Prompt Vault

How to use this page

This vault goes with the Prompt Vault idea from the Everyday ChatGPT book. It gives you prompts you can drop into your AI tool without starting from scratch. Each one is written for everyday use — you just fill in the blanks with your details and send, then keep the ones that work best for you.

• Step 1: Pick the category that fits what you’re trying to do.
• Step 2: Copy one prompt into your AI tool.
• Step 3: Replace the blank lines (___) with your information.
• Step 4: Send it and adjust with short follow-up requests if needed.
• Step 5: Save any prompts that work well for you in a notebook, document, or printable sheet so this becomes your own personal vault.

Everyday Life Helpers

Use these when you’re trying to handle something in everyday life and want a plan that feels manageable.

Simple step-by-step helper

Use this when you’re not sure of the best way to do something and want a very basic plan.

I’m trying to do this, and I’m not sure of the best way: ___. Ask me up to 3 quick questions to understand my situation, then give me a step-by-step plan a beginner could follow.

Make this feel smaller

Use this when a task feels big and you want it broken into small actions.

This feels like a big task to me: ___. Break it into 3–5 small actions I can take today. Use short sentences and keep each action very specific.

Short explanation plus first steps

Use this when you need a quick explanation and a starting point.

I need an explanation I can act on right away. First, explain ___ in everyday language. Then give me the first 3 actions I should take, numbered.

Writing & Messages

Use these for emails, messages, and short pieces of writing where you want a direct, friendly result.

Rewrite to make it easier to read

Use this to improve something you’ve already written.

Rewrite this so it’s easy to read, friendly, and simple to understand: ___

Email starter

Use this when you know the goal of an email but not the wording.

Write a short email for me. My goal is ___. Keep it polite, straightforward, and easy to read.

Summarize for everyday readers

Use this to turn long or dense text into something easier to follow.

Summarize the following so an everyday reader can follow it. Keep only the important parts: ___

Learning & Understanding

Use these when you want to learn a topic or see it explained in a way that’s easier to work with.

Teach me like I’m new

Use this when you’re starting from scratch on something.

Act as a patient teacher. I’m new to this topic: ___. First, explain it in simple terms. Then give me one everyday example and 3 small practice ideas I can try.

Explain in steps

Use this when you want a process broken into simple steps.

Explain ___ to me in simple steps I can follow. Keep the steps short and beginner-friendly.

Compare two things

Use this when you’re trying to understand how two options are different.

Help me understand the difference between ___ and ___. Give me a comparison in plain English with one everyday example for each.

Planning & Organization

Use these when you want help planning something or turning ideas into a simple structure.

Straightforward plan

Use this when you need a basic plan in order.

Help me plan this: ___. Give me an outline with steps in the order I should do them.

Checklist creator

Use this when you want a quick checklist you can follow.

Make me a short, practical checklist for: ___. Keep each item brief and easy to follow.

Weekly actions for a goal

Use this when you have a bigger goal and want it broken into weekly steps.

Help me break this goal into small weekly actions I can stick to: ___. Keep each action realistic and specific.

Work & Productivity

Use these for short reports, meeting prep, and turning rough notes into something ready to share.

Quick report or summary

Use this when you need a short summary you can scan.

I need a short bullet-point report about ___. Make it easy to scan and use headings or bullet points where it helps.

Meeting prep helper

Use this before a meeting so you feel more prepared.

Help me prepare for a meeting about ___. Give me key points to remember, 3 questions I can bring, and anything I should avoid.

Organize my rough notes

Use this when you have messy notes or ideas you want cleaned up.

Take this rough information and turn it into something organized and ready to share: ___. First rewrite it so it’s easier to read. Then format it with a short heading and bullet points I can copy into an email or document.

Troubleshooting & Problem-Solving

Use these when you’re stuck, choosing between options, or trying to figure out what might be going on.

I’m stuck – what might be happening?

Use this when you’re stuck and don’t know what to try next.

I’m stuck on something. Here’s what’s happening: ___. Help me think through possible causes and the next steps I should take.

Pros and cons plus recommendation

Use this when you’re choosing between two options and want to see the tradeoffs.

I’m deciding between these two options: ___ vs ___. Give me a pros-and-cons list for each. Then give me a short, neutral summary of which one might fit me better and why.

Identify the likely issue

Use this when you have facts but aren’t sure what the real problem might be.

Here are the facts about my situation: ___. Help me think through what the main issue might be. Give me 3 possible explanations and the next action I could take for each one.

You can use these prompts with ChatGPT, Claude, Gemini, Perplexity, or any other AI tool. If a response misses the mark, try short follow-up requests like “shorter,” “give me more detail on step 2,” or “rewrite this for beginners.” Over time, save the prompts that work best for you so this page and your notes become a simple vault you can return to.