"I will be the first to admit that ChatGPT (and really any AI software) scares me. I thought we were many years away from AI being able to replace creatives like myself. So when everyone started talking about ChatGPT, I was a little worried, to say the least. However, I’m happy to report that after doing a ton of research and testing, ChatGPT can’t produce the same quality of content that professional writers can create and I have a feeling graphic designers and photographers feel the same way. That being said, ChatGPT might still have a place in my workflow—there are actually quite a lot of things it can do well.
Instead of ignoring ChatGPT (which was my first instinct), I decided to lean into it to see how it can help me during my work days. I don’t advise using ChatGPT to do your work for you (because no matter how good AI is, that kind of thing will always be obvious), but I do recommend these helpful tips for making your workday easier. And who doesn’t love a good productivity hack?
1. Learn new Excel or Google Sheets formulas
I know we all like to say we mastered Excel on our resumes, but let’s face it, it’s pretty hard to memorize all those formulas. ChatGPT can really help here. If you need help finding the right Excel formula, just tell ChatGPT what you’re looking to do and it can provide you with those formulas. This can save you a lot of time digging through tech blogs when all you need is a quick answer to your Excel question.
2. Get quick answers to questions
Speaking of quick answers, this is something ChatGPT is really good at. ChatGPT’s ability to understand and interpret natural language means that you can ask a question as if you were speaking to a human, and ChatGPT will provide you with a clear and concise answer. If you want a basic definition or to confirm something you already know, skip Google and use ChatGPT. If the stakes are high, double-check the answer with your own research, but I typically find that ChatGPT can put me on the right path quickly.
3. Streamline daily and weekly planning
Scheduling can be a headache, but ChatGPT can help make it a breeze. Instead of figuring out how to fit all of your to-dos into a single day (or week or month) ChatGPT can help you create a schedule that not only covers your entire task list, but also allots regular break periods. I just gave ChatGPT a list of my regular responsibilities and it essentially planned my entire day. If you struggle with time management, can’t stick with a planner to save your life, or simply want help optimizing your time, this is such a helpful tool.
4. Create templates
Training an intern? Looking to organize a new project? Simply not sure what the most effective way to approach a task is? This is where templates can come in handy. If you don’t have specifics in mind, let ChatGPT have the first stab at creating a template. For example, I just asked it to create a template for “writing Google ad copy” and it gave me a helpful template that broke down all of the copy needs for the ad (like headline) and shared best practices for each section of copy. I then asked it to “give me the same template but with character limits” and it updated the template with helpful reminders about how long each section of copy could be.
5. Diversify arguments
Whether you need to convince your boss of the merits of a new software program you want your company to purchase, are trying to sell your freelance services to a client, or want to launch a new initiative, we all have to sell our ideas at one point or another. Strengthen your argument by asking ChatGPT to write one for you. It may present you with benefits you hadn’t even considered and you can use these to boost the points you were already planning to make. You can also ask it to argue against your idea so you can prepare for what your audience’s argument against your pitch may be.
6. Outline and organize work
Using ChatGPT for outlining can be an effective approach to organizing your ideas, thoughts, and arguments. You can instruct ChatGPT to generate an outline by using specific keywords or phrases. For example, you can ask it to “generate a summary of the text,” “create an outline of the main ideas,” or “organize the key arguments.” It is also possible to give more detailed instructions such as “divide the text into sections,” “group the related ideas,” or “provide subheadings for each argument.”
ChatGPT will then process your input and generate an outline based on the given instructions. You can of course modify the outline, by adding or removing sections, changing the order of the ideas, or refining the headings, but sometimes having a jumping-off point makes it so much easier to get started.
7. Brainstorm
When that 3 pm slump hits, your creativity may be lagging. When I need to brainstorm story ideas, marketing initiatives, or unique angles for a project I’m working on, I’ll ask ChatGPT to give me a bit of a boost. This is perfect for any time of day when you feel totally stumped. You can type into ChatGPT “help me brainstorm…” and it will do just that. The more specific you can get here, the better—as is usually the case with ChatGPT.
