From overwhelmed to organized: How I use Copilot as a neurodivergent marketer

I recently authored a post that touched on the challenges and opportunities I face as a marketing professional with ADHD. In the blog, I dove deeper into the demos I shared during our Microsoft Ignite session: Empowering neurodivergent employees with Copilot. (Watch the full session video with on-stage panelists.) I am heartened by the response to the examples of how I use Copilot to manage the workday, make meaningful connections, and elevate my impact. 

In the first blog, I showed how I use Copilot to reflect on meeting discussions, tackle difficult conversations, and combat the pernicious combo of perfectionism and procrastination that accompanies a blinking cursor. Now, I’ll explore how Copilot Chat can change how you tackle your long list of tasks and to-dos.  

At Ignite, I gave a demo of a day in the life of a neurodivergent marketer.

As a busy marketer, I commonly find myself staring at a to-do list that feels overwhelming. Whether it's a multitude of tasks or a single complex project, knowing where to start can be daunting. Like many neurodivergent individuals, I often struggle with prioritizing tasks or getting over the hump of “just starting” a task. If you've ever felt this way, you're not alone – and Copilot is here to help.  

Use Copilot to break down projects and tasks 

We all have days where the sheer volume of work, or life’s unending distractions, leave us feeling stuck under the weight of it all, unable to gain enough momentum to even begin. That's when I turn to Copilot Chat to help tackle a seemingly unmanageable - and certainly overwhelming - to-do list.  

Brain dump 

The first thing I do is offload all my tasks into Copilot Chat. I simply type out everything that's on my mind. Every task. Big or small. This "brain dump" helps clear my head and gives Copilot the information it needs to effectively assist me. 

“Please help me organize my tasks for today. I'm feeling overwhelmed and I'm not sure where to start. Here is my list: 

Follow up on emails to 3 stakeholders for the Grow Your Business blog series, prepare for my 1:1 meeting with my manager at 2:30 pm, revise and finalize a blog post for the Work Smarter blog series, prepare slides for my 3:05 pm meeting based on the template that was shared with me, and update a shared slide deck with the latest updates on the upcoming customer stories I am working on.” 

Select “Add content” to provide more information to Copilot to analyze for a richer output.

Copilot enables you to search and filter content to include with your prompt.

I can make a prompt like the one above even stronger by using ‘Add content’ to include valuable context, such as: 

• Names of the stakeholders I’m working with 
• A meeting series or email thread relevant to the project 
• The working file for the blog post 
• The slide template I’m using for my 3:05pm meeting, and 
• The shared deck I’m using to collaborate on upcoming customer stories.  

Adding qualifiers like meeting times and names of collaborators gives Copilot useful information to provide more specific and actionable recommendations. Once I have all the details included in my prompt, Copilot will use that information to provide me with a detailed task list with a suggested order in which to tackle them. 

Iterate and break down tasks further  

Once I have my tasks laid out, I can ask Copilot for additional help to break down individual tasks or even get started with them. Copilot may also suggest follow-up prompts based on my task list. 

Copilot suggests additional prompts based upon my initial request.

Now if I'm really struggling to start a particularly overwhelming task and want additional support, I can type the following into the prompt box (we’ll use ‘finalizing my blog post’ as an example): 

“Can you help me break down the task of finalizing the blog post? I need to address comments and feedback from my team, review any edits that have been made, add screenshots, add alt text and captions to the screenshots, and then do one final editing pass for accuracy and narrative flow before handing it off to my writing partner to review and submit for publishing.” 

Copilot returns recommendations which address each of the items I listed: 

1. Address Comments and Feedback from Your Team - Copilot includes key points from the comments and feedback from my team in my working document for the blog post.
2. Review Any Edits that Have Been Made - Copilot includes relevant resources available to me within my organization, including a document that covers the guidelines for posting a blog on the Microsoft Tech Community.
3. Add Screenshots - Copilot suggests some relevant resources for capturing great in-product images for blog posts.
4. Add Alt Text and Captions  - Copilot suggests two internal resources on adding alt text and captions to blog posts and tips for providing alt text for images and GIFs.
5. Final Editing Pass for Accuracy and Narrative Flow - Copilot suggests steps like ensuring all feedback and edits have been incorporated, that the content is clear and engaging, and even suggests key collaborators who may be helpful for validating accuracy and narrative flow.

Staying on track 

Now I have my to-do list, and I’m comfortable with how my tasks are broken down. I can also follow up in Copilot Chat for tips on how to stay on track, even when disruptions occur or if I’m still feeling overwhelmed. So, I asked Copilot,  

“What are some best practices to keep on track with this plan when I'm feeling overwhelmed?” 

Copilot replies with some incredibly useful feedback!  

Feeling overwhelmed is a common experience when managing a plan, but there are several best practices that can help you stay on track: 

1. Break Down Tasks: Divide larger tasks into smaller, manageable chunks. This makes it easier to focus on one step at a time and reduces the feeling of being overwhelmed. 
2. Prioritize: Identify the most critical tasks and focus on them first. This ensures that the most important work gets done even if you can't complete everything. 
3. Set Realistic Goals: Establish achievable goals for each day or week. This helps you maintain a steady pace and prevents burnout. 
4. Use Tools and Resources: Leverage tools like Planner to organize your tasks, set deadlines, and track progress. This keeps everything in one place and makes it easier to manage. 
5. Take Breaks: Regular breaks are essential to maintain productivity and mental well-being. Step away from your work periodically to recharge. 
6. Seek Support: Don't hesitate to ask for help from colleagues or your manager if you're feeling overwhelmed. Collaboration can lighten the load and provide new perspectives. 
7. Stay Flexible: Be prepared to adjust your plan as needed. Flexibility allows you to adapt to changes and unexpected challenges without getting stressed. 
8. Reflect and Adjust: Regularly review your progress and make adjustments to your plan as necessary. This helps you stay on track and make improvements along the way. 

Don’t be afraid to offer plenty of context 

My ADHD brain thrives on context. I tend to over-communicate details, particularly when seeking support or collaborating creatively with others. This can sometimes be overwhelming and even confusing to my collaborators and stakeholders in the workplace. I have received a lot of constructive feedback over the years to keep my communications precise and succinct, so as not to lose the point amidst all the details.  

If you’re anything like me, I have great news. Copilot loves all of your context. This is why I’m a huge advocate for using Copilot to “brain dump” in your prompts. The more context you give Copilot, regarding what you’re trying to accomplish, desired outcomes, the difficulty level of your task, even your role in the context of your team or project, the more helpful your responses will be!  

Why these tips work for everyone 

While these strategies are particularly beneficial for neurodivergent individuals like me, they can be incredibly helpful for anyone feeling overwhelmed by their workload. Here's why: 

Clarity and focus: Offloading tasks into Copilot provides clarity, allowing anyone to focus on what truly matters. 

Structure: Breaking down tasks into smaller steps makes any project more manageable, regardless of complexity. 

Efficiency: Utilizing Copilot to assist with task management can significantly enhance efficiency by providing quick access to necessary information. 

Embracing Copilot for better productivity 

These are just a few ways Copilot can transform how we approach daily tasks. Whether you're neurodivergent, know a co-worker who is, or are simply looking for ways to enhance your productivity, Copilot offers tools that can make a difference. 

Leave a comment letting us know how these tips and prompts work for you, or if you have any of your own productivity hacks to share. Let's continue to embrace our strengths and shine together!