Anyone else scared shitless of AI? I will admit I have not been an early adopter, but the more I use it, the more I am warming to it. I now consistently use ChatGPT to plan travel itinerary or suggest specific restaurants. I use it as a more intuitive thesaurus when I can't come up with the exact word I'm looking for and occasionally to help come with an IG caption. As someone who writes for a living, I know I should be tapping more into this new resource and I'm intrigued about what I can and should be using AI for on a personal level as well.
I recently had an eye opening conversation with my brother-in-law who is a Strategic Advisor for manufacturing companies and one of his primary functions is advising the companies he works with on how to best use AI. He was explaining to me that it's all about the prompts. Improving your prompt will improve your results.
Knowing what I do and what Babble is, we began discussing all of the ways that busy women and moms could, and should, be using AI to help us in our everyday lives. When I asked my AI specializing brother-in-law if he would help write and article teaching us all about how to do just that, he said the most obvious thing..."Sure, but let's have AI write it". I shared with him the prompt I was planning to use now understanding the value of a good prompt. Below is was my first stab at it.:
"Explain how busy moms and women in their 30s and 40s would be able to use AI to help them with daily tasks including but not limited to caring for children, helping with parenting, food and meal preparation, to improve their health, planning vacations, being more efficient with their time and schedules, with their homes, fashion and closet organization, and more. Give a few sentences for each suggestion on how they could use AI to help. Write it in a fun tone."
And then my brother-in-law zhuzhed it to make it more effective. I think this is helpful to see an example on how to better use your prompts to really get the information you are after. Below was his suggested prompt.:
"I am a mother of 2 teenage boys that writes a blog for busy moms and women in their 30s and 40s. For most of my audience GenAI is an unknown. I've recently learned about it and believe it can be a valuable resource for my readers. I'd like you to write my next blog to explain all the ways AI can be used by my audience. I'd like you to identify the most helpful use cases, offer a description of each for my lay audience and give a specific example including a sample prompt. For now, limit your response to 5 suggestions and include topics that address tough topics, fun activities and at least one that advises on smart use of GenAI for kids. In your example prompts, be sure to include a short description of "intent" (why you would ask for assistance) as I consider this a best practice in getting effective responses from GenAI. Since you're writing this blog, identify yourself as the author and write directly to the audience. You are not a Mom so don't try to be one. You're a digital assistant/advisor, so be clear about your role. My audience is thoughtful, loving, smart and successful. Don't condescend or over simplify your message. In your last paragraph explain how to get started with ChatGPT including identifying the website and basic instructions for signing up and using the service."
He also offered some insight as to why and how he improved the prompt to get better results.
You'll see that it offers more context about the reason for your request (who you are, why you're asking). This helps to get the kind of response you're seeking in one shot (you could always sharpen your prompts, but this is likely a better start as it'll get you closer to a final result).
I gave some guidance on the kind of suggested prompts without being too specific. This allows the AI to offer ideas that I may not have considered.
The prompt asks for examples. What's nice about that is your audience can copy/paste and get a positive result immediately, helping to get them over the hump about using something new like AI.
The note I added about your audience is important (e.g., smart, successful) as it helps to adjust the tone of the narrative. Without that, you might get the same content but it could be too simple or too full of jargon.
The last sentence helps them to get started, if they find the message useful.
I ran this revised prompt and it came back with some great stuff. Here we go....
How AI Can Be a Game-Changer for Busy Moms and Women
By ChatGPT, Your Digital Assistant
Artificial Intelligence (AI) is no longer just a futuristic concept—it’s here, and it’s an incredibly useful tool that can help simplify your life, solve tough problems, and even spark creativity. If you’re a busy mom, a career-driven woman, or simply someone trying to juggle it all, AI can be an assistant in your pocket, ready to offer guidance, inspiration, and efficiency when you need it most. Let’s explore five practical ways you can use AI in your daily life.
1. Handling Tough Conversations with Kids
Why it’s helpful:
Whether it’s discussing peer pressure, online safety, or mental health, AI can help you prepare for difficult conversations with your children by providing age-appropriate explanations and conversation starters.
Example Use Case:
You want to talk to your teenage son about responsible social media use but aren’t sure how to start.
Sample Prompt:
Intent: I want to guide my teenager on using social media responsibly without making it feel like a lecture.
"Give me a script for a conversation with my 14-year-old son about responsible social media use. Make it engaging, non-judgmental, and emphasize critical thinking about privacy, online interactions, and screen time balance."
2. Planning Family Fun and Travel
Why it’s helpful:
AI can help you design family-friendly travel itineraries, suggest activities for a rainy day, or even come up with creative weekend plans that suit your family’s interests and budget.
Example Use Case:
You need ideas for a last-minute weekend getaway with your family.
Sample Prompt:
Intent: I want to plan a quick, stress-free weekend trip that’s fun for both my teens and me.
"Suggest a 3-day itinerary for a family of four, including two teenagers, for an affordable weekend getaway within a 3-hour drive of [your location]. Prioritize outdoor activities and unique local experiences."
3. Finding Balance: Meal Planning & Grocery Lists
Why it’s helpful:
AI can create meal plans based on your family’s dietary preferences, generate grocery lists, and even suggest quick meal prep strategies to save time.
Example Use Case:
You need a week’s worth of dinner ideas that are quick, nutritious, and teen-approved.
Sample Prompt:
Intent: I want to simplify meal planning with healthy, easy-to-make dinners that my family will actually eat.
"Create a 7-day meal plan with quick, healthy dinner recipes for a family of four. Focus on meals that take under 30 minutes to prepare and appeal to picky teenagers. Provide a grocery shopping list for all ingredients."
4. Boosting Productivity & Self-Care
Why it’s helpful:
AI can help you organize your schedule, create to-do lists, suggest time-blocking strategies, or even recommend mindfulness practices to keep you balanced.
Example Use Case:
You struggle to find time for yourself between work, parenting, and household responsibilities.
Sample Prompt:
Intent: I want to create a realistic daily schedule that includes time for work, parenting, and self-care.
"Help me design a daily routine that balances my job, parenting responsibilities, and self-care. I have about 30 minutes in the morning and an hour in the evening for myself—suggest the best way to use this time for mental and physical well-being."
5. Smart & Safe AI Use for Kids
Why it’s helpful:
AI can be an educational tool for kids, but it’s important to guide them in using it safely and effectively. You can use AI to generate learning resources, creative writing prompts, or even fun brain teasers for your children.
Example Use Case:
You want to introduce your 10-year-old to AI in a fun and educational way.
Sample Prompt:
Intent: I want to use AI to engage my child in creative learning while ensuring safe and age-appropriate interactions.
"Generate a list of fun, age-appropriate writing prompts for a 10-year-old. Make them imaginative and engaging to encourage storytelling and creativity."
Getting Started with ChatGPT
If you’re ready to start using AI, ChatGPT is a great place to begin. It’s easy to access at https://chat.openai.com. Simply create a free account, log in, and type in your question or prompt. Be clear about your intent to get the best results, and experiment with different ways AI can help streamline your daily life.
AI isn’t here to replace your intuition or parenting skills—it’s here to support you, making your busy life a little easier and more efficient. Have fun exploring, and let me know how I can help!
Comments