Whether you use Copilot, ChatGPT, Claude, Gemini, NotebookLM, or LeChat — it's not about the technology. It's about the habits.
1. Brief yourself before every meeting
"What have we discussed with [person] in the last 2 weeks?" 30 seconds of prep beats 30 minutes of ignorance. You show up prepared, and the other person notices.
2. Summarize long emails
Click Summarize or ask AI to do it. Get decisions and next steps in 5 seconds. Especially powerful after vacation, in long threads, or when you just need to know: what's expected of me?
3. Find actions and decisions
AI digs out actions, deadlines, and owners from meetings, chats, and documents. Ask: "What was decided? Who should do what, and when?"
4. Let AI write the first draft
Give context, tone, and goal. AI writes the first draft of emails, posts, notes. You edit. It eliminates "blank page syndrome" and typically cuts writing time in half.
5. Ask AI before you Google
First stop for quick answers, explanations, and summaries. Save 10 minutes per search — one consolidated answer instead of 5 links. Works for professional questions and translations.
6. Summarize documents
Upload a report or presentation. "Give me the 5 most important points." Reading time: 30 seconds. Especially useful for documents over 5 pages — quarterly reports, strategy plans, contracts.
7. Start your day with an AI overview
"What needs my attention today?" Let AI scan your calendar, emails, and tasks. Your daily cockpit check — under one minute. Start structured, work structured.
8. Brainstorm with AI
"Give me 5 angles on…" or "What am I missing?" AI has no bias, no political agenda, and no fear of saying something dumb. Use it as a sparring partner.
9. Translate and adjust tone
From casual to corporate in 10 seconds. Adjust formality, language, and audience. Write in your natural tone and let AI adapt — also powerful for language switching, better than Google Translate.
10. Fact-check and quality-check
Let AI validate numbers, find gaps in arguments, stress-test plans. Your devil's advocate. "Is anything unrealistic?" "Am I missing something?" AI often catches things we overlook.
How to build the habits
The Habit Loop (Atomic Habits)
- CUE — The trigger for the action
- CRAVING — The desire to act
- RESPONSE — The action itself
- REWARD — What you get out of it
On average, 66 days for a new habit. Start small. Be patient. Repeat.
4 rules for new habits
- Make it obvious — Set AI as your homepage, pin it in your browser
- Make it attractive — Start with the task that annoys you the most
- Make it easy — Start with 2 minutes. Not 20
- Make it satisfying — Notice how much time you save
PRO TIP: Start with habits #1, #2, and #3. Do them for 30 days. Add a new one when the first ones stick.
Stefano Vincenti · AI Consultant · External Lecturer, IT University of Copenhagen · GenAI Coach · Co-founder BotTellMe
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