20 Copy-Paste AI Prompts You’ll Actually Use Every Day
A practical library of fill-in-the-blank prompts for work, planning, learning, and life
Most “prompt lists” are either too vague or too geeky to be useful. This one isn’t. Below are 20 simple, battle-tested prompts you can paste into any AI tool. Each one tells the model exactly what you need—tone, length, and format—so you spend less time tweaking and more time getting things done.
TL;DR: Grab these 20 prompts, swap the brackets, and ship faster. Keep outputs short, add constraints (tone, length, format), and ask for sources or next steps where it matters.
Estimated read time: ~8 minutes
⚡️ How to get the most from these prompts
Swap the brackets. Replace anything in
[brackets]with your details.Add constraints. Cap words, pick a tone, ask for bullets or a mini table.
Ask for next steps. Useful outputs end with “what I should do now.”
When details matter, prepend: “Ask me 3 clarifying questions first.”
💼 Work & communication
Summary (fast + actionable)
“Summarize the text below into 5 bullets for a busy reader. Add a 1-sentence TL;DR and 1 concrete next step for me. ≤120 words. Text: [paste]”Polite but firm email
“Write a concise email to [name/role] about [issue]. Tone: polite, firm, solution-oriented. Include a clear ask, 3 options with deadlines, and a friendly close. ≤120 words.”Rewrite for tone + length
“Rewrite the text for a [friendly/professional/enthusiastic] tone. Keep all facts, cut fluff, and keep length within ±10%. Text: [paste]”Meeting notes → action plan
“Turn these notes into decisions, owners, deadlines, risks, and follow-ups. Use bullets and bold owner names. Notes: [paste]”Content outline (blog/video)
“Outline a [blog/video] on [topic] for [audience]. Include a hook, 4–6 key sections with takeaways, and a 1-paragraph summary. Suggest SEO keywords and a punchy title.”Social post variations
“Write 5 versions of a social post promoting [thing/link] for [LinkedIn/X/IG]. Keep them distinct: data-led, story-led, question, contrarian, super concise.”Resume tailoring
“Rewrite my resume bullets for the role: [job title]. Emphasize [skills], use strong verbs, show impact with numbers, and keep each bullet ≤2 lines. Resume: [paste] Job post: [paste]”Interview prep
“Create 10 likely interview questions for [role] at [company]. Provide ideal talking points, a 30-second elevator pitch, and 3 smart questions I should ask them.”
🗓️ Planning & life admin
Daily plan (time-blocking)
“Create a focused schedule for [date]. I work [hours], key tasks are [list], energy is highest at [time]. Include breaks, deep-work blocks, and a 5-minute wrap-up.”Trip plan with constraints
“Plan a [3]-day trip to [city] for [2 adults/1 child]. Budget: [$]. Interests: [e.g., food, art, outdoors]. Give a daily schedule, must-book items, transit tips, and a packing shortlist.”Meal plan + grocery list
“Create a 5-day dinner plan under [$] with meals in ≤30 minutes. Dietary needs: [e.g., vegetarian, gluten-free]. Provide a single grocery list by aisle and a 1-hour weekend prep.”Personal budget starter
“Build a simple monthly budget for take-home pay of [$]. Use the 50/30/20 split as a starting point, suggest caps per category, and list 3 quick savings ideas.”Gift finder
“Suggest 7 thoughtful gift ideas for a [relationship] who likes [interests], budget [$], occasion [e.g., birthday]. Include a one-line why for each.”
🎓 Learning & decisions
Learn a topic fast
“Explain [topic] as if I’m smart but new. Use a simple analogy, then a 5-step learning plan (with time estimates), 3 common mistakes, and 3 practice exercises.”Quick decision helper
“Compare [Option A] vs [Option B] for [goal]. Create a mini table: pros, cons, risks, cost, effort. End with a 50-word recommendation and when I should not choose the winner.”Compare & buy smarter
“Help me choose a [product type] under [$]. Must-haves: [list]. Nice-to-haves: [list]. Provide a 3-option shortlist with pros/cons and a ‘best for’ note.”Explain legal/contracts
“Translate this clause into plain English for a non-lawyer. List my obligations, their obligations, risks, and what to negotiate. Clause: [paste]”
🧠 Health, habits & troubleshooting
Simple workout routine
“Design a 20-minute, no-equipment workout I can do 3×/week in my apartment. Goal: [strength/fat loss/mobility]. Include warm-up, main set, cool-down, and a 4-week progression.”Habit kickstarter
“Design a 30-day plan to build the habit: [e.g., daily reading]. Include a 5-minute version, triggers, obstacle planning, a simple tracker, and a weekly review ritual.”Tech issue triage
“Help diagnose this problem: [device/app + symptoms]. Give the 3 most likely causes, step-by-step fixes (easiest first), what to check after each step, and when to contact support.”
✨ Pro tips to customize
Cap output length to keep it skimmable (e.g., “≤120 words” or “4 bullets”).
Define tone (“friendly,” “formal,” “confident,” “apologetic”) to match the audience.
Ask for structure (bullets, mini table, sections) so you can scan and paste easily.
Save your best versions in a notes app or repo; version them like templates.
Add “sources” or “next step” when accuracy or actionability matters.
🧠 Final thoughts
You don’t need fancy tricks to get real value from AI—just a few clear, well-aimed prompts. Start with five from this list, save your favorite versions, and tweak tone and length to fit your voice. In a week you’ll have a mini “prompt library” that turns messy tasks into quick wins.
Keep it simple: one goal, a word limit, and a structure (bullets, sections).
Ask for next steps so every output ends with action.
Track what saves you time; keep what works, drop what doesn’t.
Share your best prompts with a teammate—good ideas spread fast.
Small prompts create big momentum. Build your stack one handy template at a time and watch your day get lighter, your work sharper, and your confidence grow.