10 ChatGPT prompts to save 5 hours per week

Why a good prompt changes everything

A poorly framed prompt gives you a mediocre answer. A precise prompt saves you 30 minutes. Here are 10 prompts to keep at hand — copy, paste, and tweak the bracketed parts.

1. Summarize a meeting

You are a project manager. Summarize these meeting notes in 5 bullets: 1 line per decision, 1 line per action with the owner. Notes: [paste notes]

2. Draft a difficult email

You are a communication coach. Write a [40 / 100 / 150]-word email to [recipient] for [goal]. Tone: empathetic but firm. Give 2 versions.

3. Break down a contract

Read this contract and list: (a) my obligations, (b) the other party''s, (c) clauses that don''t protect me well, (d) the 3 points to negotiate. Contract: [paste]

4. Prep a presentation in 10 min

Create an 8-slide presentation outline on [topic] for a [profile] audience. For each slide: title, 3 bullets, and a spoken hook.

5. Find the angle of an article

I want to write an article on [topic]. Suggest 10 different angles, from most consensus to most counter-intuitive. Indicate the target audience for each.

6. Compare 3 options

Compare these 3 options [A / B / C] for [goal] as a table. Columns: criterion, A, B, C. Criteria: cost, time, risk, estimated ROI.

7. Audit a text

Reread this text as a demanding editor. List the 5 weakest sentences and propose a rewrite for each. Text: [paste]

8. Prep a negotiation

Roleplay as [counterpart] who wants [opposite goal]. I will negotiate [stake] with you. Respond to my arguments as they would, with their likely objections.

9. Turn an idea into a checklist

Here is an idea: [describe]. Turn it into an ordered checklist of concrete actions with a time estimate per action.

10. Learn a topic in 30 min

Explain [topic] to me as if I''m smart but know nothing about it. Structure: (1) what it is, (2) why it exists, (3) the 3 key ideas, (4) where I can mess up.

The secret: iterate

None of these prompts produce the perfect result on the first try. The method:

Run the prompt.
Read the answer.
Ask: "Redo it shorter / more direct / with [X] added."

The real productivity gain lives in these back-and-forths.