I used the “magic write” function on Canvas to see what the AI would generate if prompted with “feeling frustrated about messiness.” Here is what it came up with:

Feeling frustrated with messiness can be a common experience for many of us. Whether it’s a cluttered desk or a messy room, the sight of disorganization can be overwhelming and stressful. It’s important to take the time to step back and assess the situation, and then come up with a plan of action to tackle the mess. This might involve setting aside dedicated time to clean up, breaking the task into smaller, more manageable steps, or enlisting the help of others. Remember, a clean and organized space can help reduce stress and increase productivity.

So, there is nothing wrong, per se, with what the bot wrote; in fact, it is probably good advice, but it is so much easier said than done, isn’t it? I am frequently overwhelmed by messes. “Coming up with a plan of action to tackle the mess” is the easy part. Actually getting it done is the hard part, at least for me. I love making lists, and being able to check things off when they are completed, but often my lists end up being so long that I am completed overwhelmed just looking at them, and instead of getting to work, I get overwhelmed and do nothing instead.

Such a vicious cycle…