One True Prompt — Issue 182
Here are 10 prompts you can use today. Each one is ready to copy and paste into ChatGPT or Claude. Try at least one.
Prompt: Turn a long YouTube interview into clear notes you can use
Copy and paste this:
You are my research assistant with 20+ years of experience helping professionals extract the key ideas from long interviews and talks.
I watched this interview on YouTube: it’s a 68‑minute conversation between Dr. Andrew Huberman (Stanford neuroscientist) and Dr. Matthew Walker (sleep researcher) about how sleep affects memory and learning. I took rough notes while listening.
Here are my messy notes, in the order I wrote them:
- Huberman + Matt Walker - sleep & learning
- Walker: sleep not just passive, brain is reviewing info
- different stages: deep sleep early night, REM later
- before learning: good sleep “primes the brain”
- after learning: during sleep brain “replays” memories, strengthens connections
- motor learning example: piano practice, performance better next day
- language learning: vocab tested - those who slept remembered more
- Walker talks about study with students: all‑nighters vs regular sleep
- all‑nighters = worse grades, slower reaction time, more emotional
- recommends consistent schedule: wake time more important than bed time
- caffeine: okay before 2pm, avoid later
- alcohol: bad for sleep quality, even 1 - 2 glasses
- practical routine: 30 - 60 min wind‑down, no bright screens, dim lights
- Walker mentions “sleep spindles” as key for memory
- Huberman asks: can we nap to catch up?
- Walker: short naps (20 - 30 min) can help learning that day, but can’t fully replace night sleep
- repeated idea: “sleep is like hitting the save button on what you learned”
Using these notes ONLY (don’t add new science I didn’t write down), please:
1. Turn this into a clear, 1‑page summary in plain language, organized with short section headings (like “How sleep helps learning before you study”).
2. Pull out 5 - 7 specific, practical recommendations for a 55‑year‑old office worker named Susan who is trying to:
- remember more from books she reads in the evening
- retain new skills from an online Excel course she’s taking
- feel less mentally foggy in morning meetings
3. For each recommendation, briefly explain *why* it helps learning, based ONLY on the ideas in my notes.
4. End with a simple “Tonight Plan” for Susan: a 6‑step checklist for her evening and sleep routine, written as short bullet points she could print and keep next to her bed.
Use concise, direct language and avoid technical jargon. If you need to infer something, make it clearly tied to my notes, not outside information.
Use case: Susan, 55, works in accounting and wants to get more value out of the long educational interviews she watches on YouTube. She has notes but struggles to turn them into clear, practical changes to her routine.
Expected result: A clean, structured summary of the interview based on her notes, plus a tailored set of sleep-and-learning habits and a simple evening checklist that she can follow starting tonight.
Pro tip: Swap the topic and notes for any long podcast, webinar, or sermon you’ve listened to recently and let the AI turn your messy scribbles into usable insights and routines.
Prompt: Turn a book you read into a personal learning plan
Copy and paste this:
You are a learning coach who specializes in helping adults over 40 turn what they read into concrete, doable actions.
Last month I read the book “Atomic Habits” by James Clear. Here are the main ideas and examples that stuck with me, from memory:
- Small 1% improvements compound over time.
- Focus on systems, not goals.
- Identity-based habits: “I’m the kind of person who…”
- The 4 laws: make it obvious, attractive, easy, satisfying.
- Example he gave: man who lost 100 pounds by just not missing workouts.
- Example: writer who only committed to writing one sentence a day to build the habit.
- Habit stacking: “After I do X, I will do Y.”
- Environment design: put the guitar in the living room if you want to practice more.
- He mentioned a British study where people who wrote down when and where they’d exercise were much more likely to follow through.
I am Martin, 62, semi‑retired IT consultant. My situation:
- Health: slightly overweight, sit most of the day, walk 2 - 3 times a week.
- Learning goals for the next 6 months:
- Learn basic Spanish (to travel to Spain with my wife next year).
- Get comfortable with investing basics (index funds, retirement planning).
- Read one serious non‑fiction book per month and remember the key ideas.
- Constraints:
- I get mentally tired after 8pm.
- I dislike complicated apps and want paper‑based or very simple digital systems.
- I tend to start strong on new projects, then lose steam after 2 - 3 weeks.
Using ONLY the concepts I remembered from “Atomic Habits,” please:
1. Design a 6‑month “Learning Habits Plan” for me, with:
- 3 identity statements (e.g., “I’m the kind of person who…”), tailored to my goals.
- 3 core learning habits (Spanish, investing, reading), each described in one sentence.
2. For each learning habit, create:
- One habit stacking formula (e.g., “After I drink my morning coffee, I…”).
- One environment design change I can make at home this week.
3. Create a simple weekly tracking system I can keep on one sheet of paper:
- Columns for each habit.
- Checkboxes or symbols I can use.
- A short “reflection question” for Sunday evening.
4. Write everything in clear, non‑technical language suitable for a 62‑year‑old who dislikes apps but is serious about learning.
Do not add advice that requires tools I did not mention. Ground all suggestions in the book ideas I listed, plus reasonable, practical applications of those ideas to my situation.
Use case: Martin, 62, has read a popular self‑improvement book but isn’t sure how to turn its ideas into specific actions for his learning goals over the next six months.
Expected result: A customized learning habits plan, including identity statements, stacked habits, environment tweaks, and a paper-based weekly tracking system that directly applies “Atomic Habits” principles to his real life.
Pro tip: Replace the book and description with another book you’ve read (“Make it Atomic Habits but for my piano practice” or “Do this for ‘The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People’ and my consulting work”) to turn reading into an action plan.
Prompt: Compare two conflicting articles and get a balanced view
Copy and paste this:
You are a neutral research analyst experienced in explaining conflicting information to non‑experts.
I read two articles about intermittent fasting and I’m confused:
Article 1 (health blog, published 2024):
- Claims that 16:8 fasting (16 hours no food, 8‑hour eating window) is “the best way” to lose weight for people over 50.
- Says breakfast is not important; you can skip it and be healthier.
- Emphasizes “fat burning mode” and says you shouldn’t worry about muscle loss.
- Uses a success story: “John, 57, lost 30 pounds in 6 months by skipping breakfast and only eating between 12pm and 8pm.”
Article 2 (nutrition researcher’s newsletter, published 2025):
- Argues intermittent fasting is just one tool, not magic.
- Warns that people over 50 should be careful about skipping breakfast if it leads to overeating later.
- Mentions that older adults are more prone to muscle loss and should prioritize protein and resistance training.
- Gives an example: “Linda, 61, used a 12:12 schedule (eat between 7am and 7pm), focused on protein, and lost 15 pounds while improving strength.”
I am Karen, 58, office manager. My situation:
- Weight: 25 pounds over where I’d like to be.
- Activity: 3 short walks per week, no resistance training yet.
- Health: mild knee arthritis, no major health conditions, annual check‑ups normal.
- Preferences: I really enjoy breakfast, especially on workdays, and I tend to get irritable if I don’t eat until noon.
Using ONLY the information I provided from these two articles plus my situation (do not invent new studies or statistics):
1. Identify 5 - 7 specific points where the two articles clearly disagree, and explain each disagreement in plain language I can understand.
2. For each disagreement, explain:
- What Article 1 emphasizes.
- What Article 2 emphasizes.
- How my personal preferences and situation might influence which emphasis is more useful for me.
3. Based on this, propose:
- One “experiment plan” for me to try a form of time‑restricted eating for 4 weeks that:
- Respects my enjoyment of breakfast.
- Does not require skipping breakfast every day.
- Includes a simple start with resistance training that is realistic with knee arthritis.
4. Clearly label what is directly based on the articles versus what is your practical inference for my case.
Use conversational, non‑technical language suitable for someone with no nutrition or medical background. Avoid scare tactics and do not give medical advice beyond general educational guidance.
Use case: Karen, 58, keeps seeing conflicting advice online and wants help sorting through it in a calm, structured way, then turning it into a safe, realistic experiment she can try.
Expected result: A side‑by‑side explanation of where the two fasting articles disagree, and a personalized 4‑week experiment plan that accounts for her age, preferences, and knee arthritis, with clear labeling of what comes from the articles vs. reasonable interpretation.
Pro tip: You can paste in two articles you’ve read on any topic (investing, parenting, supplements, productivity) and ask for a disagreement map plus a personal experiment plan based on your situation.
Prompt: Turn a conference talk into an action list for your job
Copy and paste this:
You are a professional note‑taker and implementation coach for mid‑career professionals.
I’m a 49‑year‑old marketing director at a regional hospital system. Yesterday I watched a recorded conference talk titled “AI in Healthcare Marketing: What to Do in the Next 12 Months.” I didn’t save the slides, but here’s what I remember in bullet points:
- Speaker: Sarah Lopez, VP of Marketing at a large nonprofit hospital network.
- She said AI is already good at: drafting patient education emails, personalizing website content, analyzing patient feedback surveys.
- She warned against: using AI for medical advice content without clinical review, automating responses to sensitive complaints without human oversight.
- She gave an example: her team used AI to categorize 10,000 patient comments from surveys into themes (wait times, communication, billing problems) in one afternoon.
- She mentioned that older patients (55+) appreciate clear, simple language and dislike “tech hype.”
- She suggested one‑year priorities:
1) Pilot AI‑assisted email writing for appointment reminders and follow‑ups.
2) Use AI to summarize patient feedback quarterly for leadership.
3) Train staff on how to review and edit AI‑generated content responsibly.
- She described her rollout: started with one clinic, one type of email, and one feedback report; then expanded after 3 months.
- Her metrics: email open rates, patient satisfaction scores, complaints about confusing communication.
My context:
- I manage a small team of 4 people.
- We send appointment reminder emails, post surgery follow‑up emails, and quarterly newsletters.
- Our patient base is mostly 50 - 80 years old.
- We have no formal AI tools in place yet, but leadership is curious.
Using only these remembered points plus my context:
1. Create a 12‑month “AI in Communications” plan for my hospital system, broken into:
- First 3 months (pilot phase).
- Months 4 - 8 (expansion).
- Months 9 - 12 (standardization and training).
2. For each phase, list:
- 3 - 5 specific actions (e.g., “Use AI to draft first versions of appointment reminders, then have staff edit for clarity.”).
- 2 - 3 simple metrics we can track that do not require new software (e.g., open rate, number of complaints).
3. Translate Sarah Lopez’s high‑level ideas into concrete steps for my small team of 4, making sure:
- We respect older patients’ preference for simple language.
- We avoid using AI for anything that looks like medical advice without human review.
4. Write this plan so I can present it to my CEO and clinical leadership in a 10‑minute meeting.
Use clear headings and bullet points. Keep explanations short and practical, not theoretical.
Use case: A 49‑year‑old hospital marketing director wants to turn a single conference talk into a realistic, phased plan for trying AI tools in patient communications over the next year.
Expected result: A specific, phase‑by‑phase 12‑month plan with actions and metrics, tailored to a small marketing team serving mostly older patients, that can be directly used in a leadership discussion.
Pro tip: Swap the conference topic (e.g., “remote work,” “sales,” “school leadership”) and your job details to turn almost any talk or webinar you attend into a structured 12‑month implementation plan.
Prompt: Build a reading and research plan around a big life decision
Copy and paste this:
You are a decision‑support researcher helping adults structure their thinking before making big life choices.
I am David, 52, high school history teacher in Ohio. I’m seriously considering moving from teaching into instructional design (creating training materials for companies). I want to use the next 6 months to research this carefully before I decide.
My current situation:
- 25 years teaching experience.
- Comfortable with technology but no formal corporate experience.
- Two kids in college; financial stability is important.
- I enjoy explaining complex ideas in simple ways and designing lessons.
What I’ve already done:
- Watched 3 YouTube videos titled “Day in the Life of an Instructional Designer.”
- Read 2 blog posts about “How to Transition from Teaching to Corporate Training.”
- Talked briefly with one former teacher who now works in instructional design; she likes the work but mentioned that “corporate timelines can be intense.”
My concerns:
- Whether I’d miss working directly with students.
- Whether my skills truly transfer.
- Whether the pay and stability are better or worse.
Over the next 6 months, I can realistically commit:
- 3 - 4 hours per week to reading, watching, and talking to people.
- 1 weekend day per month for deeper work.
Using this information ONLY (do not assume I’ve already made a decision):
1. Design a 6‑month “Learning & Research Plan for Career Change,” organized by month, with:
- Specific reading/watch themes for each month (e.g., “Month 2: Learn about typical corporate environments.”).
- 2 - 3 concrete actions per month (e.g., “Schedule one 30‑minute call with someone in the field.”).
2. Include:
- A short list of the kinds of sources I should look for (e.g., company career pages, LinkedIn profiles, salary reports), described without brand names or links.
- 5 - 7 key questions I should aim to answer by the end of 6 months (e.g., “What does a typical week look like?”).
3. Create a simple “Decision Check‑In” structure:
- One 30‑minute reflection at the end of Month 3.
- One 60‑minute reflection at the end of Month 6.
- Suggested questions to ask myself during each reflection.
4. Present all of this in straightforward language suitable for a thoughtful, non‑technical 52‑year‑old teacher.
Do not push me toward any particular decision. Keep the focus on structuring my learning and research so I can decide more confidently.
Use case: David, 52, wants to approach a possible career change as a structured research project instead of an impulsive leap, but doesn’t know how to organize his reading and conversations.
Expected result: A concrete, month‑by‑month plan for what to read, who to talk to, and what questions to answer, plus built‑in reflection points to help him evaluate whether instructional design is the right next step.
Pro tip: You can plug in any major decision (downsizing home, semi‑retirement, starting a business) and your time constraints to get a customized research plan that makes your learning deliberate instead of scattered.
Prompt: Ask AI to interview you before building a learning plan
Copy and paste this:
You are an experienced learning strategist for adults 40+, and your first step is always to ask clarifying questions before making recommendations.
I want you to help me design a personal learning plan, but before you make *any* recommendations, I want you to thoroughly interview me.
My situation in brief:
- I am Laura, 59, project manager in a construction company.
- Over the next 12 months I want to:
- Improve my Excel and data skills.
- Learn more about sustainability in construction.
- Read more history and biography for personal interest.
- Constraints:
- I work 45 - 50 hours per week.
- I have two grandchildren I see most weekends.
- I get my best mental focus between 7 - 10am.
- I prefer learning from books and videos rather than interactive apps.
Your task:
1. Spend the *entire* first response asking me thoughtful follow‑up questions to understand:
- My current skill level in each area.
- My access to resources (libraries, courses, colleagues).
- My learning preferences (note‑taking, discussion, solo study).
- My energy patterns during the week.
- My deeper reasons for wanting to learn these topics.
2. Ask at least 12 specific questions, grouped under clear headings (e.g., “Excel and data,” “Sustainability,” “Personal reading,” “Schedule and energy”).
3. Only after I have answered your questions in detail and you have a fuller picture, design:
- A 12‑month learning plan broken into quarters (Q1, Q2, Q3, Q4).
- 3 - 4 specific learning activities per quarter.
- One simple way to track progress that doesn’t require special software.
Important: In your *first* response, DO NOT give me any advice, plans, or tips. Only ask questions and make sure I feel understood. In your *second* response (after I reply), then create the plan.
Use case: Laura, 59, knows her general learning goals but hasn’t thought deeply about her constraints, preferences, or motivations. She wants the AI to interview her first instead of jumping straight to generic advice.
Expected result: First, a structured “interview” with smart questions that help her clarify what she really wants and can realistically do. Then, after her answers, a tailored 12‑month learning plan that fits her life.
Pro tip: Use this “ask me questions first” pattern whenever the topic is important (health, finances, big projects). It forces the AI to gather context before advising and usually leads to much more accurate, realistic plans.
Prompt: Turn scattered browser tabs into a single research summary
Copy and paste this:
You are a research synthesizer helping busy adults turn scattered reading into one clear, usable overview.
Over the past two weeks, I’ve had many browser tabs open about “strength training for people over 50,” but I never organized them. I didn’t save the full articles, but here are the bits I remember, in no particular order:
- One article said: focus on compound movements (squats, pushes, pulls) 2 - 3 times per week.
- Another emphasized: start light and progress slowly, especially if you’ve been inactive.
- A physical therapist’s blog warned: pay attention to joint pain and form, not just weight.
- A personal trainer’s post showed a sample routine: bodyweight squats, wall push‑ups, resistance band rows, 2 - 3 sets of 8 - 12 reps.
- One source mentioned: muscle loss accelerates after 50, but you can still build strength at any age.
- Another highlighted: recovery (sleep, rest days) is important to avoid injury.
- A forum comment said: “Don’t compare yourself to 25‑year‑olds in the gym. Train for your life, not for Instagram.”
My situation:
- I am Neil, 61, software engineer.
- I sit most of the day.
- I walk 20 minutes most evenings.
- Mild lower back stiffness in the morning.
- No major health issues reported by my doctor.
Using ONLY the points I remembered plus my situation:
1. Create a clear, 2‑page style summary (you can just structure it, I understand it won’t literally be pages) with headings:
- “Big picture: Why strength training matters after 50.”
- “Core principles from what I’ve read.”
- “A realistic starter routine for Neil (next 8 weeks).”
- “Safety and mindset notes.”
2. For the 8‑week starter routine:
- Use only the types of exercises that appeared in my remembered notes (squats, push‑ups, rows, resistance bands, etc.), adapted to my age and back stiffness.
- Suggest frequency per week and rough sets/reps, grounded in the remembered guidance.
3. Under “Safety and mindset notes,” include:
- 4 - 6 plain‑language reminders based on the ideas above (e.g., focus on form, don’t compare to younger people).
4. Keep all language non‑technical and appropriate for someone who has never had a personal trainer.
Do not add new exercises I didn’t mention. If you need to adjust something to account for my back stiffness, say clearly that it is a practical adaptation of what I read, not a medical prescription.
Use case: Neil, 61, has read many bits and pieces online but feels overwhelmed. He wants one clean summary and starter plan built entirely out of the ideas he’s already seen.
Expected result: A structured overview that explains why strength training matters for him, distills core principles, and gives him a simple 8‑week routine plus safety/mindset guidelines he can start using.
Pro tip: You can paste in your own scattered notes from various tabs (about diets, hobbies, home repairs, travel planning) and ask the AI to build a single, coherent summary and starter plan based only on what you already collected.
Prompt: Learn a new topic by asking AI to be your “thinking partner”
Copy and paste this:
You are my “thinking partner” for learning, not just a fact‑spitter. Your job is to help me understand a topic, test my understanding, and correct me gently.
Topic I want to learn: basic investing for retirement (index funds, risk, diversification).
My situation:
- I am Angela, 63, nurse planning to retire in 5 - 7 years.
- I have a 401(k) through work and a small IRA.
- I feel intimidated by financial jargon and don’t want to be sold anything.
- I’m willing to spend 1 hour per week learning for the next 3 months.
Here is how I want us to work together:
1. Start by giving me a simple, 4‑paragraph overview of:
- What an index fund is.
- What “risk” roughly means in investing.
- What “diversification” roughly means.
Use only everyday language and short sentences.
2. After the overview, ask me 5 - 7 short questions to check my understanding. Make them multiple‑choice or very short answer to reduce typing.
3. When I answer, review my answers and:
- Explain where I’m right, in plain language.
- Correct where I’m off, without making me feel foolish.
4. Based on my answers, suggest:
- One tiny learning goal for the next week (e.g., “Understand the difference between stocks and bonds at a basic level.”).
- One practical question I could ask my retirement plan provider at my next meeting, so I start connecting learning to my real accounts.
Important:
- Do not recommend specific products or companies.
- Do not assume I know any math beyond simple percentages.
- Keep your tone calm, patient, and non‑judgmental.
Use case: Angela, 63, wants to finally understand her retirement investing but needs an approach that feels like a friendly tutor, not a sales pitch or technical textbook.
Expected result: A gentle introduction to key concepts, interactive questions to test her understanding, clear corrections, and a small next learning step tied to her real financial life.
Pro tip: You can swap the topic (e.g., “AI basics,” “climate change,” “how Medicare works”) and keep the same “overview → questions → feedback → next step” pattern for any subject you’re curious about.
Prompt: Turn a family history project into a structured research plan
Copy and paste this:
You are a research organizer helping adults create thoughtful plans for personal projects.
I am Elaine, 68, retired librarian. I want to create a short family history booklet for my grandchildren over the next year.
Current situation:
- I have:
- A box of old family photos (1950s - 1990s).
- 3 handwritten letters from my father dated 1965 - 1968.
- My own memories of growing up in a small town in Iowa.
- I have not:
- Interviewed relatives systematically.
- Organized any of these materials.
My goals:
- Create a 30 - 40 page printed booklet with:
- 10 - 15 key stories from our family.
- Selected photos with captions.
- A simple timeline of important events (marriages, moves, births).
Time I can commit:
- 2 - 3 hours per week.
- One longer work session (3 - 4 hours) every month.
Using this information:
1. Design a 12‑month “Family History Research & Writing Plan,” broken down by quarter:
- Quarter 1: Gather and organize.
- Quarter 2: Interview and deepen stories.
- Quarter 3: Write and select photos.
- Quarter 4: Edit and prepare for printing.
2. For each quarter, list:
- 3 - 5 specific tasks (e.g., “Sort photos into envelopes by decade,” “Record a phone interview with my older brother about our parents.”).
- One simple way to track progress (e.g., checklist, monthly note to self).
3. Suggest:
- 8 - 10 interview questions Elaine could ask relatives (by phone or in person) to get rich stories without making anyone feel put on the spot.
4. Keep all instructions:
- Low‑tech (assume paper, simple folders, maybe basic word processing).
- Clear and encouraging for a 68‑year‑old who is comfortable with reading and organizing but does not want complex software.
Do not assume she wants to publish online; focus on a printed booklet for family use.
Use case: Elaine, 68, has precious materials and memories but feels overwhelmed by how to turn them into a coherent family history without getting lost.
Expected result: A quarter‑by‑quarter plan with specific tasks, tracking ideas, and interview questions, giving her a clear path from “box of stuff” to printed family booklet.
Pro tip: You can adapt this structure to any personal research project (local history, recipe book, photo album, memoir), specifying what materials you already have and what kind of final product you want.
Prompt: Build a “research sanity checklist” for health information
Copy and paste this:
You are a health information guide helping adults over 40 avoid confusion and panic when reading about health topics online.
I am Robert, 57, office worker. Over the past year I’ve:
- Searched online about:
- Blood pressure.
- Pre‑diabetes.
- Cholesterol.
- Read forum posts, blogs, and news articles.
- Felt confused by conflicting advice and sometimes anxious.
I have regular check‑ups with my doctor and will continue to follow medical advice there. What I want from you is not medical advice, but a way to *use the internet more calmly and effectively* when I look things up.
Your task:
1. Create a “Health Research Sanity Checklist” I can keep next to my computer, with 10 - 12 items such as:
- “Notice whether this is a personal story, an advertisement, or a research summary.”
- “Check if the article mentions talking to your doctor.”
- “Look for the date to see how recent the information is.”
2. Organize the checklist into 3 sections:
- Before I search.
- While I’m reading.
- After I finish reading.
3. Add:
- A short script (4 - 6 sentences) I can say to myself when I start feeling anxious, that reminds me to slow down and stay grounded.
4. Suggest:
- 3 simple questions I can bring to my next doctor’s appointment, based on my habit of reading about blood pressure, pre‑diabetes, and cholesterol online.
5. Write everything in calm, plain language suitable for a 57‑year‑old who is not medically trained.
Important:
- Do not give specific treatment advice or numbers (“your blood pressure should be X”).
- Focus on how to research and read, not what decisions to make medically.
Use case: Robert, 57, wants a practical tool to keep him from spiraling when he reads health information online, while still allowing him to be informed and ask good questions.
Expected result: A practical, printed‑ready checklist with sections, a self‑calming script, and a few doctor questions, all focused on improving how he *uses* online health information, not replacing professional care.
Pro tip: You can adapt this idea for other “anxiety‑provoking research” topics (politics, financial news, parenting) to create checklists that help you stay calm and thoughtful instead of overwhelmed when you go down online rabbit holes.
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