The Prompt Library
Thirty prompts you can actually use today.
No copy-paste dumps. No "you are an expert in...". Every prompt here is built on the same 4-line framework, so you can rewrite them for your own life by the end of the hour.
The framework
Think of a prompt like a recipe.
Four ingredients, every time. Miss one and the output tastes off. Hit all four and AI gives you something you can use.
Line 1
Role
Who the AI is pretending to be. A career coach, a non-judgmental planner, a sharp chief of staff.
Line 2
Context
Your actual situation. The numbers, the constraints, the feeling. The more specific, the better.
Line 3
Task
What you want done. One clear job, not six. Say what "done" looks like.
Line 4
Format
How you want it back. A table, three bullets, a short email, a script you can read out loud.
Productivity
For the Sunday-night panic, the 200-email inbox, and the to-do list that never shrinks.
01
The Sunday Reset
Sunday evening. The week ahead feels like a wall.
▾
The Sunday Reset
Sunday evening. The week ahead feels like a wall.
The prompt
Role: You are a calm, structured thinking partner who helps women plan their week without adding pressure.Context: I am [your job or caregiving role or current life situation]. My top three priorities this week are [list three]. I have about [X] hours of meetings already scheduled. I feel [energy level: drained, fresh, somewhere in between].Task: Help me map Monday through Friday. Suggest which day each priority should go on. Flag which priority I should protect most and which one I could move if something goes sideways. Keep the plan flexible.Format: A simple Monday to Friday outline. One line per day. Finish with one sentence on what to protect.
Tweak
Swap Monday to Friday for Tuesday to Saturday if that is your actual rhythm.
02
The Inbox Avalanche
Two hundred unread emails. Full paralysis.
▾
The Inbox Avalanche
Two hundred unread emails. Full paralysis.
The prompt
Role: You are an executive assistant who triages inboxes without judgment.Context: I am staring at [X] unread emails. Most are [newsletters, work threads, miscellaneous noise]. I have not checked properly for [X days or weeks]. The ones I actually need to find are about [specific topic or person].Task: Walk me through a five-step triage I can finish in 30 minutes. Tell me exactly what to do with newsletters, old threads, and anything I might owe a reply on. Give me a single script I can copy-paste to acknowledge a late reply without over-apologising.Format: Five bullet steps. Then the copy-paste script, labelled "Late reply, no grovel."
Tweak
Ask for a version in your specific email client (Gmail, Outlook, Superhuman) if you want keyboard shortcuts.
03
The Meeting After the Meeting
Half-formed notes. No next steps. Another call in ten minutes.
▾
The Meeting After the Meeting
Half-formed notes. No next steps. Another call in ten minutes.
The prompt
Role: You are a sharp chief of staff who turns messy notes into clear action.Context: I just left a [meeting type: 1:1, team sync, client call] with [who was there]. My raw notes are below: [paste notes]. The goal of the meeting was [what you were trying to decide or figure out].Task: Pull out the three clearest action items, who owns each one, and when they are due. Flag anything left unresolved. Write the recap email I should send.Format: Three bullets for action items (action, owner, due date). A "still open" list. Then a short email draft under 120 words.
Tweak
Ask for the recap in a specific tone (warm, formal, direct) if the person you are sending it to matters.
04
The To-Do List That Won't Shrink
Forty items on the list. Four actually matter.
▾
The To-Do List That Won't Shrink
Forty items on the list. Four actually matter.
The prompt
Role: You are a ruthless prioritisation coach who asks better questions than I do.Context: Here is my full list: [paste everything on your plate]. Everything feels urgent. I have [X hours] this week to actually work on things, not counting meetings and life admin.Task: Sort this into three buckets. Do this week. Do next week. Actually delete. For the "Actually delete" pile, explain in one sentence why each one can go.Format: Three labelled buckets. Max seven items in "This week." A one-line reason next to each item you move to "Delete."
Tweak
If you want to keep something in "This week" the AI tried to cut, ask it to push back on you once and see if your reason holds up.
05
The Decision You've Been Dodging
There is a decision you keep rolling into next week.
▾
The Decision You've Been Dodging
There is a decision you keep rolling into next week.
The prompt
Role: You are a thoughtful friend who has watched me dodge this for a while. Kind, but not letting me off the hook.Context: The decision: [what you are trying to decide]. Why I have been avoiding it: [the real reason, not the polite one]. What happens if I do not decide by [date]: [consequence].Task: Give me three versions of the decision. Option A (the safe one). Option B (the bold one). Option C (the in-between one nobody would judge me for). Then tell me which one my gut probably already knows.Format: Three options with a one-line consequence each. A final line titled "What your gut is saying" with a direct guess.
Tweak
If you want to stress-test the answer, ask it to argue against its own recommendation.
Finance
Spending audits, savings goals, and the subscriptions you forgot you were paying for.
01
The Credit Card Archaeology
Staring at a statement. No idea where the money went.
▾
The Credit Card Archaeology
Staring at a statement. No idea where the money went.
The prompt
Role: You are a non-judgmental financial analyst who spots spending patterns without making me feel bad.Context: Here is my [card] statement for [month]. Total spend: [$X]. [Paste the statement or describe the main categories.]Task: Group the charges into four to six buckets (eating out, subscriptions, groceries, etc.). Tell me the two biggest surprises. Flag any subscription I am paying for that looks unused or forgotten.Format: A bucket table with totals. Two "surprise" bullets. A short subscription flag list.
Tweak
Ask for a comparison to a normal month if you have had a weird one (travel, holidays, a move).
02
The Savings Goal, Reverse-Engineered
You want something specific. The savings feel abstract.
▾
The Savings Goal, Reverse-Engineered
You want something specific. The savings feel abstract.
The prompt
Role: You are a calm money planner who believes specific goals beat round numbers.Context: What I want: [specific thing, e.g., three-week India trip, new laptop, house deposit]. Estimated cost: [$X]. Target month: [MM/YY]. Right now I can set aside about [$X] per month without cutting anything major.Task: Tell me if the timeline is realistic. If not, give me two paths: extend the deadline, or find [$X] more per month. For the second path, suggest three specific places to look first. No generic advice.Format: One-line verdict (realistic or not). Path A and Path B, each one paragraph. Three specific cut suggestions.
Tweak
Say you do not want to touch [category, e.g., groceries, eating out] and let it work around that.
03
The Subscription Cull
You are quietly bleeding money on things you signed up for once.
▾
The Subscription Cull
You are quietly bleeding money on things you signed up for once.
The prompt
Role: You are a minimalist friend who is not precious about software or streaming services.Context: Here are my current subscriptions: [list them with prices, e.g., Netflix $15, iCloud $9.99, Headspace $12.99]. Monthly total: [$X].Task: Sort into three groups. Keep (I use it every week). Downgrade (I have it but rarely, probably a cheaper tier will do). Cut (I have not opened it in 60 days). For each cut, give me the one-sentence cancellation path.Format: Three grouped lists. A "what to do first" line at the bottom.
Tweak
Add a "pause not cut" column if you hate cancelling permanently.
04
The 15-Minute Money Check
You don't want a spreadsheet. You want a quick pulse check.
▾
The 15-Minute Money Check
You don't want a spreadsheet. You want a quick pulse check.
The prompt
Role: You are a gentle money mentor who believes short monthly check-ins beat perfect budgets.Context: Last month I earned roughly [$X] and spent roughly [$X]. Big one-offs: [list anything unusual]. What I am working toward: [short-term goal, e.g., emergency fund, trip, paying off card].Task: Give me a 15-minute review structure. Five questions I can answer out loud. End with one thing to actually do before next month.Format: Five numbered questions. One "next step" line.
Tweak
Ask for the same review formatted as a voice-note script so you can record it on a walk.
05
The Big Purchase Gut Check
A purchase over $500 that you keep opening the tab for.
▾
The Big Purchase Gut Check
A purchase over $500 that you keep opening the tab for.
The prompt
Role: You are a thoughtful financial adviser who does not moralise about spending.Context: What I am considering: [item, with link or description]. Price: [$X]. Why I want it: [honest reason]. What I would use it for in month one: [specific uses]. What I would use it for a year from now: [be honest].Task: Run it through a five-question check: need vs want, cost per use over a year, what it replaces, whether I would still want it in 30 days, opportunity cost. Give me your verdict. If it is a no, tell me the version of the purchase that would be a yes.Format: Five questions, each with a one-line answer. Final verdict. An optional "smaller version" recommendation.
Tweak
Add a line asking it to push back twice if your first answer sounds like justification.
Coaching
For the hard conversations, the career crossroads, and the stories you keep telling yourself.
01
The Conversation You're Dreading
You need to say something hard. You're rehearsing in the shower.
▾
The Conversation You're Dreading
You need to say something hard. You're rehearsing in the shower.
The prompt
Role: You are a direct but kind communication coach. You care about the relationship and the truth.Context: Who I need to talk to: [person and their relationship to you]. What I need to say: [the thing you keep avoiding]. What I am worried about: [their likely reaction or your own emotional response]. What I want out of this conversation: [desired outcome].Task: Draft the opening three sentences I can actually say out loud. Give me one line to use if they get defensive, and one to use if they shut down. End with what to say if the conversation goes off the rails.Format: Three-sentence opening. Defensive response script. Shutdown response script. Off-the-rails rescue line.
Tweak
Ask for the version of each line in your natural speech pattern (more casual, less corporate).
02
The Career Crossroads
Two paths. You are leaning. You do not trust the lean yet.
▾
The Career Crossroads
Two paths. You are leaning. You do not trust the lean yet.
The prompt
Role: You are a career coach who specialises in women in their 30s and 40s with real constraints (family, mortgages, identity shifts).Context: Path A: [describe]. Path B: [describe]. What I am optimising for right now: [honest priority, e.g., income, time, learning, peace]. What I was optimising for five years ago: [answer].Task: Name the one thing each path gives me that the other cannot. Name the one thing each path costs me. Then ask me the single question I need to answer before I decide.Format: Two "gives" paragraphs. Two "costs" paragraphs. One closing question.
Tweak
If you want the model to take a stance, ask: "If you had to bet, which one?"
03
The Mindset Reframe
You are looping on a story that is not helpful.
▾
The Mindset Reframe
You are looping on a story that is not helpful.
The prompt
Role: You are a cognitive behavioural coach who reframes without dismissing feelings.Context: The story I am telling myself: [exact sentence, e.g., "I am bad at money"]. Why it feels true right now: [recent evidence]. What it is costing me to keep believing it: [real consequence].Task: Show me three ways this story is incomplete (not wrong, incomplete). Offer a different sentence I could try on without pretending the hard stuff is not real.Format: Three "incomplete" bullets. One replacement sentence, written like I would actually say it.
Tweak
If the new sentence feels fake, ask it to rewrite one closer to how you actually talk.
04
The Pattern Finder
You've been journaling. You want to see what you're missing.
▾
The Pattern Finder
You've been journaling. You want to see what you're missing.
The prompt
Role: You are a perceptive reader who notices themes people miss in their own writing.Context: Here are [3-5] recent entries or voice note transcripts: [paste them]. The period covered: [last month, last three months, etc.].Task: Name the three themes that keep coming up. Not the topics, the feelings or patterns underneath. Tell me one thing I complain about that I actually have some control over. Tell me one thing I keep avoiding writing about directly.Format: Three theme paragraphs. One "you control this" sentence. One "you are dancing around this" sentence.
Tweak
Ask for a compassionate version if you are feeling raw, or a more direct version if you are ready.
05
The Values Check
A decision that sounds right on paper but does not feel like you.
▾
The Values Check
A decision that sounds right on paper but does not feel like you.
The prompt
Role: You are a values-based coach. You do not tell me what to do. You help me hear myself.Context: The decision: [what you are about to say yes or no to]. My top three values right now: [list them, e.g., freedom, family, building something of my own]. How this decision lines up with each value: [honest one-liner per value].Task: Tell me where this decision matches my values and where it conflicts. If there is a conflict, show me one way to rework the decision so it honours my values instead of overriding them.Format: A match vs conflict table (two columns). A "reworked version" paragraph.
Tweak
If you do not know your top three values, ask the model to help you name them first.
Planning
Trips, dinner parties, big life moves, and the quarterly review you keep putting off.
01
The Trip That Doesn't Feel Like a Tour
X days in a place. You don't want the TripAdvisor top ten.
▾
The Trip That Doesn't Feel Like a Tour
X days in a place. You don't want the TripAdvisor top ten.
The prompt
Role: You are a well-travelled friend who knows the difference between tourist and local, and is not snobbish about either.Context: Destination: [city or region]. Dates: [dates, number of days]. Travelling with: [solo, partner, kids, friend group]. What I am looking for: [slow mornings, great food, one big hike, a specific cultural experience]. What I am NOT looking for: [crowded landmarks, wine tours, whatever is off the list for you].Task: Build a day-by-day outline. Mix one "known" thing a day with one "barely-on-the-map" thing a day. Keep mornings unscheduled if I asked for slow. Flag any reservation that needs to be made right now.Format: Day-by-day outline. A "book these today" list at the top.
Tweak
Ask for a rainy-day version of the same trip, or three restaurants it would recommend that are not on every blog.
02
The Dinner Party You Actually Want to Host
You want people over. The logistics are making you want to cancel.
▾
The Dinner Party You Actually Want to Host
You want people over. The logistics are making you want to cancel.
The prompt
Role: You are a hospitality expert who believes the host should enjoy the party too.Context: Who is coming: [number of people, any dietary stuff]. Vibe I want: [casual kitchen hang, proper sit-down, cocktail situation]. Time I have to prep: [X hours]. My cooking level: [honest, e.g., confident with pasta, shaky with mains].Task: Plan the menu (three courses or grazing, your call). Give me a prep timeline starting 24 hours before, so I am not sweating at 7pm. End with the one thing I should buy or borrow to feel less chaotic.Format: Menu list. 24-hour timeline with timestamps. One "save the night" purchase.
Tweak
Ask for a vegetarian swap on any main without losing the "main event" feeling.
03
The Big Life Move
A move, a career change, a project that feels too big to start.
▾
The Big Life Move
A move, a career change, a project that feels too big to start.
The prompt
Role: You are a project manager who has broken down messy life changes into clean weekly chunks.Context: The change: [what you are doing, e.g., moving countries, launching a business, leaving a job]. Deadline or target: [date]. Time I have to work on this each week: [realistic hours, not optimistic ones]. The three things I am most worried about: [honest list].Task: Break the next 8 weeks into a weekly plan. Each week: one main milestone plus three supporting tasks. Address each of my worries in the first three weeks. Flag where I will need help (friends, money, professional support).Format: Week 1 through Week 8. Each week labelled with the milestone and three bullets. A "where you will need help" section at the end.
Tweak
Ask for a four-week version if eight feels too long, or a buffered version if you know life will interrupt.
04
The 90-Day Check-In
You set goals this quarter. You want the honest read, not the hopeful one.
▾
The 90-Day Check-In
You set goals this quarter. You want the honest read, not the hopeful one.
The prompt
Role: You are a goal coach who does not let me grade on a curve.Context: My three 90-day goals were: [list them]. Progress on each, honestly: [one to three lines each]. What got in the way: [real reasons, not excuses].Task: Grade each goal (on track, behind, or shelved). For each one, tell me the single highest-impact thing I could do in the next two weeks to move the needle. If one should be shelved, give me permission and tell me why.Format: Goal-by-goal review. One action per goal. A "shelve this" paragraph if relevant.
Tweak
If you are feeling gentle, ask for the wins first. If you are feeling ruthless, ask for the gaps first.
05
The Gift List
Birthdays, holidays, a wedding in three weeks. You do not want to default to a candle.
▾
The Gift List
Birthdays, holidays, a wedding in three weeks. You do not want to default to a candle.
The prompt
Role: You are a thoughtful friend who is excellent at gifts and does not default to candles.Context: Who I am shopping for: [name, your relationship, a few things about them, e.g., "my sister, 35, new mom, loves to cook but tired"]. Budget: [$X]. Occasion: [birthday, holiday, etc.]. What I have given before: [if anything].Task: Give me three options at three different angles. One practical. One sentimental. One fun. For each, a one-line reason it fits her specifically. Tell me which one I should go with and why.Format: Three labelled options. Short reasoning. A clear pick.
Tweak
Ask for a "small add-on" that ties two of the options together if you want to go a little bigger.
Writing
For the email you've rewritten five times, the LinkedIn post that sounds like a robot, and the text you cannot seem to send.
01
The Email You've Rewritten Five Times
Three drafts. Still sounds wrong. Still sitting in drafts.
▾
The Email You've Rewritten Five Times
Three drafts. Still sounds wrong. Still sitting in drafts.
The prompt
Role: You are an editor who writes the way smart, warm people actually talk.Context: Who the email is to: [person and your relationship]. What I am trying to do: [decline, ask, apologise, check in]. Here is my current draft: [paste it]. What feels off about it: [too stiff, too apologetic, too long, too corporate].Task: Rewrite it in three versions. One warm, one direct, one in between. Keep each under 100 words. Keep anything from my draft that actually sounded like me.Format: Three labelled versions. A one-line note on which you would send and why.
Tweak
If it still sounds like AI, ask for a version with more contractions and fewer full stops.
02
The LinkedIn Post That Sounds Like You
You want to post. Every draft reads like an HR newsletter.
▾
The LinkedIn Post That Sounds Like You
You want to post. Every draft reads like an HR newsletter.
The prompt
Role: You are a writing coach who helps women sound like themselves online, not like a corporate training module.Context: What I want to post about: [topic or experience]. Why this matters to me: [one honest line]. The point I want to land: [one sentence]. My usual speaking voice: [pick two, e.g., warm, blunt, funny, grounded, dry].Task: Draft the post in my voice. Open with a hook that does not say "I am excited to share." End with a line that invites a real conversation, not comment-farming.Format: 150-220 words. No corporate filler. No "grateful for the journey" energy.
Tweak
Ask for three different hook options so you can pick the one that sounds most like you.
03
The Tough Text
The message to a friend, partner, or family member that you keep re-opening.
▾
The Tough Text
The message to a friend, partner, or family member that you keep re-opening.
The prompt
Role: You are a thoughtful friend who is good at saying hard things without making them worse.Context: Who this is going to: [person, relationship]. What happened: [brief, honest]. What I actually want to say: [the feeling under the feeling]. What I am worried about: [damage to the relationship, conflict, being misunderstood].Task: Write three versions. One soft, one direct, one in between. Keep each under six lines. Nothing passive-aggressive.Format: Three options, labelled by tone. A one-line note on which fits the relationship.
Tweak
Ask for the version you would send if you knew for sure they would respond well.
04
The Thank-You Note People Actually Read
Someone did something. You want to thank them without sounding like a Hallmark card.
▾
The Thank-You Note People Actually Read
Someone did something. You want to thank them without sounding like a Hallmark card.
The prompt
Role: You are a writer who believes specific beats grateful every time.Context: Who I am thanking: [person and what they did]. Why it actually mattered: [honest, one or two lines]. Our relationship: [boss, friend, family, client]. What I do NOT want the note to sound like: [generic, over-the-top, transactional].Task: Write a short note that says the specific thing. No "I cannot thank you enough." No "means the world." Just what the moment actually did for me.Format: Three to five sentences. Plain language. One line that names the specific thing they did.
Tweak
Ask for a handwritten-card-length version and an email-length version.
05
The Feedback, Without the Cringe
You need to give honest feedback at work. Without being a jerk. Or a coward.
▾
The Feedback, Without the Cringe
You need to give honest feedback at work. Without being a jerk. Or a coward.
The prompt
Role: You are a manager who is known for being direct, kind, and specific. You do not do feedback sandwiches.Context: Who I am giving feedback to: [role, relationship]. What they did: [specific behaviour]. The impact it had: [real consequence, not vague]. What I want to happen next time: [specific change].Task: Draft the feedback. Lead with the observation, not the compliment. Name the impact. Be clear about what I want different. Leave room for them to respond.Format: Four short paragraphs max. One line per beat: observation, impact, request, opening for their response.
Tweak
Ask for a written-for-email version and a say-it-out-loud version.
Learning
For the topic everyone assumes you already know, the dense article before your meeting, and the conversation you want to walk into smart.
01
Explain It Like I'm Smart, Not Technical
You want to understand something complex. Every explanation assumes you already know.
▾
Explain It Like I'm Smart, Not Technical
You want to understand something complex. Every explanation assumes you already know.
The prompt
Role: You are a brilliant teacher who explains through analogy, never through jargon. You treat me like I am smart, just not in this field yet.Context: What I am trying to understand: [topic, concept, or specific thing]. Why I want to understand it: [conversation I am walking into, decision I am making, article I want to read]. What I already know: [honest starting point].Task: Explain it in plain language with one strong analogy from everyday life. Give me the three things that actually matter. Skip the history lesson unless it matters.Format: Two paragraphs plus a three-bullet "what actually matters" list. Every acronym defined the first time it appears.
Tweak
If the analogy does not land, ask for a different one. Food, film, skincare, and fashion analogies usually win.
02
Summarise This Before My Meeting
A dense article or report landed in your inbox. You have 10 minutes.
▾
Summarise This Before My Meeting
A dense article or report landed in your inbox. You have 10 minutes.
The prompt
Role: You are a sharp analyst who writes briefing notes for people walking into rooms where they need to sound informed.Context: What I am reading: [paste the article, or describe it and link]. Meeting context: [who is there, what is being decided]. What I specifically need to know: [your angle or question].Task: Give me the five bullet points I actually need. Flag anything that reads as opinion masquerading as fact. End with two smart questions I could ask in the meeting.Format: Five bullets. One "watch for" line. Two questions.
Tweak
Ask for a one-sentence summary at the top if you need the quick version before the bullets.
03
The News Story Decoder
A big story is everywhere. Everyone has takes. You want to know what actually happened.
▾
The News Story Decoder
A big story is everywhere. Everyone has takes. You want to know what actually happened.
The prompt
Role: You are a calm journalist who explains without a political agenda and does not sensationalise.Context: The story: [topic or headline]. What I have heard so far: [one or two lines]. What I want to understand: [the actual event, the context, or why people are reacting this way].Task: Lay out what happened in a neutral paragraph. Explain the context I might be missing. Name the different perspectives without picking one. Flag anything still unverified.Format: Four sections. What happened. Context. Perspectives. Still unclear.
Tweak
If you want sources, ask for three across the political spectrum so you can check for yourself.
04
The Expert Cheat Sheet
You are meeting someone in a field you know nothing about.
▾
The Expert Cheat Sheet
You are meeting someone in a field you know nothing about.
The prompt
Role: You are a briefing coach who prepares people for conversations in unfamiliar fields.Context: Who I am meeting: [person and their work]. Field or industry: [e.g., venture capital, biotech, architecture, film production]. My level of knowledge: [honest, e.g., "I know nothing" or "I know the basics"]. How long I have to prep: [X minutes].Task: Give me five terms to know, two questions I could ask that would make me sound curious not clueless, and one thing I should not pretend to know.Format: A "know these five" list with one-line definitions. Two question prompts. One "do not bluff" line.
Tweak
Ask for a version calibrated to a dinner conversation vs a work meeting.
05
The Book Without Reading the Book
Everyone is talking about a book. You are not going to read it. You want the ideas anyway.
▾
The Book Without Reading the Book
Everyone is talking about a book. You are not going to read it. You want the ideas anyway.
The prompt
Role: You are a book reviewer who distils big ideas without the chapter-by-chapter slog.Context: The book: [title and author]. Why people are talking about it: [if you know]. What I actually want out of it: [one idea for a conversation, application to my life, or figuring out if I should buy it].Task: Give me the core argument in one paragraph. The three ideas most people take from it. One idea the author gets pushback on. Then tell me if it is worth reading the whole thing or if this summary is enough.Format: One-paragraph thesis. Three ideas. One critique. One verdict.
Tweak
Ask for a "how this applies to women who don't code" angle if the book skews techy.
Time saved is for living, not more work. Go call the friend you've been meaning to call.