Sometimes we all feel that having a mind that feels stuck is like trying to drive a car with the brakes on!
These prompts are like little tools to help you take your foot off the brake and get moving again.
They’ll help clear away that mental fog, get your creative juices flowing, or make those tough decisions a little easier.
- The “Mind Declutter” Prompt
“As a supportive thought organizer, ask me 3 non-judgmental questions to help me identify the main sources of my current mental fog and what I can do to simplify one thing right now.”
Use this when your brain feels overwhelmed and messy. - The “Creative Spark” Prompt
“Imagine you are a playful muse. Give me a quirky, unexpected starting point for a creative project related to [your topic/interest] that I can explore for 10 minutes without pressure.”
Use this when you’re facing a blank page or feeling artistically stuck. - The “Decision Compass” Prompt
“I’m feeling stuck between [Option A] and [Option B]. Act as a neutral, logical advisor and help me list 3 pros and 3 cons for each, then suggest one small action I can take to gather more information.”
Use this when you’re paralyzed by a tough choice. - The “Energy Finder” Prompt
“Help me identify 2 small activities I genuinely enjoy and can do for 15 minutes today to boost my energy and shift my mood, even if I don’t feel like it.”
Use this when you’re feeling sluggish and unmotivated. - The “Perspective Shift” Prompt
“Describe my current challenge from the perspective of someone who has successfully overcome something similar, focusing on the first small step they took.”
Use this when you feel too close to a problem to see a solution. - The “Fear Buster” Prompt
“Act as a compassionate coach. Ask me one gentle question about what I’m truly afraid of right now regarding [specific task/decision] and then help me reframe that fear into a manageable action.”
Use this when anxiety is blocking your progress. - The “Micro-Action” Prompt
“I need to [goal/task], but it feels too big. Break this down into the absolute smallest, easiest step I can complete in less than 5 minutes right now.”
Use this when a task feels overwhelming and you don’t know where to start. - The “Idea Generator” Prompt
“I need ideas for [specific problem/topic]. Generate 5 wildly different, out-of-the-box ideas, even if they seem silly at first, to get my creative gears turning.”
Use this when you’re brainstorming and hitting a wall. - The “Self-Compassion” Prompt
“If my best friend were feeling as stuck as I am right now, what 3 kind, encouraging things would I say to them? Then, say them to me.”
Use this when you’re being hard on yourself and need a gentle push. - The “Pre-Mortem” Prompt
“Imagine this project/decision fails. What are the 3 most likely reasons it failed? Now, what can I do today to prevent one of those reasons?”
Use this to identify potential pitfalls and proactively address them. - The “Reverse Brainstorm” Prompt
“Instead of trying to solve [problem], tell me 3 ways I could make this problem worse. Then, tell me how to do the opposite of one of those.”
Use this to approach a problem from a fresh angle. - The “Sensory Check-in” Prompt
“I’m feeling [emotion, e.g., overwhelmed, uninspired]. Guide me through a brief 60-second sensory check-in to ground myself: what do I hear, see, smell, feel, and taste right now? Then, suggest one simple action based on one of these senses.”
Use this when your mind is racing and you need to reconnect with the present. - The “First Principle” Prompt
“I’m trying to [achieve goal], but I’m stuck on how. Help me break this goal down to its fundamental truths, asking ‘why’ at least three times to get to the core.”
Use this to simplify complex problems by returning to basics. - The “Future Self” Prompt
“Imagine you are my future self, one year from now, having successfully overcome this current mental block. What advice would you give your past self (me) about the very first step to take?”
Use this to gain perspective and encouragement from a wiser version of yourself. - The “Random Input” Prompt
“Give me a completely random, unrelated word or concept (e.g., ‘cactus’, ‘galaxy’, ‘symphony’). Now, tell me how I can connect this to my current challenge of [your challenge] to spark a new idea.”
Use this when you need a jolt of randomness to break free from linear thinking.
Ready to unblock your mind?
Pick one of these prompts that resonates with you right now and give it a try!
You might be surprised at what clarity you find.