We’re almost there! With just a short few days left until Christmas and winter break gatherings, it’s completely normal if things are starting to feel a little busy and loud. The holidays are about joy, but they can also be a whirlwind of activities: baking cookies, wrapping gifts, and fitting everything into your calendar. 

Here’s a gentle reminder, just for you—your to-do list isn’t what makes the memories. 

Years from now, your loved ones won’t remember the exact ribbon you picked out or how perfectly every detail came together. They’ll remember giggling over cookies that didn’t turn out quite right, sipping cocoa together by the tree, and the fun moments you shared after dinner. 

To ease your planning and preparing for these special memories, we’ve gathered 10 helpful AI prompts. Think of them as little helpers you can use anytime. Just copy and paste them into UT Verse to handle the planning, so you can enjoy every precious moment. 

10 Helpful AI Prompts

To ease your planning and preparing for these special memories, we’ve gathered 10 helpful AI prompts. Think of them as little helpers you can use anytime. Just copy and paste them into UT Verse to handle the planning, so you can enjoy every precious moment.

For the Final Countdown and Organization

1. The “Backwards Planner” Timeline: “Create a week-by-week holiday preparation checklist starting from today and ending on December 25th. Include tasks for shopping, shipping deadlines, house cleaning, grocery buying, and wrapping. Flag high-priority items that usually get forgotten.” 

2. The Budget Enforcer: “Help me create a comprehensive holiday budget. My total limit is [Insert Amount]. Please break this down into suggested percentages for: Gifts, Food/Drink, Decorations, and ‘Emergency/Miscellaneous.” 

3. The “New Tradition” Brainstorm: “Suggest 5 unique, low-stress holiday traditions for a [Describe your household]. Focus on activities that foster connection rather than spending money.” 

For Gifting (It’s Not Too Late!) 

4. The Personal Shopper: “Act as an expert personal shopper. I need 5 gift ideas for my [Relation] who is [Age] and likes [Interests]. My budget is [Amount].” 

5. The Batch-Gifting Strategist: “Give me 3 DIY or bulk-buy gift ideas that are affordable but look expensive for [Target Group, e.g., coworkers]. Include packaging ideas to make them look professional.” 

For Hosting with Ease

6. The Dietary Restriction Solver: “Design a 3-course holiday dinner menu that is festive but safe for guests who are [e.g., Gluten-Free and Vegetarian]. Provide a corresponding shopping list organized by aisle.” 

7. The “Speed Clean” Protocol: “I have guests arriving in [Timeframe]. Create a prioritized ‘Triage Cleaning List’ focusing only on the high-impact areas guests will actually see and smell. Tell me what to ignore.” 

8. The Conversation Saver: “Provide a list of 10 lighthearted, interesting conversation starters for a holiday dinner that steer completely clear of politics, religion, or family drama.” 

For Peace of Mind

9. The Thank-You Note Generator: “Write a sincere, warm template for a thank-you note for a Christmas gift. Create three variations: one for a close family member, one for a professional colleague, and one for a distant relative.” 

10. The Post-Holiday Reset: “Create a ‘Post-Holiday Reset’ plan for the first week of January. Include small daily steps to de-clutter decorations, reset sleep schedules, and manage post-holiday blues.” 

This week, try out one of these prompts to save yourself an hour of stress. Then, take that hour to do something “unproductive,” like watching a movie, looking at the lights, or just sitting still.

The magic isn’t in perfection; it’s in the presence. 

Warmly, 
Your OIT Artificial Intelligence Team 

Try using UT Verse prompts to plan your busy holiday schedule — giving you another pathway to success at the University of Tennessee and at home.