Everyone is afraid of the robots, but I say, “Let us befriend them!”

The more robots become an integral part of our society, the more I realize the robotic tendencies I have…and how much they have bettered my life.

Instead of trying to push the robots away, I think there are a few things we can learn from them and try to incorporate into who we are, as humans.

Beyond just the dance moves *beep boop bop*, robots are examples of how rational, repetitive behaviors can make our lives easier and more enjoyable.

Let’s be more like the robots instead of making robots more like us…shall we?

How To Be A Robot 101

#1 Live in the Neutral

Robots are stereotypically emotionless. Cold, heartless, and without the ability to love, and I think there is something to be learned from robots and this stereotype.

Like robots, we should aim to be cold, heartless, and emotionless, and here’s why.

Haha, gotcha. I’m just kidding.

More so than emotionless, robots are able to remain rational and neutral, a valuable skill we could all benefit from learning.

It’s easy to let our emotions rule us. It’s even easier to give in to the extremes of situational emotions we feel.

When highly intense situations arise, causing equally as intense emotions, we are more prone to saying and doing things we wouldn’t normally.

Learning to live in the neutral means intentionally bringing yourself back to center when experiencing intense emotions.

Whether that’s through meditation, counting backward from 10, or taking a short walk outside, do whatever it is to bring yourself back to neutral.

This should be done before making any decisions, taking any actions, and preferably before saying anything that’s potentially damaging.

Living in the neutral is a superpower when it comes to life and the circumstances that are bound to come our way.

It leads to more favorable outcomes and an overall more joyful life.

This has become very beneficial for me as I navigate anxiety and depression. In times of intense feelings of anxiousness or sadness, I ask myself, “How would I normally react if it weren’t for the anxiety and/or depression, and how can I get there right now?”

Prioritizing living in the neutral has saved my relationships from fights, has saved me from feeling worse about myself and situations, and has allowed me to receive peace faster.

#2 Create Systems for Success

I am a systems gal. Certain aspects of my life are so automated that I really do question whether or not I’m a robot sometimes.

Robots are incredibly systematic, doing everything to automate tasks, increasing efficiency.

Similarly, the systems I have in place allow me to be efficient with my time, breed consistency, and most importantly, allow me to reach my daily goals.

Creating and maintaining my systems contributes to the overall happiness I experience on a day-to-day basis because they heavily impact my ability to accomplish certain goals.

Not only that, but in my struggle with anxiety and depression, the systems I have in place allow me to stay on track despite the mental battles I may be enduring.

Systems are automated, consistent, and easy.

For example, every Sunday night, I pick my clothes out for the week based on the weather. I then take my outfit for Monday morning, hang it on the back of my bathroom door, and lay out my shoes. I go so far as to lay out my jewelry and hair accessories as well.

This system means that when I wake up every morning, I already know what I’m wearing. I don’t need to waste time or energy making this decision. This allows me to dedicate time to things I want to do in the morning, like meditation and yoga.

I have systems for basically every area of my life, every part of my daily routine. I know with 100% certainty what I will be able to accomplish each day because of the systems I put in place.

Though systems may seem boring and restrictive, they offer long-term freedom as you are able to pursue the things that provide that for you.

My boring systems allow me to meditate and journal every day, offering me freedom from my mental health battles.

My mundane systems allow me to pour time and energy into my writing, offering me purpose and passion.

Systems are little nuggets of opportunity that lead you to the big-picture vision you have for your life.

#3 Never Stop Consuming Knowledge

Robots never cease to consume new knowledge and expand the databases from which they draw.

Just like a robot, we should strive to be sponges of knowledge through active learning.

It’s true, what they say, that life is our greatest teacher. But how frequently do you dedicate time to actively learning something new? When was the last time you read a non-fiction book?

The active pursuit of knowledge is a lifelong and life-changing endeavor.

Admittedly, it can be hard because of the way the school systems are structured in the United States; we’re programmed to only learn when we are taught as opposed to seeking out knowledge and education out of our personal needs or desires.

Active learning can and must exist outside of the formal education system, beyond the graduation caps and gowns, beyond the credits needed for a diploma.

What I try to actively educate myself in varies from season to season. Depending on what stage of life I’m in or what I’m going through, dictates what I choose to learn about.

For example, this time last year I chose to actively learn about the field of work I’m currently in, considering I just started my first job and was brand new to the industry.

Now, I’m hyper-focused on my personal finance education, absorbing anything related to investing, wealth-building, wealth-managing, and more.

Start by choosing a topic you’ve always been interested in or one that will help you navigate the season of life you’re in.

The best part about our lives right now is the accessibility we have to educate ourselves through YouTube videos, books, podcasts, and more.

Take advantage of this huge blessing and don’t let it go to waste.

Not to mention, if robots continue to learn and acquire knowledge but we as humans plateau in our education…well, we may want to be concerned for our livelihoods after all.

Real Talk

I first realized I had robotic tendencies when I began rowing at the gym. The repetitive and often mechanical movements of rowing made me feel like a robot.

While robots are becoming more and more human adjacent, there are things to be learned by our semiconductor counterparts.

Learning to live in the neutral, having systems in place for daily habits, and pursuing active learning are all things that can benefit our livelihoods.

Practicing all of these things, I can genuinely say, makes me a happier, more productive human.

Instead of fearing the rise of the robots, let us learn from them and transform our lives in the process.