A day in the life : Day 436

This week, I ran into a familiar problem during back-to-back meetings — forgetting key points right after they ended. Everything felt clear in the moment, but by the next task, details started slipping. Around the same time, I noticed a trend picking up again: people using AI tools to generate quick meeting summaries. I wasn’t fully sold on it, but curiosity won.

I tried it for a couple of meetings. The summary itself was decent — action items, names, rough context. But the real issue showed up later. I found myself relying on the summary instead of staying fully engaged during the conversation. I was listening, but not as sharply. It felt like I’d outsourced attention, not just note-taking.

That didn’t sit right. So I adjusted. I stopped using the tool live and instead ran it only after meetings where things were dense or long. That worked better. I stayed present, then used the summary as a backup instead of a crutch. One follow-up that I would’ve normally missed actually got done on time because the summary reminded me.

The weather’s been slightly unpredictable lately — warm afternoons, cooler evenings. That usually messes with my energy. I’ve switched to lighter lunches again and warmer meals at night. It sounds unrelated, but when the body feels steady, mental focus follows. Meetings don’t feel as draining when you’re not fighting food fatigue.

What this trend taught me is simple: tools should support attention, not replace it. Used carelessly, they make you passive. Used thoughtfully, they reduce friction.

I’m not against AI summaries. I’ll keep them where they help. But I don’t want to stop thinking just because something else can think faster. Convenience is useful, but awareness still matters more.