I use the ‘pacer’ prompt with ChatGPT every day — here’s how it helps me finish things

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Instead of letting a massive to-do list stall me out, this tiny shift makes a surprisingly big difference

Amand's AI Lab
(Image credit: Future)

When I’m staring down a massive task — a 3,000-word feature, a slide deck, a looming deadline for a script or a complicated editing job — my brain tends to do something unhelpful: it zooms straight to the finish line and panics. Or worse, sometimes I just stare out the window and watch the snow melt as I contemplate where to start.

Amanda's AI Lab

Amanda's AI Lab

(Image credit: Future)

Amanda’s AI Lab is my new Tom’s Guide column where I test the newest AI tools and features to see what’s actually worth your time.

Meet the pacer prompt

man texting

(Image credit: Future)

I've been an avid runner for 25 years. I love it almost as much as I love writing, so I couldn't help but bring in the same concept of reaching a PR in a road race to my personal productivty.

The pacer prompt is simple, instead of asking ChatGPT (or any AI) for a full plan or a giant to-do list, I tell it:

“Act like a running partner. Give me only the first step — the first mile. Don’t give me anything else until I say ‘Done.’”

Then I do that one step. When I finish, I type: Done.

Only then does the AI “unlock” the next step. Rinse and repeat.

Why this works so well

man on computer

(Image credit: Future)

Big projects don’t always overwhelm us because they’re hard — they overwhelm us because they feel too big all at once. My favorite running coach used to say, "The hardest part about running is putting on your shoes."



In other words, thinking about everything in front of us isn't helpful when you're just starting. That's why the pacer prompt breaks that psychological logjam.

By forcing the AI to feed me just one clear, achievable action, I stop thinking about everything I haven’t done and focus only on what’s right in front of me.

What you’re really doing here isn’t just delegating planning to AI. You’re building momentum. By limiting yourself to one step at a time, you remove the mental burden of mapping out everything in advance. You also prevent yourself from getting paralyzed by the size of the task.

It’s exactly like running with a pacer: you’re not obsessing over the entire 10 miles ahead of you. You’re just matching the next stride.

The 'pacer' prompt gamifies productivity

a woman running across a bridge

(Image credit: Shutterstock)

I hate to admit it, but I'm a little competitive — especially with myself. So the subtle game mechanic built in makes this prompt a lot of fun.

Typing “Done” feels like checking off a box, crossing a finish line or hitting a mini milestone. That tiny dopamine hit makes me more willing to keep going.

Instead of procrastinating or spiraling, I end up moving steadily through work I would’ve otherwise avoided.

When I use this prompt:

  • Long articles or reports
  • Complex creative projects
  • Multi-part presentations
  • Messy tasks where I don’t even know where to start
  • Anything I’ve been putting off

Keep in mind, it doesn't make the workload shorter, but it makes it startable — and that's often the hardest part.

The takeaway

This is one prompt you're going to want to keep in your AI tool box for the next time you feel stuck, overwhelmed or tempted to overthink your next move.

If you want to test this idea in a low-stakes way, here’s a simple experiment you can run the next time you feel stuck, overwhelmed, or tempted to overthink your next move.

You might be surprised how quickly a project that felt frustrating or overwhelming starts to feel doable — because you stopped trying to do it all at once.

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Amanda Caswell
Amanda Caswell
AI Editor

Amanda Caswell is an award-winning journalist, bestselling YA author, and one of today’s leading voices in AI and technology. A celebrated contributor to various news outlets, her sharp insights and relatable storytelling have earned her a loyal readership. Amanda’s work has been recognized with prestigious honors, including outstanding contribution to media.

Known for her ability to bring clarity to even the most complex topics, Amanda seamlessly blends innovation and creativity, inspiring readers to embrace the power of AI and emerging technologies. As a certified prompt engineer, she continues to push the boundaries of how humans and AI can work together.

Beyond her journalism career, Amanda is a long-distance runner and mom of three. She lives in New Jersey.

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