Hi Reader, Daria’s here.

Seven months ago, I took a burnout test. The results weren’t shocking — but they were still sobering.

I’m a working mom, building a business in a new country, in between wars. The kind where you sometimes drop everything and run to a bomb shelter.

Not exactly the “optimized productivity environment” you see on Instagram.

I wasn’t prepared for any of this. So I had to build systems that could handle it. Not to thrive or optimize or level up — just to stay grounded and keep going.

But over the last few months, I’ve found three things that are helping me stay functional and focused.

Surprisingly, AI Has Helped More Than I Expected

It’s not the only thing helping, but it’s helped a lot.

I built a personal AI advisor.

I didn’t code or did anything technical. I organized information that already existed. Stuff like personal assessments, psychometric tests, reflections I’d written and forgotten about, work style docs, and random notes buried in my inbox, Evernote, Notion, and old folders.

All that raw data had been sitting around, unused.

Now, it lives in one place. And it actually talks to me.

It doesn’t make decisions for me, but it asks good questions. It helps me spot my strengths, and just as importantly, reminds me of the risks I tend to overlook. Then it nudges me to think about how I can manage those risks — often by leaning on what I already do well.

It’s not about becoming a different person. It’s about seeing myself more clearly so I can work with what’s already there.

How I Help Clients Do the Same

These days, I help my clients build their own personal AI advisors.

Not from a template, but based on how they think, what tone resonates with them, and what kind of support they need most.

Some want a compassionate, reflective space. Others want a direct, action-oriented assistant. Some use it for daily decision-making. Others lean on it more for structured thinking, journaling prompts, or clarity around priorities.

We work together to design how the AI communicates, what information it pulls from, and how it shows up in their workflow.

It doesn’t replace coaching — if anything, it enhances it. It gives them more independence between sessions, which means we can use our time together for deeper, more strategic conversations that AI can’t handle on its own.

Taijiquan and Analog Reflection Still Matter

While AI has added clarity and energy to my day, it’s not the whole picture.

Taijiquan has been another anchor. I’ve been practicing it almost daily, and it’s helped me reconnect with my body — especially when everything around me feels out of control or disembodied. It’s slow, mindful, and grounding in a way that nothing else has been.

And every week, I still sit down with pen and paper. It’s my time to reflect and focus on what’s important.

If you want to try that practice yourself, I’m sharing the planner I use right here.

There’s More to AI Than What You See Online

Most people think of AI as a tool for generating images, writing emails, or helping with recipe ideas.

But it can be more than that.

It can be a thought partner — one that helps you reflect, plan, make decisions, and better understand yourself. Especially if you’re building something on your own or navigating challenges that don’t come with clear answers.

And if you’re curious about building one for yourself, I’m happy to help.

Just reply, and I’ll send you clear instructions and tools to get started — the same ones I use with my clients, and with my own system.

It might not fix everything. But it can make things a little easier, a little clearer, and a little more manageable.

And sometimes, that’s enough.

Cheers,

Daria

P.S. I regularly post behind-the-scenes lessons, tools, and stories from my work with teams on LinkedIn. If we’re not connected yet, follow me here—I’d love to keep the conversation going.