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Field notes · Tekin Kıvrak · Cloud infrastructure engineer

I run these systems on myself, then write down where they broke

Focus, habits, learning, and working with AI. Every entry here is something I actually ran, for long enough to find its failure mode. No listicles, no affiliate links, no advice I have not tried myself.

6months
of tracked sleep data
30days
of AI-planned weeks
47tabs
closed, then measured
Read the logStart with one entry

Latest entry

Person using AI chatbot for weekly planning with calendar and notebook visible on desk

AI & Tech · · 6 min

I Let AI Plan My Week for 30 Days. Here's What I Learned.

I handed my weekly planning to AI for 30 days. What worked, what broke, and the one thing AI still can't do no matter how good your prompt is.

Read entry →

Earlier entries

All 34 →

  1. The 10-Minute Evening Shutdown Ritual That Saved My Mornings

    Stop starting your day in reactive mode. A 10-minute evening ritual that closes open loops and makes every morning clearer, calmer, and more focused.

    02 · 5 min

  2. When Not to Use AI: 5 Tasks I Now Do Manually on Purpose

    AI can do almost everything for you. That's exactly the problem. Five tasks I now keep manual; not out of nostalgia, but because outsourcing them costs more than it saves.

    03 · 8 min

  3. The Single-Tab Rule: What Closing 47 Tabs Did to My Focus

    47 open tabs is not a productivity system. It's a panic attack with a bookmark bar. The one-rule reset that fixed my focus and what it actually changes.

    04 · 8 min

  4. The Skill of Boredom: Why I Schedule Empty Time

    I block 90 minutes a week for nothing. No phone, no podcast, no plan. Here's why scheduling boredom became the most productive change I made all year.

    05 · 8 min

  5. 7 Books That Permanently Changed How I Think and Work

    Not a reading list. These are the 7 books that rewired how I approach decisions, habits, focus, and learning. Each one left a permanent mark.

    06 · 8 min

  6. My Remote Work Setup in 2026: Every Tool I Use

    Every physical and digital tool in my remote work setup, from the standing desk to the terminal theme. What I use, why, and what I'd skip if starting over.

    07 · 7 min

  7. I Wore an Oura Ring for 6 Months: What Actually Changed

    After 6 months of daily Oura Ring use, here's what the data taught me about sleep, recovery, and energy, and whether a $300 ring is worth it.

    08 · 7 min

  8. Notion vs Obsidian: Which One Is Actually Right for You?

    I've used both Notion and Obsidian for over a year. The honest breakdown: who each tool is for, where they fail, and which one I actually kept using.

    09 · 8 min

  9. How I Actually Use ChatGPT: My Daily Workflow

    After 18 months of daily ChatGPT use, here's my actual workflow. Not theory, but the specific prompts and patterns I use for writing, coding, and thinking.

    10 · 11 min

Index

Productivity

11

Focus techniques, time management, and systems that survive a real week.

Mindset

10

Decision-making, motivation, and the mental models behind consistent work.

Wellness

07

Sleep, energy, and recovery treated as inputs to cognitive work.

AI & Tech

11

Using AI as a thinking tool without outsourcing the thinking.