) I don’t design every graphic from scratch

Old way: Open Canva and get stuck tweaking fonts.
New way: I saved 5 templates and just swap text and pictures.

My brand kit:

• Colors: #2C267A, #FFA6A0, #9CCAF4, #FFE6DC, #1C1655

• Fonts: Outfit for headings, Inter for body

Ask AI for copy:

“Write text for a 3-slide carousel: Slide 1 = hook, Slide 2 = 3 steps, Slide 3 = CTA to read the blog.”

Make one header image + two Pinterest pins per post. Done.

5) I don’t rewrite the same content for every platform

Old way: A separate version for blog, email, Instagram, Pinterest, LinkedIn.
New way: One source post → AI repurposes into formats.

Try this prompt:

“Turn the blog post below into: (a) a 120-word newsletter teaser, (b) 3 Instagram captions (≤150 words) with 3 emojis each, (c) a Pinterest description with 8–10 hashtags, (d) a LinkedIn post with one strong takeaway. Keep my voice casual, smart, and encouraging.”

Reminder: You still give it a final edit so it sounds like you.

Quick wins you can do today

• Use the Outline → AI Draft → Edit flow on your next post.

• Set two email filters: Later and Priority.

• Save 5 Canva templates so you never start from scratch.

• Repurpose your last post into an email and one Pinterest pin.

Next reads (internal links)

• Automate your blog with AI → https://myautopilotlife.com/automate-blog-with-ai-5-steps/

• AI side hustles you can start this week → https://myautopilotlife.com/ai-side-hustles-no-tech-skills/

• Best AI tools for solopreneurs → https://myautopilotlife.com/7-best-ai-tools-for-solopreneurs-2025/

• Automate your weekly to-do list → https://myautopilotlife.com/automate-weekly-to-do-with-ai/

• How I made my first $27 blogging → https://myautopilotlife.com/first-27-blogging-what-id-do-differently/

FAQs

Is using AI “cheating”?
No. It’s like having a loud brainstorming buddy. You’re still the author.

What should I never hand to AI?
Legal, medical, or financial advice; confidential info; or art where originality is the point.

How do I keep my voice?
Keep a mini “voice guide” with 3–5 sample paragraphs and rules (words you use, words you avoid). Paste it into prompts.

Will this really save time if I’m new to AI?
Yes. The first week is setup. After that, you’ll move way faster.

English isn’t my first language—will this help?
Yes. Ask: “Rewrite this for clear, friendly English at a B2 level.”