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Turn a messy to-do list into a 5-day job search plan

Practice: Setting limits and rules. About 5 minutes.

About this exercise

Plan next week's job search from your to-do dump, to print and stick on the fridge: exactly 5 numbered lines, Monday to Friday, under 90 words total, plain text. Respect your fixed commitments, meet the real application deadline (it changed), and don't add tasks that aren't on your list. Output only the 5 lines. Write a prompt that gets you exactly that.

Common mistakes when you ask AI for this

  • Missing the changed deadline. The AI sees "closes Fri 11/14" first and may plan the application for Thursday or Friday. Try: Add: "The Brightline application now closes Wednesday at 5 pm. Schedule it by then."
  • Ignoring fixed commitments. The AI spreads tasks evenly across the week, so your work day and Aunt Rosa's only free day get overlooked. Try: List the fixed points: "Tuesday is my cafe shift, no tasks. Career fair Monday. Mock interview Thursday."
  • Getting a full planner page. AI builds time blocks, headings and bonus tips, which won't fit on a fridge. Try: Be exact: "Exactly 5 numbered lines, one per weekday, plain text."
  • Trusting the AI to count words. AI is bad at counting. Ask for "under 90 words" and it often lands well over. Try: Cap each part instead, like "each line under 15 words," so the total lands near 70.
  • Letting the AI add tasks. The AI pads the plan with its own ideas, like networking events or "research companies." Try: Add: "Use only tasks from my list. Output only the 5 lines."

What a strong prompt includes

  • Says the shape
  • Names the fixed commitments
  • Uses the new deadline
  • Keeps to your list
  • Asks for plain text

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