The new ChatGPT trend that’s doing the rounds is one that feels quintessentially 2025 already. People are sitting down and pouring their dreams, fears, and life ambitions into Word documents, then hitting ‘submit’ on ChatGPT like it’s some kind of digital fairy godmother. Moments later, they’re handed a life plan so meticulously detailed that it could rival the operations manual for a spaceship.
Blank page therapy
It all begins with a blank Word document. Let’s pause here, because there’s something profound about that empty page. For once, it’s not about deadlines or presentations; it’s about you – your hopes, your dreams, your existential ‘what am I doing with my life?’ crisis.
The act of typing it all out feels weirdly therapeutic, almost like journalling but without worrying if your handwriting makes you look unhinged.
You confess everything – the unrealistic fitness goals, the dream of becoming a polyglot, and the faint hope that maybe, just maybe, 2025 will finally be the year you stick to a skincare routine. Then, you hand it over to ChatGPT like a student handing an assignment to a teacher and sit back, awaiting the wisdom of the digital sage.
Ironically, as I’m sitting here typing up an entire article about this trend, I can’t help but realise I’ve done it myself; not a formal ‘life plan,’ but let’s just say ChatGPT and I have had our share of heart-to-heart chats.
No shame – don’t act like you haven’t been there too. Sometimes you just need a little pep talk from a chatbot at 2 a.m. when your brain decides it’s the perfect time for an existential spiral.
Why we’re all obsessed
Let’s be honest: life can be overwhelming. The idea of simplifying it all – turning the messy chaos of our dreams and daily struggles into a neat, actionable plan – is intoxicating.
People love this trend because it gives them a sense of control. Suddenly, the things you’ve been procrastinating for years seem not only possible but manageable.
What’s even better is that ChatGPT doesn’t judge you. Want to become a marathon runner although you get winded walking upstairs? Great idea. Want to save for a house while also spending half your salary on brunch? Totally doable. It takes your ambitions, no matter how improbable, and turns them into steps that actually make sense.
There’s something oddly comforting about the way it works. You tell it what you want, and it responds with unwavering belief in your abilities. There’s no snark, no exasperated sighs; just ‘Here’s your plan. You’ve got this’. It’s like having a super supportive friend who’s also a genius at time management.
When AI meets real life
Of course, the plans ChatGPT delivers can be hilariously optimistic. It’ll tell you to wake up at 5 a.m., drink three litres of water, meditate for 20 minutes, journal, run a 10 km marathon, and make a perfectly balanced breakfast – all before 8 a.m.
In theory, this is fantastic. In practice, you will be hitting snooze three times, spilling coffee on your shirt, and debating whether a leftover slice of pizza counts as ‘balanced’. Spoiler: it doesn’t.
Life is messy, unpredictable, and sometimes downright uncooperative. The plan might tell you to eat quinoa salad for lunch, but life throws a curveball and suddenly you’re scarfing down a burger in your car. That’s the thing ChatGPT can’t fully grasp – it doesn’t account for the moments when you’re too tired, too busy, or just plain unmotivated.
And that’s okay. These plans aren’t designed to be followed perfectly. They’re more like a starting point – a way to take all your vague ideas and turn them into something actionable. Even if you only stick to half of what it suggests, that’s still progress.
The pros, the cons and the laughs
Still, there are downsides. For one, it’s easy to become over-reliant on Artificial Intelligence (AI). If you’re always asking ChatGPT what to do, when do you learn to trust your own instincts? There’s a fine line between guidance and dependence, and it’s one we all need to be mindful of.
There is also the guilt factor. When you inevitably fall short of the AI’s ambitious expectations, it’s easy to feel like you’ve failed. But here’s the truth: you’re human. Life isn’t a neatly organised checklist. Sometimes you crush your goals, while other times you binge-watch an entire series and call it self-care.
But that’s the beauty of this trend; it’s not about perfection, it’s about trying. It’s about taking a step forward, even if it’s a small one, even if you trip along the way.
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