Worth Reading – Learning AI Feels Like a Second Job
I’m definitely feeling like AI is a second job. Actually, scratch that. M365 changes is already a second job for me, AI is the third one.
I was not surprised by this:
It seems like I’m not alone: according to data from LinkedIn, 51% of professionals say that learning AI feels like a second job, and 41% say the pace of change is affecting their well-being.
https://wrk3.substack.com/p/learning-ai-feels-like-a-second-job
If anything, I’m surprised it’s only 51%. What are the other 29% doing with AI that they don’t feel overwhelmed in trying to keep up and learn how to use it.
This is our workplace in 2025. I spent a week away from work recently. I spent much of that time driving, meeting up with friends, and relaxing. I came back not just to missed emails and overdue tasks that are the natural by-products of disconnecting, but a week’s worth of M365 changes, AI announcements, new features, and a host of other technological changes that rolled out in the course of a week.
In my opinion, if you’re not feeling overwhelmed by all of this, you’re not paying attention. (Does that explain the 49% – the ones not paying attention?)
It’s no wonder that people are burning out professionally. Every week there are new things to learn, changes to deal with, strategies to reconsider, projects on deadlines, etc. We don’t often get a chance to simply do the work, let alone rest.
The link above offers some suggestions on learning with getting overwhelmed, but I want to highlight one – social learning. We are all in this game together. The breakneck speed with which tech changes is something we are all dealing with. There’s no reason to deal with it alone. Find your community, online or off. Learn together. Learn from each other. I know for my own experience with mental health issues that things immediately seem less overwhelming when you are not facing them alone.
We shouldn’t face this alone either.
Lastly, if you manage a team of people who are expected to learn AI, understand the stress they are under. They’re taking on a second job. Treat them accordingly.
Follow these topics: Artificial Intelligence, Mental Health
