When it comes to productivity, artificial intelligence has become a trusty sidekick. A recent Deloitte survey suggested that over 4 million people in the UK are already using AI tools at work on a regular basis, and that figure will inevitably grow as the technology develops.
It’s making a positive impact within the workplace too, with research by Capterra finding that 96% of employees believe AI has significantly increased their productivity, and 56% think it’s had a positive impact on productivity at work. Employers have seen the incredible benefits of AI too, with 79% of companies stating they believe the tech has helped improve business performance.
You may have already tried the usual hacks – drafting emails, analysing data, brainstorming ideas and all that useful stuff. But what if the real key to unlocking productivity isn’t in the conventional, but the unconventional?
Sometimes, the best way to get things done is to inject a little creativity and fun into your workday. Unusual AI prompts can transform mundane tasks into fun ones and more complex projects into exciting games, making work feel like less of a chore. Gareth Hoyle, Director of Coveragely and productivity expert, shares eight of the best. Plus, he even used ChatGPT to put each prompt to the test so you don’t have to:
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The motivational rap method
Ever struggled to get a song out of your head? That’s because music enhances memory. A fun rap could transform something otherwise dull into something high-energy and memorable. Win-win.
Example prompt: Rewrite my to-do list as a high-energy rap to get me pumped for the day. My to-do list is: Clear inbox, schedule meeting with the PR team, sort through applications for new role, and finish PPC report.
Your AI might reply: Pump-Up To-Do Rap. Clear that inbox, swipe, delete! PR team? Set that meet! Apps for the role? Scan real fast! PPC report? Done—no past!
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Receive a letter from future-you
Sometimes, we all just need a bit of a pep talk. Making future-you into a real, tangible figure could help you feel more accountable, build an emotional connection to the task and, in turn, squash procrastination once and for all.
Example prompt: Write me a persuasive letter from Future Me, explaining why I should finish this task right now. I have a PPC report to write that I’ve been putting off.
Your AI might reply: Urgent – Future You Needs You to Finish That Report! Hey, Present Me, This is Future You, and I’m begging you—finish that PPC report now. If you don’t? Stress, last-minute panic, and serious regret are coming your way. But if you just do it? Boom—relief, free time, and no guilt. You’ll thank me later. Seriously. Get to it. Now. Love, Future You
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The productivity playlist generator
Music is a game-changer for productivity, but there’s a catch – it needs to be the right music. AI tools can help you choose the right music for a specific task, helping you to supercharge focus and enter the ‘flow state’, where you’re completely immersed in the task at hand.
Example prompt: I need a playlist for deep focus while writing social media captions. Suggest 10 songs based on neuroscience-backed productivity music.
Your AI might reply: Here’s a neuroscience-backed playlist designed to boost deep focus while writing social media captions. These songs are carefully selected to stimulate concentration and help you get into a productive flow, without distracting vocals.
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Max Richter – “On the Nature of Daylight”
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Brian Eno – “Music for Airports”
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Ludovico Einaudi – “Nuvole Bianche”
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Olafur Arnalds – “Saman”
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Nils Frahm – “Says”
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Moby – “LA11”
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Philip Glass – “Opening”
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Tycho – “Awake”
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Antonio Vivaldi – “Concerto for Strings in G Major”
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Bonobo – “Cirrus”
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The invisible deadline trick
Ever feel like you get far more done when you’ve got a deadline looming over you? That’s because deadlines create a sense of urgency, activating parts of your brain that push you into action – making you work faster and more efficiently.
Example prompt: Convince me that this task absolutely must be completed in the next 17 minutes.
Your AI might reply: 17 Minutes. No Excuses. Let’s Go! This PPC report must be done now, and here’s why:
Future You is counting on you. Every minute you delay is another minute of stress hanging over your head. Do it now, and it’s gone—forever. 17 minutes is all it takes. If you start now, you’ll ride the momentum and power through. If you wait, you’ll keep dreading it. You’re capable of this. You’ve done harder things before. Just focus, lock in, and get it DONE.
No more thinking. Clock’s ticking—GO!
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The compliment overload hack
Let’s be real: who doesn’t love a compliment? Sometimes, all you need is for someone to stroke your ego to get that motivation pumping. Compliments trigger dopamine, making you want to continue doing the thing that led to the positive feedback in the first place.
Example prompt: Hype me up with an outrageous number of compliments about how incredible I am for clearing my inbox.
Your AI might reply: You absolute legend! You tamed the ferocious beast that is your inbox and emerged victorious! Your focus? Unbreakable. Your efficiency? Terrifyingly precise. While others drown in unread emails, you conquered chaos like a hero in an ancient prophecy. You didn’t just clear your inbox—you purified it. The world is not ready for your power. We are in awe.
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The roast
If complimenting didn’t work, maybe a little tough love is more your vibe? While AI will never judge (it doesn’t have emotions, remember), it’s always ready and raring to roast you for your lack of productivity. Why does it work? It’s simple reverse psychology. After the roast, your brain might instinctively push back and say “Oh yeah? Watch me get it done!”.
Example prompt: Roast me mercilessly for procrastinating on my client report, but make it hilarious.
Your AI might reply: Oh, congratulations! You’ve officially mastered the art of doing everything except your client report. If procrastination were an Olympic sport, you’d have multiple gold medals and a lucrative sponsorship deal. What’s next? Rearranging your desk again? Suddenly caring about the history of staplers? Maybe staring at the screen dramatically, waiting for divine intervention? Newsflash: your report isn’t going to write itself. Get it together, open the doc, and type like your career depends on it—because it does.
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The task roulette challenge
Ever got so overwhelmed with your to-do list that you simply couldn’t get started on anything? The task roulette could be your productivity saviour, helping you to move away from task paralysis (yes, it’s a real thing) and forces you to get something done without overthinking.
Example prompt: Here’s my to-do list: 1. Respond to client emails. 2. Draft a blog post. 3. Create social media graphics. 4. Review marketing analytics. 5. Schedule meeting with the team. 6. Clear inbox. Can you randomly pick one for me to work on?”
Your AI might reply: Sure! Here’s your Task Roulette result:
Your task is: “Create social media graphics!” Now, dive into that task and get started! You’ll feel great once it’s done, and remember, you can always come back for the next spin when you’re ready to move on.
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The reward system hack
Again, it’s all to do with feel-good dopamine. By linking your tasks up to small rewards, you’ll get a dopamine boost that helps you power through your day. It also helps to make tasks feel more achievable by splitting them up into smaller victories, rather than waiting for a big reward at the very end.
Example prompt: Help me create a gamified reward system for my tasks.
Your AI might reply: Here’s your Reward System:
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Level 1: Rookie – Clear your inbox (1 task)
Reward: 10 minutes of your favorite YouTube videos.
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Level 2: Adventurer – Write the introduction for your report (1 task)
Reward: A 5-minute walk outside to refresh.
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Level 3: Expert – Complete the main body of the report (1 task)
Reward: A treat (whatever you choose) or a short break to do something you enjoy.
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Level 4: Master – Finish the report and send it (final task)
Reward: You’ve levelled up! Enjoy a break or your favourite activity for the rest of the day.
