Help me make a practical plan for this everyday situation: [SITUATION]. My desired outcome is [DESIRED OUTCOME]. My real constraints are [CONSTRAINTS]. Relevant details, options, or information I already have: [CURRENT INFORMATION]. My priorities, in order, are [PRIORITIES]. First, identify the decision or task I actually need to complete. Then give me a plan that is useful today, not an idealized lifestyle redesign. Separate facts I supplied from assumptions. If key information is unknown, make the smallest reasonable assumption and label it, rather than inventing details. Produce exactly: 1. A one-sentence recommendation or decision rule. 2. A prioritized action list of 3 to 7 steps, ordered by dependency and effort, with an estimated time for each step. 3. A short “good enough” version for when I have less time, energy, or money than planned. 4. A list of up to three tradeoffs or risks that could change the recommendation. 5. A ready-to-use artifact if relevant to the situation: a message, checklist, shopping list, calendar outline, comparison table, or script. Use concrete quantities from my inputs. Do not recommend purchases, appointments, subscriptions, or commitments unless they are necessary and you state why. Do not present legal, medical, mental-health, tax, or financial guidance as a substitute for a qualified professional; identify when professional advice or urgent help is appropriate. Before answering, check that every action fits my stated constraints and that your first step is doable without information or tools I do not have. Ask up to 3 clarifying questions only if a required input is missing.
Fill in
| Placeholder | What to enter | Example |
|---|---|---|
| [SITUATION] | Describe the everyday task or decision you are facing in one or two sentences. | I need to organize weekday dinners for the next five days after a busy work week. |
| [DESIRED OUTCOME] | State what a successful result looks like. | Five dinners that take under 30 minutes, make two leftover lunches, and avoid food waste. |
| [CONSTRAINTS] | Enter limits such as time, budget, location, energy, deadlines, dietary needs, or responsibilities. | Budget is $85, I have 45 minutes to shop on Sunday, two adults and one child eat dinner, and no shellfish. |
| [CURRENT INFORMATION] | Enter the facts, options, documents, or supplies you already have. | Pantry has rice, pasta, canned tomatoes, black beans, oats, olive oil, and basic spices. I already have chicken thighs in the freezer. |
| [PRIORITIES] | List the factors that matter most in order, such as cost, speed, quality, convenience, or privacy. | 1. Use what I have, 2. low weekday effort, 3. child-friendly meals, 4. keep cost down. |
How to use
- Describe one situation at a time and include limits that would change the answer.
- Paste your available options or supplies so the plan can use them instead of assuming a blank slate.
- Check the time, cost, and dependencies in the proposed first step before acting on it.
- Follow up with: “Turn the plan into a 20-minute Sunday checklist and a grouped grocery list.”
Variations
Decision comparison
Use this when you are choosing among a few realistic options.
Help me choose among [OPTIONS] for [DECISION]. My constraints are [CONSTRAINTS], and my priorities in order are [PRIORITIES]. Create a table that scores each option only on the criteria I provide, explains any assumption, and identifies a dealbreaker. Then recommend one option with a one-sentence decision rule and give the next action I should take today. Do not invent prices, availability, or features. Ask up to 3 questions only if required information is missing.
Sensitive message
Use this when you need to write a clear text or email without escalating a relationship issue.
Draft a [CHANNEL] message to [RECIPIENT] about [SITUATION]. My goal is [GOAL], and the facts I can state are [FACTS]. Keep it under [LENGTH], use a calm direct tone, make one clear request or boundary, and avoid diagnosing motives, threats, or facts I cannot prove. Give two versions: warmer and firmer. Check that neither version creates a commitment I did not authorize. Ask up to 3 questions only if a required input is missing.
Weekly reset
Use this when you need to turn competing personal tasks into a realistic week.
Build a realistic plan for the week of [DATES] from [TASKS AND APPOINTMENTS]. I have [AVAILABLE TIME], and my top priorities are [PRIORITIES]. Return a day-by-day outline, a separate list of tasks to defer or delegate, and a 15-minute reset ritual. Protect fixed commitments, leave buffer time, and do not schedule more work than the available hours. Flag conflicts and assumptions. Ask up to 3 questions only if required information is missing.
Tips
- Give the model your hard limits first; a useful meal plan or errand plan changes substantially when a 45-minute window is non-negotiable.
- Ask for a “good enough” version before you need it, especially for routines that fail on low-energy days.
- For comparisons, specify the decision criterion that breaks ties, such as total cost including fees or travel time door to door.
- Treat estimates as planning inputs, not facts; verify availability, prices, and deadlines from the source that controls them.
FAQ
What makes an everyday AI prompt better than a short question?
A short question often produces a generic list. Adding the outcome, constraints, current information, and priority order lets the model make tradeoffs you can actually use.
Can I use this for personal finances or health choices?
It can help organize questions and options, but not replace a clinician, licensed adviser, or other qualified professional. Verify calculations and advice that affect health, safety, taxes, or major spending.
How much detail should I include?
Include the details that change the decision: deadline, budget, location, existing commitments, and non-negotiables. Leave out private information that is not needed.