Get the right answer from your AI, even when brain fog makes it hard to ask the right question. This guide gives you 6 copy-paste formats that work every time.

This guide walks through 6 essential prompt formats for getting clear, actionable answers from any AI tool.

Quick Path ⚡️

  • Pick a format: Choose one of the 6 prompt formats from the kit below based on your need.
  • Copy the template: Grab the copy-paste prompt template for that format.
  • Add your context: Replace the [BRACKETS] with your specific situation.
  • Run the prompt: Paste it into your AI tool to get a structured, actionable response.

Phase 1 — The “Start Here” Brain Fog Instruction

When to use: Start every AI conversation with this. It sets protective rules so AI responses stay clear, brief, and useful.

Phase 2 — The “ELI5” Simplifier

When to use: Reading something dense or technical? Paste it in and get a plain-language version.

Phase 3 — The “TL;DR” Extractor

When to use: Long emails, meeting notes, or articles you need to understand quickly.

Phase 4 — The “Steps” Decomposer

When to use: Facing a vague or overwhelming task and don’t know where to start.

Phase 5 — The “BLUF” Decider

When to use: Stuck between options and need a clear recommendation.

Phase 6 — The “Shorter” Condenser

When to use: You wrote something but it’s too long or rambling and needs to be cut down fast.

The Prompt Kit 🧰

1. Brain Fog Instruction

You are my cognitive assistant. I'm managing MS-related brain fog today. Keep responses under 100 words unless I ask for more. Use bullet points. No jargon. Acknowledge these rules, then help me with: [YOUR QUESTION]

2. ELI5 Prompt

Explain this like I'm 5 years old. Use simple words, short sentences, and a clear analogy:

[PASTE THE CONFUSING TEXT HERE]

3. TL;DR Prompt

Create a TL;DR summary of this email. Include: Main point (one sentence), My actions (bullet list), Key dates, and a Reply draft (2-3 sentences).

Email:
[PASTE YOUR EMAIL HERE]

4. Steps Prompt

I need to [DESCRIBE YOUR VAGUE TASK]. Break this into 5 concrete, visible steps. Each step should take less than 30 minutes and have a clear "done" state.

5. BLUF Prompt

I'm deciding between [OPTION A] and [OPTION B]. Give me a BLUF (Bottom Line Up Front) recommendation: Which do you recommend and why? (2 sentences max). What's the main risk? What should I verify?

Context: [ADD ANY RELEVANT DETAILS]

6. Shorter Prompt

Make this shorter while keeping the main point. Cut filler words and get straight to what matters:

[PASTE YOUR TOO-LONG TEXT HERE]

Privacy & Redaction Reminder
When using these prompts with cloud-based AI, be sure to redact any sensitive personal, medical, or financial information before pasting.

Offline Backup (No-AI / Printable)
This guide can be printed to use as an offline reference for structuring your thoughts, even if you are not using an AI.

Troubleshooting
  • AI responses are too long: Add a word count limit to your prompt (e.g., “Keep it under 50 words.”).
  • AI answers are too generic: Add more specific context to your prompt, including your goal and any constraints.

Friction Fix 🔧

  • Create snippets: Save each of these 6 prompt formats in a text expander app with a short trigger (e.g., /tldr, /bluf) for quick access.

Need the Whole Set?

Keep these prompts bookmarked: read 5 Essential Prompts for MS Brain Fog for the full breakdown and copy-ready snippets.

Next Action ▶️

Pick one prompt from the kit and try it on a real task you are facing right now.

Accessibility and Care ♿

  • All prompts are designed to be easily used with voice dictation.
  • These prompts are tools to assist cognition, not a replacement for professional advice.

Support & Further Resources 🙌

  • Explore the individual prompt cards in the /prompts directory for more detailed variations and examples for each format.