Most mornings, my brain doesn’t wake up at the same time my body does. Coffee in hand, I’m technically ready to start the day — but mentally, I’m not quite there yet.
Before I scroll, check the news or dive into emails, I start my day with a simple “brain warm-up” prompt. It takes under two minutes, and it’s slipped into my routine the same way Wordle or a quick stretch has for other people — a small habit that helps my brain catch up.
Even better? It works with any chatbot. So whether you're a ChatGPT user, Gemini, Claude or have another favorite, give this a try. Some mornings I’ll use the prompt on a few different chatbots just to mix things up.
The prompt I use every day
Since I'm usually not at my computer first thing in the morning, this is the prompt I type/or speak into any given chatbot app:
“Give me one small thing to notice, question, or think differently about today.”
That’s it. No context. No follow-up instructions. If you've been following my prompts, you know that I prefer minimal text — sometimes, even no prompt at all.
The goal here isn’t to get a brilliant answer. It’s to gently shift my brain from passive to active. It's the perfect way to get the brain moving in the morning for a more productive day.
Why this works as a brain warm-up
Unlike traditional prompts that ask AI to do something for you or answer a specific question, this one asks it to nudge your thinking instead.
Some mornings, the response is practical — a reframing of a problem I’m stuck on or a reminder to question an assumption I didn’t realize I was making. Other days, it’s abstract or slightly odd. That’s fine. The value isn’t in the answer itself but in the act of engaging with it.
This prompt has even sparked journal entries later in the evening. This prompt is the mental equivalent of rolling your shoulders before a workout.
It takes less than two minutes
What I like about this prompt is I can prompt the chatbot, then put my phone down and think about my answers as I get ready for the day. The prompting itself takes two minutes but the way it sparks creativity may have me thinking and pondering something for much longer. It's like a permission to daydream.
In other words, this prompt works because it’s fast, low-pressure and easy to repeat. Sometimes it shapes how I approach the day. Sometimes it just wakes my brain up enough to get started.
Either way, I’m no longer staring at a blank screen wondering where to begin. If you want to tweak it, try variations like:
- “Give me one question worth thinking about today.”
- “Tell me one assumption I might be making without realizing it.”
- “Offer one small mental shift to start the day.”
Bottom line
If you’re new to using AI, this prompt is a great place to start because it doesn’t require you to know exactly what you need yet. You’re not asking for a polished answer or a detailed plan — you’re simply giving your brain a place to begin.
You can easily put your own spin on it, but the structure stays the same. What matters most is the habit. Used consistently, it creates a small mental shift that helps clear your head and gently gets your brain moving in the right direction for the day.
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