Skip to main content Tom's Guide Tom's Guide Search Tom's Guide View Profile Newsletters Best Picks Entertainment OpenAI announcement Switch 2 Restock Galaxy Z Fold 7 iPhone 17 Air Best laptops Wordle Today Best Mattress Recommended reading I can’t stop using these 5 ChatGPT prompts — they’re next-level genius I use ChatGPT every day to boost my productivity — and these 5 prompts always deliver I've tested nearly 200+ DeepSeek prompts — these 7 are the ones I always come back to These 7 ChatGPT prompts rewired how I think — now I use them every week I’ve tested every major AI chatbot in 2025 — these 5 prompts never fail me Level up your ChatGPT use with these 6 practical and creative prompts 7 genius chatbot prompts that will instantly boost your ideas I use ChatGPT every day — here are 9 new prompts I can’t live without Amanda Caswell 23 July 2025 From creative ruts to self-doubt spirals, these helpe me break through When you purchase through links on our site, we may earn an affiliate commission. Here’s how it works. (Image credit: Shutterstock) As someone who uses ChatGPT daily, I’ve spent thousands of hours testing chatbots and prompts. Sure, chatbots are great for writing emails, fixing your grammar or explaining quantum physics like you’re five, but as AI evolves, they can do even more now. Here are the 9 prompts I now use constantly; and honestly, they make a huge difference in the way I work and create. You may like I can’t stop using these 5 ChatGPT prompts — they’re next-level genius I use ChatGPT every day to boost my productivity — and these 5 prompts always deliver I've tested nearly 200+ DeepSeek prompts — these 7 are the ones I always come back to 1. Getting motivated (Image credit: Shutterstock) Prompt: “Plan my day based on my current mood, energy level and how much time I have.” Some days I feel like a creative genius. Other days, particularly on the weekends when my schedule is a little more flexible, I feel less motivated and a little more aimless. I use this prompt by filling in the important details when I feel lost or overwhelmed. ChatGPT acts like a personal life coach based on my mood; suggesting meals, breaks, tasks and fun based on whether I have 30 minutes or a whole free afternoon. It’s surprisingly grounding. 2. Getting ideas off the ground Prompt: “Turn this vague idea into a list of what to do next, then sort it by impact vs. effort” Sometimes when I have so many ideas circling in my head, ChatGPT is useful for getting unstuck. Maybe you know that feeling when you're thinking, “I know what I want, but I don’t know what to do.” I toss this prompt at ChatGPT. It transforms half-baked ideas into clear, actionable tasks, then ranks them so I know where to start. Sign up to get the BEST of Tom's Guide direct to your inbox. Get instant access to breaking news, the hottest reviews, great deals and helpful tips. Contact me with news and offers from other Future brandsReceive email from us on behalf of our trusted partners or sponsorsBy submitting your information you agree to the Terms & Conditions and Privacy Policy and are aged 16 or over. 3. Ego check (Image credit: fizkes / Shutterstock) Prompt: “Read over my ideas and evaluate them like a professional [book reviewer, chef, etc.] critic” This one is not for the faint of heart. I use this a lot with my ideas and ChatGPT does not hold back. You can prompt it to be as brutal as you can handle. Once the chatbot has been honest about your ideas, follow up with something like, “Based on your feedback, help me make this better.” Whether you’re self-publishing a novel or hosting a party, this prompt is helpful when you want to be sure you don’t miss anything important. 4. Growth mindset (Image credit: Thought Catalog) Prompt: “Scan my past week and tell me what I’m unintentionally optimizing for.” Upload or share your calendar with ChatGPT or simply brief the chatbot about your week, then use this prompt. It’s a game-changer for self-awareness. By describing how I spent my time, money and energy, ChatGPT spots hidden patterns. It tells me if I’m prioritizing comfort over growth, or busyness over progress. It’s helped me see my habits in a smart and useful way. 5. Manifesting success (Image credit: Richard Heathcote/Getty Images) Prompt: “Rewrite this like I’ve already succeeded” If you’re working on a pitch, a cover letter or a pep talk, this one is extremely useful. The prompt reframes your message as if you’ve already reached your goal. It builds confidence and helps clarify intent. If you struggle with imposter syndrome, keep this one handy. 6. Pitching ideas (Image credit: Shutterstock) Prompt: “Pitch this idea like you’re trying to sell it on Shark Tank.” This prompt forces clarity and confidence with your elevator pitch. It will find blindspots and address issues that you may not have thought of yet. Whether I’m coming up with dinner for the family or another book idea, it helps me boil things down to the essentials and make them irresistible. 7. Self-improvement (Image credit: Gioele Piccinini / Shutterstock) Prompt: “Create a weekly challenge I can actually stick to based on this goal, my time constraints and my bad habits” Instead of giving me generic advice, this prompt generates realistic micro-challenges that match my actual life. I've used this for getting more steps in, staying calm when my toddler throws tantrums and handling every day pressure. What I've discovered is that after a week of these types of challenges, my habits actually improve. 8. Leveling up (Image credit: Future) Prompt: “What small change could I make this week that my future self would thank me for?” This is another prompt I use a lot for self-improvement. This prompt zooms out just enough to bring clarity. ChatGPT suggests realistic, high-impact tweaks that often include mindset shifts and habit swaps, ultimately helping me to create momentum without overwhelm. 9. Giving back (Image credit: Getty Images) Prompt: “What’s one small, thoughtful thing I could do this week to make a friend feel seen and appreciated?” This prompt turns good intentions into real action. ChatGPT offers personalized ideas based on your friend’s personality or shared history. Using this prompt has been helpful as a reminder to send a quick text to a friend or a more creative surprise. No matter what, it has helped me deepen my connections with friends in simple and authentic ways. Final thoughts These 9 prompts go way beyond basic productivity hacks because they are more personal. Whether I’m trying to get unstuck, show up better for the people I care about or just get through a weirdly unmotivated weekday, ChatGPT has proven to be a helpful assistant for thinking more clearly and acting more deliberately. How do you use ChatGPT for productivity and creativity? Share your favorite prompts in the comments and let me know which one of these you plan to use. Follow Tom's Guide on Google News to get our up-to-date news, how-tos, and reviews in your feeds. Make sure to click the Follow button. More from Tom's Guide DuckDuckGo becomes first browser to add AI image filter — here's what you need to know 'Earthquake inside Apple' — AI efforts just dealt another major blow Sam Altman’s trillion-dollar AI vision starts with 100 million GPUs. Here’s what that means for the future of ChatGPT (and you) Back to Laptops AMD Ryzen 7 Intel Core i3 Intel Core i5 Intel Core i7 Storage Size Screen Size Refurbished Screen Type Storage Type Showing 10 of 124 deals Apple 13" MacBook Air M4 (2025) (256GB Blue) $849Preorder Apple 15" MacBook Air M4 (2025) (16GB RAM SSD) $1,035View Dell XPS 13 (2016) Lenovo Yoga Slim 7x (Gen 9) (512GB OLED) $858.11View Lenovo IdeaPad Flex 5i ChromeBook Plus (14-inch 2TB) $479.99View Asus ROG Zephyrus G14 (2024) (14-inch 1TB) $1,849View Apple 13" MacBook Air M4 (2025) Apple 15" MacBook Air M4 (2025) (16GB RAM SSD) $1,248View Dell XPS 13 (13.4-inch 512GB) $999.99View Lenovo Yoga Slim 7x (Gen 9) $1,289.99View Amanda Caswell Social Links Navigation Amanda Caswell is an award-winning journalist, bestselling YA author, and one of today’s leading voices in AI and technology. A celebrated contributor to various news outlets, her sharp insights and relatable storytelling have earned her a loyal readership. Amanda’s work has been recognized with prestigious honors, including outstanding contribution to media. Known for her ability to bring clarity to even the most complex topics, Amanda seamlessly blends innovation and creativity, inspiring readers to embrace the power of AI and emerging technologies. As a certified prompt engineer, she continues to push the boundaries of how humans and AI can work together. Beyond her journalism career, Amanda is a bestselling author of science fiction books for young readers, where she channels her passion for storytelling into inspiring the next generation. A long-distance runner and mom of three, Amanda’s writing reflects her authenticity, natural curiosity, and heartfelt connection to everyday life — making her not just a journalist, but a trusted guide in the ever-evolving world of technology. You must confirm your public display name before commenting Please logout and then login again, you will then be prompted to enter your display name. I can’t stop using these 5 ChatGPT prompts — they’re next-level genius I use ChatGPT every day to boost my productivity — and these 5 prompts always deliver I've tested nearly 200+ DeepSeek prompts — these 7 are the ones I always come back to These 7 ChatGPT prompts rewired how I think — now I use them every week I’ve tested every major AI chatbot in 2025 — these 5 prompts never fail me Level up your ChatGPT use with these 6 practical and creative prompts Latest in AI Apple Intelligence will summarize news again in iOS 26 after false headline debacle Amazon buys wearable AI startup Bee, a wrist device that hears and transcribes every word you speak Sam Altman’s trillion-dollar AI vision starts with 100 million GPUs here’s what that means for the future of ChatGPT (and you) 'Earthquake inside Apple' — AI efforts just dealt another major blow DuckDuckGo becomes first browser to add AI image filter — here's what you need to know AI is powering fake Simpsons predictions — here’s how to spot the hoax Latest in Features 67% of us experience parasomnias — expert shares 5 most common types and why they happen AI is powering fake Simpsons predictions — here’s how to spot the hoax Forget the AirPods Pro 2, these are the best audiophile earbuds under $200 I took a ginger shot every day for a week to see if it actually does anything — here’s my verdict I test headphones for a living — here's why the AirPods Max have a permanent home on my desk I walked 4,000 steps with the Pixel Watch 3 vs Samsung Galaxy Watch 8 — here's the winner LATEST ARTICLES I put the Galaxy Z Flip 7 vs Galaxy Z Flip 6 through a 7-round face-off — here's the winner 5 best Prime Video movies to stream now before they leave this month One of our favorite Chromebooks is on sale just in time for back to school Apple Intelligence will summarize news again in iOS 26 after false headline debacle Amazon buys wearable AI startup Bee, a wrist device that hears and transcribes every word you speak Tom's Guide is part of Future US Inc, an international media group and leading digital publisher. Visit our corporate site. Terms and conditions Contact Future's experts Privacy policy Cookies policy Accessibility Statement Advertise with us Future US, Inc. Full 7th Floor, 130 West 42nd Street, Please login or signup to comment Please wait...