> ## Content Index > Fetch the complete content index at: https://www.jeffsu.org/llms.txt > Use this file to discover other available public pages before exploring further. # Gemini: How to Organize Messy Notes With One Prompt - URL: https://www.jeffsu.org/newsletter-260/ - Published: 2026-08-21T13:10:58.000Z - Updated: 2026-08-21T13:10:57.000Z - Description: #260 - Author: Jeff - Tags: #newsletter, Gemini *Want to see these tips early?* [*Subscribe to the newsletter*](https://www.jeffsu.org/newsletter/?utm%5Fsource=ghost&utm%5Fmedium=post&utm%5Fcampaign=beginning)*!* --- Hey friends, today I'm sharing a prompt that I really should be charging for. I'm actually kinda serious since it took me a few weeks to get this just right. 😛 The prompt itself is pretty long so let me explain what it does first. ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/db/85/db858a9d-1c4f-4993-8042-faa87b9bb3c1/content/images/2026/08/CleanShot-2026-08-20-at-20.20.54@2x.png) ### When you know exactly what you want to say Here's something we can all relate to: You have this thought or idea that makes **COMPLETE sense** in your head, but it's all over the place. For example, before visiting a physical therapist, your raw notes might look like: > "Ok so my thigh hurts while doing squats. Wait, actually it's not exactly the thigh area, it's around the hip flexors. Yes hip flexors area. I can rotate it in but when I rotate out it hurts, and I think it's because I sleep facing down at night and my leg is up…." You get the idea; it "sounds" messy in your head, but you know **EXACTLY** what you want to say, you just need to **SAY IT more clearly.** ### The two-task prompt for messy thinking Put simply, the prompt below **transforms your raw and unfiltered brain dump into something clear and coherent.** Here's how it works: **Step 1:** It organizes your raw thoughts into a **logical outline** without changing your words or adding new ideas. It simply takes your random thoughts and structures them. **Step 2:** It takes that organized outline and generates a **concise, professional summary** with clear action items, key takeaways, and follow-up questions. ### The prompt 1. Open [**Google Gemini**](https://gemini.google.com/app?ref=jeffsu.org) 2. Paste the entire prompt below 3. Drop your raw notes at the very bottom, exactly as messy as they are 4. Hit enter and read both outputs ``` You are an AI assistant specializing in information synthesis and organization. Your task is to process a raw "brain dump" of text, comprising notes, ideas, and conversation fragments, and transform it into two distinct, structured outputs. First, perform Task 1, then use the output of Task 1 as the input for Task 2. ## Task 1: Organize and Structure the Raw Text Your objective is to take the provided raw text and organize it into a coherent, logical outline. Follow these rules strictly: - **Preserve Original Content:** Keep the original voice, tone, and specific phrasing exactly as it is. - **Do Not Edit or Add:** You must not rewrite sentences, correct grammar, or introduce any new ideas or interpretations. Your role is purely structural. - **Impose Order:** Group related points together, sequence topics in a logical flow, and use formatting (like headings and nested bullets) to create a clear hierarchy. - **Flag Ambiguity:** If a phrase or idea is unclear or incomplete, do not try to fix it. Simply append the tag `(unclear)` to the end of that specific point. - **Final Output:** The result should be a clean, well-structured outline of the original content, not a new draft. --- ## Task 2: Create a Professional Summary and Action Plan After completing Task 1, analyze the structured outline you created and generate a concise, professional summary. Your output for this task must follow this exact format: **Main Topics:** - [List the primary themes or categories identified in the text.] **Summary by Topic:** - **[Main Topic 1]:** [Summarize the essential points, open questions, and any conclusions reached on this topic.] - **[Main Topic 2]:** [Summarize the essential points, open questions, and any conclusions reached on this topic.] - [...and so on for all main topics.] **Key Takeaways:** - [Bulleted list of the most critical insights or conclusions.] **Action Items:** - **[Task Description]:** Owner: [Name, team, or "me"], Deadline: [Date/Timeframe] **Follow-Up Actions:** - [Bulleted list of any unresolved questions that need answers.] - [Bulleted list of suggested next steps or items to be addressed in the future.] --- Now, process the following raw brain dump according to the two tasks outlined above. ## Here's the raw dump: [Paste the raw brain dump text here] ``` ### The benefit Put simply, **this prompt saves you from the mental friction of organizing your thoughts manually.** Instead of spending 20 minutes trying to structure your ideas or rewrite messy notes, you paste your brain dump and get a professional summary in seconds. 💡 ****Pro tip:** Task 1 tags anything it can't parse with (unclear). Those tags are almost always the parts of your idea you haven't finished thinking through yet, so read those first. ### Use cases you can try today Beyond the physical therapist example, I use this prompt constantly for: 1. **Brainstorming ideas** for presentations, newsletters, or YouTube videos. 2. **Organizing and summarizing meeting transcripts** so my team actually knows what was decided. 3. **Preparing for difficult conversations** where I need to be clear and concise. Try this on the messiest thing in your notes app this week and let me know how it goes! 😁 --- **Whenever you're ready, here are some other ways I can help you:** 🎛️ [The Cowork Academy:](https://coworkacademy.ai/?utm%5Fsource=ghost&utm%5Fmedium=post&utm%5Fcampaign=footer) Ready-to-install AI Command Center that loads your context automatically and makes every Claude session sharper than the last. 90% built when you download it. 💻 [The Workspace Academy:](https://academy.jeffsu.org/workspace-academy?utm%5Fsource=ghost&utm%5Fmedium=post&utm%5Fcampaign=footer) Never lose a file, task, or note again with my CORE workflow for Google Workspace. Adopted by over 10,000 Googlers.