Personal Advice & Planning Prompts for ChatGPT
Get thoughtful advice and planning help for personal decisions and goals
The Problem with Generic Prompts
Bad Prompt Example
Should I change careers?
Why this fails:
- • Too vague about the situation and context
- • Not mentioning personal values and priorities
- • Missing constraints or trade-offs to consider
- • No mention of desired outcome or decision goal
- • Forgetting to ask for decision framework or structure
The Better Way: Structured Prompts
Good Prompt Example
Act as a supportive life coach and strategic advisor. Help me think through whether to accept a job offer that requires relocating. Context: - Current situation: Software engineer (5 years experience) at stable company in Austin, TX - Offer: Senior engineer role at exciting startup in San Francisco * 30% salary increase ($120K → $155K) * Equity package (0.5%) * More responsibility and learning opportunities * Startup is Series B, growing fast but higher risk - Personal factors: * Partner has job in Austin (could work remote, but prefers office) * Rent would double in SF (currently $1,800 → likely $3,500+) * Close to family in Austin, would miss them * Career goal: Eventually become VP Engineering * Age 28, no kids yet but planning in 2-3 years - Question: Is the career growth worth the life disruption and higher cost of living? Format: Help me structure pros/cons, consider long-term implications, suggest questions to ask myself and my partner, decision framework to use (head vs heart, regret minimization, etc.).
Your Personal Advice & Planning Prompt Formula
1. Set the Right Persona
Start every prompt with:
Act as a supportive life coach and strategic advisor2. Provide Essential Context
Always include these details:
- 1What decision or situation are you facing?
- 2What are your goals and priorities?
- 3What constraints or considerations matter (time, money, relationships)?
- 4What options are you considering?
- 5What outcome are you hoping for?
3. Specify the Format
Tell ChatGPT exactly how to structure the output:
Format: Situation analysis, options exploration, pros/cons, decision framework, action stepsCommon Mistakes to Avoid
Too vague about the situation and context
Not mentioning personal values and priorities
Missing constraints or trade-offs to consider
No mention of desired outcome or decision goal
Forgetting to ask for decision framework or structure
Quick Tips for Better Results
Be Specific
The more context you provide, the better ChatGPT can tailor the response to your needs.
Include Examples
Show ChatGPT what you want by providing examples of tone, style, or format.
Iterate & Refine
Don't accept the first response. Ask ChatGPT to refine or adjust based on feedback.
Need help with other tasks?
Check out our other prompt guides for different use cases.
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