25 Prompts for Busy People

Follow your workplace's rules on which AI tools you can use and what information you can share. Remove or replace personal and confidential details before pasting content into an AI tool, and always review output before you use it.

How to Use These Prompts

1. Copy a prompt into your AI assistant.

2. Replace everything in [brackets] with your details.

3. Read the result and ask for changes: "shorter," "more casual," "add a deadline."

4. Save the prompts you use most so you can reuse them.

✉️ Email (1–7)

1. Quick reply

Draft a short, friendly reply to the email below. I want to say [your main point]. Keep it under 100 words. [Paste email]

2. Polite no

Write a kind but clear email declining [request] because [reason]. Offer [alternative, if any]. Keep it brief and warm.

3. Follow-up nudge

Write a polite follow-up email to [person/role] about [topic]. I emailed on [date] and haven't heard back. I need [what you need] by [date]. Keep it friendly, not pushy.

4. Fix my tone

Rewrite this email to sound [friendlier / more professional / more confident] without changing the meaning or making it longer. [Paste draft]

5. Shorten it

Cut this email to half its length while keeping all key information and requests. [Paste draft]

6. Subject lines

Suggest 5 clear subject lines for this email. Make them specific and under 8 words. [Paste email]

7. Email to template

Turn this email into a reusable template with [BLANKS] for the parts that change. [Paste email]

📝 Notes & Meetings (8–13)

8. Meeting agenda

Create a [length]-minute agenda for a meeting about [topic] with [who's attending]. Goal: [goal]. Include time for each item and end with next steps.

9. Notes to summary

Summarize these meeting notes into: 1) key decisions, 2) action items with owner and deadline, 3) open questions. Use bullet points. [Paste notes]

10. Messy notes cleanup

Organize these rough notes into a clear summary with headings. Don't add information that isn't in the notes. [Paste notes]

11. Follow-up email after a meeting

Based on these notes, write a short follow-up email to attendees with decisions, action items, and the next meeting date. [Paste notes]

12. Questions to ask

I have a meeting with [person/role] about [topic]. Suggest 8 thoughtful questions I could ask to [goal].

13. Training notes to cheat sheet

Turn these notes from a training session into a one-page cheat sheet with the most important points and steps. [Paste notes]

📅 Planning & Productivity (14–19)

14. Plan my week

Here's my to-do list and my fixed commitments this week. Help me plan a realistic schedule, putting the most important tasks in the mornings. Flag anything that won't fit. [Paste list and commitments]

15. Prioritize

Sort these tasks into urgent/important, important/not urgent, urgent/not important, and neither. Then suggest which 3 to do first. [Paste tasks]

16. Break it down

Break this project into small, concrete steps I can do in 30 minutes or less each: [project description].

17. Project plan

Create a simple project plan for [project] with phases, tasks, rough timelines, and possible risks. Deadline: [date].

18. Weekly update

Write a short weekly update for my [manager/team] from these notes. Sections: done this week, next week, blockers. [Paste notes]

19. Decision helper

I'm deciding between [option A] and [option B] for [situation]. List the pros, cons, and questions I should consider for each. Don't make the decision for me.

🔍 Research & Learning (20–25)

20. Explain simply

Explain [topic] in plain language for someone with no background. Use an everyday example. Keep it under 200 words.

21. Summarize a document

Summarize this document in 5 bullet points for a busy reader, then list 3 questions it raises. [Paste text]

22. Compare options

Compare these options in a table: [criteria 1], [criteria 2], [criteria 3], and risks. [Paste or describe options]

23. Get up to speed

I'm new to [field/topic]. List the 10 most important terms or concepts with a one-line explanation of each.

24. Find the gaps

Review this draft [plan/proposal/report]. What's unclear, missing, or likely to raise questions? Be specific. [Paste draft]

25. Fact-check list

List every factual claim, number, and name in this text that I should verify before sharing. [Paste text]

Make Any Prompt Better

Add one or more of these to the end of any prompt:

• "Ask me questions first if you need more information."

• "Give me 3 versions."

• "Use bullet points."

• "Write for [audience]."

• "Keep it under [number] words."

• "Here's an example of the style I like: [example]."

Before You Use the Output

• [ ] Did I remove confidential or personal information before pasting?

• [ ] Have I checked names, dates, numbers, and facts?

• [ ] Does it sound like me?

• [ ] Would I be comfortable if the recipient knew AI helped draft it?

Sample product from a Fora-made demo creator page.