10 Things to Try Your First Week

The fastest way to get good at AI is to use it for actual things in your life — not “test prompts.” Below are ten you can copy, paste, and adapt. Try one a day for the next ten days.

1. Untangle a confusing email

Paste any email you’ve been avoiding and ask AI to draft a polite reply.

I need to reply to this email but I don’t know how to handle it. Draft a reply that’s polite, brief, and addresses each point. Match a friendly-professional tone. Don’t be sycophantic.

EMAIL: [paste the email]

2. Plan dinner from what’s in your fridge

Open your fridge. Type what’s there.

I have: chicken thighs, half a red onion, a can of black beans, salsa, sour cream, tortillas, and a lime. Suggest 3 different dinners I could make in under 30 minutes. List ingredients I’d need to add (max 3 per recipe) and step-by-step instructions.

3. Explain something confusing — like you mean it

Got a tax form, a contract, a medical term, or a school document you don’t understand? Paste it.

Explain this to me like I’m a smart adult who doesn’t have a background in [law/medicine/finance]. What does it actually say? What should I be paying attention to? What’s the worst-case scenario it’s protecting against?

DOCUMENT: [paste it]

4. Rewrite your bio in three styles

Copy your LinkedIn or social bio.

Here’s my current bio. Rewrite it in 3 styles: 1) warm and human 2) confident and concise 3) playful and a bit weird. Each version under 80 words.

BIO: [paste yours]

5. Plan a 4-hour deep-clean

Pick a room.

I have 4 hours to deep-clean my [kitchen]. Build me a step-by-step plan that handles the worst stuff first and uses 30-minute work blocks with 10-minute breaks. Tell me what cleaning supplies I need before I start. Be realistic about what I can finish.

6. Write a tough message you’ve been putting off

Cancelling a subscription. Asking for a raise. Telling a friend they hurt your feelings. AI is shockingly good at this because it has no skin in the game.

I need to send a [message type] to [person]. The situation is: [describe]. I want to come across as [warm but firm / clear and respectful / honest but kind]. Draft 3 versions of different lengths. I’ll pick one and edit.

7. Become a smarter shopper

I’m trying to decide between these two products: [Product A] and [Product B]. My priorities are [reliability / cost / quality / specific features]. Lay out the pros, cons, and which one fits someone like me. If you don’t know recent specs, say so and tell me what to check.

8. Learn something that’s been bugging you

Pick anything: how mortgages work, why politicians do X, what “cloud” computing actually is, the difference between socialism and communism, why coffee gives you a headache.

Explain [topic] to me as a 10-minute podcast script. Use a friendly host voice, real-world examples, and a clear “so what?” at the end. Assume I know nothing.

9. Plan your week

Here’s everything on my plate this week: [list of 5–10 things]. My energy is highest in the [morning/afternoon]. I have hard commitments at [list times]. Build me a realistic week plan — what to do which day, including buffer time and one rest block. Be honest about what won’t fit.

10. Generate questions you forgot to ask

Going to a doctor’s appointment, job interview, contractor meeting, parent-teacher conference?

I have [a meeting type] tomorrow about [topic]. What are the 10 questions a smart, prepared person would ask? Group them by priority — must-ask, nice-to-ask, and ones I should only ask if there’s time.

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A challenge

Pick one prompt from above. Use it today. Tell us how it went on the community. The point isn’t to do all ten. The point is to feel the click of “oh, this is genuinely useful” — once. After that, you’ll find your own uses.

Where to go next

Lesson 06 — When Not to Trust AI →