AI productivity tools to support your wellbeing

Have you felt busier recently? Between work, social commitments, and family responsibilities, finding time for yourself can feel impossible. In fact, the latest Time Use Survey from the Australian Bureau of Statistics reveals that one in three women and nearly a third of men often feel rushed for time.

“Juggling too many competing priorities can contribute to emotional stress and even lead to burnout,” says Australian Unity Health Coach and Dietitian Louise Polzella.  

She adds that this kind of overload can affect mental and physical health at the same time, potentially showing up in symptoms such as fatigue, poor sleep, changes in mood or appetite, and brain fog.  

So, how can technology and AI productivity tools help Australians reclaim time so they can focus on their wellbeing and happiness?

We asked Louise and futurist Steve Sammartino for their perspectives. Here’s what they had to say.  

How AI can help lighten the load in everyday life 

When time is tight and your headspace is crowded with a very long to-do list, AI can help by taking some of the thinking and planning off your plate. 

According to Steve, the simplest tools are often the most effective. 

“Any of the popular AIs, like ChatGPT or Gemini, are great to help with organising yourself,” he says. “Lists, gift ideas, scheduling tasks, or hacks on the fastest way to do something. These tools are much faster than a search engine because you get an ‘answer’ instead of options and advertising.” 

Louise is also a big advocate for anything that reduces cognitive clutter, especially during busy periods.  

“Trying to do too many different tasks at once leads to what we call ‘context switching’, and that can be exhausting,” she says. “So anything that helps you plan ahead, batch tasks together, and stay organised can go a long way towards reducing stress.” 

As well as offering practical assistance, AI can help with the emotional side too. 

“You could even get it to help you with some plans to navigate family gatherings, by suggesting conversation tips or doing some role play before the family events,” suggests Steve. 

If you’re intimidated by AI, start small 

Not everyone feels comfortable diving into new tech, and Steve understands that.  

“The first step is the most intimidating,” he says. “People need to remember this: if you can talk or type, you can do.” 

His advice is to keep it simple. “When you log in for the first time, type this: ‘Hi, I’ve never used AI before and I am a bit nervous. If I tell you a bit about me, can you help give me some easy ways to get started benefiting from AI and some daily tips to improve my daily activities and wellbeing?’” 

In other words, treat it like a conversation. Stay curious and playful, experiment and have some fun with it.  

Using AI in everyday life 

The promise of AI is not that it will do everything for us. Instead, it helps us lighten the load, think more clearly and use our time in ways that strengthen our wellbeing rather than draining it. 

In her role as health coach, Louise sees this kind of support as crucial, particularly when people are time-poor, as exercise, sleep and social connection are often the first things to drop off when life gets busy. 

“If you’re agreeing to too much or overextending yourself, you can put yourself at real risk of burnout,” she explains.  

Letting go of lower priority commitments can be an important part of protecting your wellbeing. And if those conversations feel awkward, use AI for time management. Tools like ChatGPT, Claude or Gemini can help you prioritise commitments, think through what you want to say before you say it, and draft messages that set clear, respectful boundaries.  

Even creating small moments for rest or connection can make a meaningful difference, leaving you more room to enjoy the people and moments that matter.  

AI and wellbeing 

While these AI life hacks offer immediate relief, Steve believes this is only the beginning of how the technology could support our health and wellbeing in the years ahead.  

For one thing, he thinks it will help reduce the constant pull on our time and attention. 

“I think it will eventually remove us from the screen, which I think we all know is a terrible addiction,” he says. “Once AI becomes ambient, we’ll be able to have intelligence as a sidekick that’s there when we need it, but doesn’t demand as much attention.” 

He compares it to a fridge or washing machine, which you don’t interact with unless you need something. His prediction is that AI will eventually work in much the same way.  

“We’ll just ask verbally if we need something, no matter where we are, and it will help, answer, or go and do something for us,” he says. “This will be a huge wellbeing benefit because technology today is too time- and attention-hungry.” 

But Steve believes AI’s most life-changing breakthroughs could come from its role in preventative healthcare. 

“AI will uncover cures to disease no human ever could by synthesising global research and finding patterns, even simulating drug testing for faster innovation,” he says. 

If he’s right, that means health conditions could be caught earlier, treatment could be more tailored and cures could come faster. That will naturally have a major impact on our Real Wellbeing. 

But you don’t need to wait for the future to benefit from AI for your wellbeing. Used thoughtfully, it can already help reduce overwhelm and create more space for rest, connection and enjoyment. All of which can go a long way towards a healthier, happier and balanced you.