By skyforbes 
When people ask me how I use ChatGPT, I usually smile and say: “Not the way you think.”
Most folks treat it like a fancier Google search. You drop in a question, copy the answer, and close the tab. Useful, yes, but shallow. Over the past year, I’ve relied on ChatGPT like an assistant. It doesn’t just answer trivia. It helps me draft articles, analyze my data, and even untangle those dreadful PDFs I used to avoid.
The funny part? Half of its best features are buried in menus or updates most people don’t notice. I only found them because I write about AI and I’m naturally curious. What I’ve learned is that these features — when used together — make a real dent in productivity. Not theoretical productivity. Real hours saved.
Here are fifteen that I use or recommend. Some are obvious, others brand new.
1. Custom Instructions
This one feels boring at first, but it changes everything. Instead of typing “write in a friendly tone” every time, you just set it once. I told mine: “When I ask about coding, keep answers practical. When I ask about writing, sound conversational.”