On Monday, October 26, 2026, we are tackling two tasks that look ordinary but often consume far more time and energy than they should: creating a spring-cleaning plan you will actually follow, and giving a team member feedback without turning the conversation into either a confrontation or a vague exercise in politeness. In both cases, AI is useful not because it “takes over,” but because it gives shape to a task that is easy to postpone or mishandle.

Try at least one before Sunday. That is the whole assignment.

Use Case 1 of 2

Use Case 1: Spring cleaning using a checklist AI creates

At 9:15 on Saturday morning, April 4, 2026, Linda Morales stood in the middle of her kitchen with a cup of coffee going cold in her hand. She had promised herself she would start spring cleaning, but the promise had produced no plan - only a familiar sense of defeat. The house needed attention in several places: dusty ceiling fans, a cluttered hall closet, windows that had not been washed since last spring, and a garage full of items she no longer used. The trouble was not that Linda lacked motivation. She simply could not decide where to begin, how much to do in one day, or what could safely be ignored. A giant generic checklist would not help. She needed a plan for her house, her available time, and her actual energy.

Here is the exact prompt to use:

Copy and paste this into ChatGPT or Claude:

> I want you to create a realistic spring-cleaning checklist for my home. Do not give me a massive generic list. Build the plan around my specific circumstances. > > My home has: [describe the number of bedrooms, bathrooms, floors, and any special areas such as a garage, basement, attic, porch, or garden shed]. > > The areas that most need attention are: [list them]. > > I have these problems: [list clutter, dust, laundry, windows, appliances, paperwork, outdoor areas, or anything else]. > > I can spend approximately [number] hours per day, on [number] days per week, for the next [number] weeks. My energy is usually [low, moderate, or high], and I have these physical limitations or tasks I should avoid: [describe them]. > > I live with: [number of adults, children, pets, or anyone else]. I want to involve them in these tasks: [describe who can help and what they can reasonably do]. > > Create a checklist divided into short work sessions of no more than 45 minutes. Put the highest-impact tasks first. Separate essential tasks from optional tasks. Include supplies needed, a suggested order, and a simple way to mark each task complete. Do not recommend mixing cleaning chemicals. Flag any task that may require a professional, such as mold, unsafe heights, electrical problems, or heavy lifting. Make the plan encouraging and practical rather than perfectionistic.

Why this prompt works: It gives the AI the information a useful plan requires: the size of the home, the problem areas, the time available, physical limits, and the people who can help. It also asks for short sessions, priorities, supplies, and safety warnings instead of merely saying, “Make me a spring-cleaning list.” Good prompts describe the desired result, provide relevant context, set boundaries, and specify the format. Most importantly, this prompt asks the AI to distinguish essential work from optional work. That prevents spring cleaning from becoming an impossible attempt to make every corner of the house perfect.

Use Case 2 of 2

Use Case 2: Giving feedback to a team member

At 3:40 on Tuesday afternoon, October 20, 2026, David Chen opened a draft report from Marcus, one of the strongest analysts on his team. The report contained excellent research, but the figures were delivered two days late and several pages were missing sources. David needed to address the problem before the next project began. He also knew Marcus had been working under pressure, and he did not want to erase the employee’s strengths by making the conversation sound like a personal criticism. David’s first draft of the message said, “You need to be more reliable and pay closer attention to detail.” It was short, but it was not useful. It described Marcus’s character rather than the behavior that needed to change.

Here is the exact prompt to use:

Copy and paste this into ChatGPT or Claude:

> Help me prepare respectful, specific feedback for a team member. Do not make assumptions about their personality, motives, or intentions. Focus only on observable behavior, its impact, and a practical next step. > > The team member’s name is [name], and their role is [role]. > > The positive contribution I want to recognize is: [describe a specific strength or result]. > > The situation I need to discuss happened on [date or project]. The observable behavior was: [describe exactly what happened, including dates, deadlines, actions, or omissions]. > > The impact was: [explain what happened to the team, customer, project, schedule, quality, or workload]. > > The standard or expectation is: [state what should have happened]. > > The change I need to request is: [describe the specific behavior you want next time]. > > Please produce: > > 1. A short opening that recognizes the person’s contribution. > 2. A clear description of the situation and behavior without blame. > 3. A plain-English explanation of the impact. > 4. One specific request for what should happen next time. > 5. Two respectful questions that invite the employee’s perspective. > 6. A brief closing that confirms support and sets a follow-up date. > > Keep the tone calm, direct, and professional. Do not use labels such as “careless,” “unreliable,” “unmotivated,” or “bad attitude.” Do not exaggerate. If the information I provided is too vague to support fair feedback, tell me what facts are missing before drafting the conversation.

Why this prompt works: It follows a simple structure: situation, behavior, impact, and next step. That keeps the conversation anchored in facts rather than personality judgments. It also asks for recognition, questions, and a follow-up, which makes feedback a two-way conversation instead of a verdict. The instruction to identify missing facts is especially valuable. AI can polish language, but it cannot turn a vague impression into fair evidence. Specific prompts produce specific feedback because they require dates, actions, consequences, expectations, and a clear request.

Know someone who spends too long on things AI could do in two minutes? Forward this to three people who subscribe and I will send you my free AI Prompt Starter Pack: 20 ready-to-use prompts for everyday life.

By Dr. Rowan Hayes