Most people struggle with improving their lives and answering big questions because they attempt to tackle too much at once. It’s the equivalent of trying to eat a week’s worth of food in a single bite—it simply can’t be done.

Those experienced in project management understand the necessity of breaking big questions into smaller ones, then breaking those down even further. However, this process is traditionally time-consuming. At least, it was—until AI.

Once you learn to use AI properly, you’ll discover that you can lay out a problem, establish a process for solving it, and then have AI break it down into the micro-steps necessary to achieve your goal. While AI can sometimes suggest a process, I’ve found better results when I first outline the process myself.

How to Use AI to Plan Major Life Changes

Identify Your Challenge Think of something you’ve struggled to accomplish—not because you don’t want to do it, but because it seems overwhelming.

Start a Voice-to-Text Brainstorm Open a document in Google Docs, turn on the voice-to-text feature, and describe in as much detail as possible:What you’re trying to accomplish – Define your ultimate goal as clearly as possible. What you’ve already done – List any steps you’ve taken so far, even if they were unsuccessful. Why it didn’t work – Identify any obstacles, setbacks, or reasons previous attempts have failed. What did work – Note any positive progress or strategies that showed some success. Where you feel stuck – Pinpoint the areas where you need help, clarity, or additional resources. Your final goal or objective – Describe your ideal outcome and any non-negotiable aspects of success. The resources available to you – List any tools, support systems, financial resources, time, or skills you can leverage. Your emotions and motivations – Consider how you feel about this goal. Are you excited? Anxious? Uncertain? Identifying emotions can help with commitment and addressing mental roadblocks. Once you’ve completed this brainstorming session, review what you’ve documented and refine any unclear parts before asking AI to help clarify and structure your plan.

Have AI Clarify and Create a Plan Ask AI: “Ask me questions to clarify my objectives and what I want out of this project, then open a canvas and make a project plan.” ChatGPT will typically ask between 5 and 10 questions for a small project. Then, it will produce an initial plan. You are not done yet!

Refine the Plan If the plan lacks specificity or doesn’t fully address your concerns, highlight the gaps in further “mental downloads” to Google Docs and describe where it falls short. AI can then update and refine the plan iteratively.

De-Risk the Plan Ask AI to identify potential points of failure and help you resolve them. If you’re unsure how to address a problem, AI can suggest multiple solutions for you to choose from. Pick a solution and test it. If it fails, use AI to analyze why and update the plan with a new solution.

Ensure Emotional Alignment Many people intellectually decide they want to accomplish something but experience emotional resistance. Have AI analyze your emotional reactions to the plan and pinpoint any hesitations, negative emotions, or lack of commitment. Where deep emotional resistance exists, a coach (like me) can help you work through those blockages.

Example: Quitting Smoking Weed

Step 1: Define Your ‘Why’

Identify the specific reasons you want to quit (health, mental clarity, relationships, finances, etc.).

Write down the benefits you expect from quitting.

Understand what smoking weed currently provides for you (stress relief, confidence boost, avoidance of problems, entertainment, etc.).

Consider how you can replace these benefits with healthier alternatives or work on the root causes of stress and confidence issues.

If necessary, create a separate plan to build confidence, reduce anxiety, or develop coping mechanisms that synergize with quitting.

Step 2: Identify the Costs of Smoking Weed

List all the ways smoking weed negatively impacts your life. Consider:Health: Physical health issues, reduced lung capacity, brain fog, energy levels, etc. Mental Clarity: Memory issues, reduced motivation, inability to focus on important tasks. Finances: The total amount of money spent on weed over time. Relationships: How your usage affects your interactions with family, friends, or romantic partners. Opportunities: Have you missed job opportunities, neglected important responsibilities, or failed to pursue your passions? Addiction & Escapism: Are you using weed to avoid problems? What happens if this pattern continues or worsens?

Imagine your life one year, five years, and ten years from now if your weed usage doesn’t change or escalates. What would your health, relationships, and finances look like? Write down these long-term consequences.

Step 3: Identify Your Triggers

Notice what situations, emotions, or people make you want to smoke.

Write these down so you can anticipate and counter them.

Step 4: Choose a Quitting Strategy

Gradual reduction vs. cold turkey—decide which approach suits you best.

Replace smoking with a healthier habit (exercise, meditation, social activities).

Step 5: Create a Support System

Inform close friends and family of your decision.

Find a support group or an accountability partner.

Step 6: Prepare for Withdrawal Symptoms

Learn about common withdrawal symptoms (irritability, cravings, trouble sleeping) and how to manage them.

Have strategies in place (deep breathing, engaging activities, herbal teas, etc.).

Step 7: Track Progress and Adjust as Needed

Keep a journal of triggers, cravings, and victories.

If setbacks occur, analyze why and adjust strategies accordingly.

Step 8: Reinforce New Habits and Prevent Relapse

Continue strengthening new habits and support networks.

Celebrate milestones to maintain motivation.

Final Thoughts Planning big life changes doesn’t have to be overwhelming. AI allows you to break down complex goals into clear, actionable steps. By following a structured approach and iterating on plans with AI’s help, you can make real progress in dating, career changes, breaking bad habits, and any other major life challenge.

Try it for yourself—pick a goal, let AI ask clarifying questions, and using the AI as an assistant refine your plan until it feels realistic and achievable. And if emotional blockages arise, remember that AI can’t replace human insight. That’s where I come in—to help you work through the deeper issues so you can move forward with confidence.