Think of ChatGPT as an incredibly capable, all-purpose assistant. But like any assistant, it gives its best work when you give it clear instructions.
If you ask a simple question like, “How can I be more productive?”, you’ll get a simple, generic list. It’s helpful, but it’s not designed for you. You’re only scratching the surface of what’s possible.
This guide changes that.
It moves beyond basic questions and gives you powerful, structured prompts designed for real-life situations. Think of them less as questions and more as professional briefings for your personal AI. By providing context, defining a role, and clarifying your goal, you’ll get results that are specific, creative, and genuinely useful.
From drafting the perfect email to planning a family budget or even navigating a difficult conversation, these prompts will help you get high-quality answers that are truly tailored to your needs.
How to Use These Prompts:
Getting a great result is as simple as 1-2-3.
- Find a Category: Look through the list to find the area where you need help (e.g., Productivity, Health, Family Life).
- Copy the Prompt: Choose the prompt that best matches your task and copy the entire text.
- Replace the Placeholders: Fill in the information inside the
[brackets]
with your own details. The more specific you are, the better the result will be.
1. Productivity & Professional Life
Manage your work, communication, and career path with professional precision.
- Writing and Refining Emails –
Act as a professional communications expert. My goal is to write an email to[Recipient's Name or Team]
about[Subject of the email]
. I need to convey[Your key message or request]
and achieve[Your desired outcome, e.g., get a confirmation, schedule a meeting, politely decline]
. The tone should be[e.g., formal, assertive, friendly, apologetic]
. Please draft this email for me. - Preparing for a Meeting or Presentation –
I have an upcoming[meeting/presentation]
on[Date]
about[Topic of the meeting]
. My role is[Your Role, e.g., Project Manager]
and my main objective is[Your primary goal, e.g., to secure funding, to align on a strategy]
. Help me prepare by generating:
1. A list of key talking points I must cover.
2. Potential questions the other party,[Name of Attendee(s)]
, might ask.
3. Strong, data-driven answers to those potential questions. - Brainstorming and Problem-Solving –
Act as a[e.g., Senior Business Strategist, Creative Director]
. I am facing a challenge with[Describe the challenge in detail, e.g., low team morale, a project that is behind schedule]
. My goal is to[What you want to achieve, e.g., improve team engagement, get the project back on track]
. Generate five distinct, actionable strategies to solve this problem, including the potential pros and cons of each. - Career Development and Job Seeking –
Act as a career coach and resume expert. I am a[Your Current Profession]
with[Number]
years of experience, and I want to apply for the role of[Job Title you're applying for]
at[Company Name]
. Based on the job description below, help me:
1. Tailor my resume’s summary section to highlight the most relevant skills.
2. Write a compelling cover letter introduction.
3. Suggest three key experiences from my past to emphasize during an interview.
Job Description:[Paste the job description here]
Ready to go pro? To turn simple emails into powerful campaigns, check out our complete guide to Prompts for Email Marketing.
2. Learning & Skill Development
Master new subjects and skills efficiently.
- Understanding Complex Topics –
Explain the concept of[Complex Topic, e.g., 'Quantum Computing', 'Blockchain']
as if you were explaining it to a[Audience, e.g., '12-year-old', 'a complete beginner']
. Use a simple analogy related to[Familiar Concept, e.g., 'a library', 'baking a cake']
to make it easier to understand. Structure the explanation with clear headings. - Creating a Learning Plan –
I want to learn[Skill you want to learn, e.g., 'Spanish', 'Python for data analysis']
. I am a[Your Level, e.g., complete beginner, intermediate]
and can dedicate[Number]
hours per week. Create a structured 4-week learning plan for me. The plan should include weekly topics, suggested free online resources (articles, videos), and a small practical exercise for each week to apply what I’ve learned. - Summarizing Content –
Summarize the following text into[e.g., five key bullet points, two short paragraphs]
. The summary should be easy for someone who has not read the original text to understand and should focus on[The most important aspect to focus on, e.g., the main conclusions, the actionable advice]
.[Paste the article, report, or text here]
Want to learn anything faster? Unlock your full potential with our specialized guide on using ChatGPT Prompts for Learning.
3. Health & Wellness
Plan your fitness, meals, and mental well-being routines.
- Personalized Meal Planning –
Act as a nutritionist. Create a[Number]-day
meal plan for me. My goal is[Goal, e.g., weight loss, muscle gain, stable energy]
. I have the following dietary restrictions or preferences:[e.g., vegetarian, gluten-free, no seafood]
. I dislike[Foods to avoid]
. Please present the plan in a table with columns for Day, Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner, and one Healthy Snack. - Custom Workout Routine –
Act as a personal trainer. Design a[Number]-week
workout plan for me. My fitness level is[e.g., beginner, intermediate]
and my primary goal is[e.g., to improve flexibility, build core strength]
. I have access to the following equipment:[e.g., dumbbells, resistance bands, a full gym, no equipment]
. I can work out[Number]
days per week for[Minutes]
per session. Please structure the plan by day, listing exercises, sets, and reps. - Managing Stress and Practicing Mindfulness –
I am feeling[e.g., overwhelmed with work, anxious about an upcoming event]
and I need a practical technique to manage these feelings. Act as a mindfulness coach and provide me with a[e.g., 5-minute guided meditation script, a simple breathing exercise, a short journaling prompt]
that I can use right now to calm down and regain focus.
4. Home, Finance & Personal Life
Organize your home, manage your money, and plan your life.
- Budgeting and Financial Planning –
Act as a personal finance advisor. My monthly income after tax is[$ Amount]
. My fixed expenses are: Rent/Mortgage ([$ Amount]
), Utilities ([$ Amount]
), and[Other fixed costs]
. My financial goal is to[e.g., save for a down payment, pay off a credit card debt]
. Help me create a simple monthly budget using the 50/30/20 rule (Needs/Wants/Savings). Categorize my potential spending and suggest specific areas where I could cut back. - Travel Itinerary Planning –
I am planning a[Number]-day
trip to[City/Country]
from[Start Date]
to[End Date]
. My budget is approximately[$ Amount]
per day. My interests are[e.g., history, food, hiking, art museums, nightlife]
. Please create a day-by-day travel itinerary. For each day, suggest a morning activity, an afternoon activity, and a dinner recommendation. Include estimated travel times between locations where possible. - Organizing and Decluttering –
Act as a professional organizer. I need to declutter and organize my[Room in the house, e.g., garage, kitchen, closet]
. It is currently[Describe the state of the mess, e.g., very cluttered with old boxes]
. Provide a step-by-step action plan to tackle this project over a weekend. Include tips on how to decide what to keep, donate, and throw away.
➡️ Ready to manage your money like an expert? For a deeper dive into budgeting, investing, and retirement planning, explore our powerful list of Prompts for Personal Finance.
➡️ Planning a bigger trip? Transform your travel planning from a chore into an adventure with our ultimate list of Travel Prompts.
5. Creativity & Hobbies
Fuel your creative projects and explore new hobbies.
- Brainstorming Creative Ideas –
I’m a[Your Role, e.g., hobbyist writer, YouTuber, artist]
and I’m experiencing a creative block. I want to create something new related to[Your general theme or topic, e.g., a sci-fi story, a video about sustainable living]
. Generate five unique and detailed ideas for me. For each idea, include a title, a short synopsis, and a unique twist. - Writing Assistance (Stories, Poems, Scripts) –
I am writing a[Type of content, e.g., short story, poem, script scene]
. The main character is[Character description]
who needs to[Character's goal or action]
. I am stuck on the part where[Describe the part you're stuck on]
. Write the next[Number]
paragraphs for me, focusing on creating a sense of[Desired mood, e.g., tension, humor, sadness]
and including dialogue between[Character A]
and[Character B]
. - Hobby Recommendations –
I’m looking for a new hobby. I enjoy activities that are[Describe your preferences, e.g., creative and relaxing, active and outdoors, mentally stimulating]
. My budget for getting started is around[$ Amount]
. Based on this, suggest three different hobbies. For each hobby, explain what it is, the basic equipment needed to start, and why it might be a good fit for me.
Time for a laugh? When you’re ready to take a break and explore the sillier side of AI, don’t miss our list of Hilarious and Funny Prompts.
6. Social & Communication
Navigate difficult conversations and social situations with confidence.
- Handling Difficult Conversations –
I need to have a difficult conversation with my[Person, e.g., friend, manager, neighbor]
about[The difficult topic, e.g., them not repaying a loan, their performance at work]
. I want to be[Desired tone, e.g., assertive but not aggressive, empathetic but firm]
. Please provide a script with key talking points and phrases to use to help me express my point of view clearly and calmly. - Writing Social Media Posts or Messages –
Help me write a[Type of message, e.g., a birthday message for a close friend, a LinkedIn post announcing a new job]
. The recipient is[Describe the audience]
and the key information I want to include is[List the key details]
. The tone should be[e.g., funny, heartfelt, professional, inspiring]
. - Planning an Event –
I am planning a[Type of event, e.g., surprise birthday party, casual barbecue]
for[Number]
people on[Date]
. My budget is[$ Amount]
. Act as an event planner and create a master checklist for me. The checklist should be broken down into sections:[e.g., 4 Weeks Before, 1 Week Before, The Day Of]
and include tasks related to invitations, food, decorations, and activities.
➡️ Struggling with what to post? Craft attention-grabbing content in minutes with our specialized list of Prompts for Social Media.
7. Critical Thinking & Decision Making
Use ChatGPT as a logical sounding board to weigh options and make informed choices.
- Comparing Options for a Major Decision –
Act as a rational decision-making advisor. I need to decide between[Option A, e.g., accepting a new job offer]
and[Option B, e.g., staying in my current role]
. My priorities are[List your top 3-5 priorities, e.g., work-life balance, salary, career growth]
. Please create a comparison table that evaluates both options against my priorities. For each priority, assign a score from 1-10 and provide a brief justification. Conclude with a summary of which option seems to align better with my stated goals.[Provide any additional context here, like the details of the job offer]
- Analyzing Pros and Cons –
I am considering[Making a specific decision, e.g., moving to a new city, buying an electric car]
. Act as a neutral analyst and help me think through this. Generate a detailed list of potential pros and cons that I might not have considered. Please categorize them into[e.g., Financial, Lifestyle, Long-term, Social]
implications.
8. Parenting & Family Life
Get creative and practical help with the challenges and joys of family life.
- Explaining Complex Topics to Children –
Act as a child psychologist and educator. I need to explain a sensitive or complex topic,[Topic, e.g., a death in the family, why we are moving]
, to my[Child's Age]-year-old
child. Please provide a simple, age-appropriate script I can use. The tone should be[e.g., reassuring, gentle, honest, and calm]
. Include a simple analogy they can understand and suggest an activity we can do together afterward to help them process it. - Creating Family Routines or Rules –
I want to establish a[e.g., weekly chore chart, a screen-time schedule]
for my children, aged[List Children's Ages]
. The goal is to[e.g., teach responsibility, reduce arguments over devices]
. Please suggest a fair and age-appropriate system. Present it as a simple list or table that I can print and put on the fridge. Include a small, motivating reward system.
9. Consumer & Shopping Advice
Make smarter purchasing decisions with AI-powered research.
- Product Comparison –
I need to buy a new[Product, e.g., laptop, vacuum cleaner]
. I am trying to decide between[Product 1, e.g., Dell XPS 13]
and[Product 2, e.g., MacBook Air]
. My main use case is[e.g., university work and streaming movies]
and my budget is around[$ Amount]
. Compare these two products based on the following criteria:[List 3-5 criteria, e.g., price, performance, battery life, portability]
. Conclude with a recommendation for my specific needs. - Gift Ideas –
I need gift ideas for[Person, e.g., my dad, my best friend, my 14-year-old nephew]
. Their interests include[List 3-5 interests, e.g., hiking, reading sci-fi, cooking]
. The occasion is[e.g., their birthday, Christmas]
and my budget is[e.g., under $50, around $100]
. Please suggest five unique gift ideas, explaining why each would be a good fit.