Study Mode vs Chill Mode vs Crunch Mode: Complete Guide (with Examples)

Locked In doesn't do "one mode fits all." Your energy, deadline pressure, and emotional state should change how the AI plans for you.

Here's the complete breakdown with real prompts and what you get back.

Quick decision matrix

Your situation	Use this mode
Regular week, multiple subjects, want structure	Study
Burnt out, sleep messed up, need reset	Chill
Test/project due TODAY/TOMORROW	Crunch
Procrastinating, doomscrolling, "can't start"	Roast

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Study Mode — "Deep focus, structured, disciplined"

Voice: Sharp, organized, prioritizes the one thing that matters most.

Best for:

• Semester-long planning
• Balancing 3-5 subjects
• Building consistent habits
• When you have time but no direction

Example prompt:

"I have chem, calc, and history all with assignments due over the next two weeks. I keep putting them off because I don't know where to start. Can you help me plan the week?"

What you get:

PRIORITIES
1. Chemistry lab report (due Wed) — outline + data analysis + write
2. Calculus problem set (due Fri) — 3 sections, 15 problems each
3. History essay thesis (due Mon) — research + outline + intro

SCHEDULE
Mon 4:00-5:00  Focus  Chem lab outline
Mon 5:00-5:10  Break  Stretch + hydrate
Mon 5:10-6:10  Focus  Chem data analysis
Mon 6:10-6:20  Break  Walk around
Mon 6:20-7:20  Focus  Calc section 1
Mon 7:20-7:35  Break  Dinner
Mon 7:35-8:35  Focus  Calc section 2
Mon 8:35-8:45  Movement  Quick walk
Mon 8:45-9:30  Wind-down  History thesis research

TIP: Start with the hardest subject (chem) when willpower is highest. 
SENDOFF: One subject at a time. You've got this.

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Chill Mode — "Gentle, warm, pressure-free"

Voice: Soft, permission-giving, decompression first.

Best for:

• Burnout recovery
• Fixing sleep schedule
• Reducing screen time
• "I feel behind on everything" but no urgent deadline
• Sunday planning for the week

Example prompt:

"I'm totally burnt out after midterms. Sleep schedule is destroyed (4 AM bedtime), phone screen time is 8+ hours, zero motivation. Need a reset, not more pressure."

What you get:

PRIORITIES
1. Sleep anchor — lights out by 11 PM, wake by 7 AM (no exceptions)
2. Phone boundaries — grayscale mode after 9 PM, charger outside bedroom
3. One small win — 20 min of anything productive, no expectations

SCHEDULE
Tue 7:00-7:20  Focus  Light review (whatever feels easiest)
Tue 7:20-7:30  Break  Coffee + sunlight
Tue 7:30-7:50  Focus  One small task from yesterday
Tue 7:50-8:00  Movement  Walk outside
Tue 8:00-8:20  Focus  Continue or switch
Tue 8:20-8:30  Break  Stretch
Tue 8:30-9:00  Wind-down  Journal + plan tomorrow
Tue 9:00-9:30  Fun  Read / draw / music (no screens)

TIP: Progress > perfection. A 20-min session you actually do beats a 2-hour plan you skip.
SENDOFF: Rest is productive. Tomorrow builds on today's kindness to yourself.

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Crunch Mode — "Urgent, cut through noise, protect sleep"

Voice: Fast, blunt, zero fluff. Triage only.

Best for:

• Exam tomorrow
• Essay due in 6 hours
• "I have 4 hours, what can I actually finish?"
• Real emergencies only

Example prompt:

"Chemistry test at 8 AM tomorrow. It's 10 PM now. I know nothing. Haven't opened the textbook. Give me a plan I can actually finish tonight."

What you get:

PRIORITIES
1. High-yield concepts — focus on what's 80% likely to appear
2. Practice problems — active recall > re-reading
3. Sleep protection — in bed by 2 AM max (cognitive function needs 5.5 hrs)

SCHEDULE
Mon 10:00-10:45  Focus  Chapter summaries (high-yield only)
Mon 10:45-10:55  Break  Water + bathroom
Mon 10:55-11:40  Focus  Practice problems (odd numbers only)
Mon 11:40-11:50  Movement  Stretch + walk
Mon 11:50-12:35  Focus  Weak areas from practice
Mon 12:35-12:45  Break  Light snack
Mon 12:45-1:15   Focus  Formula sheet / key diagrams
Mon 1:15-1:30    Wind-down  Pack bag, set alarm, lights out

TIP: Skip what you already know. Every minute on mastery is a minute lost on gaps.
SENDOFF: 3.5 hours of focused work > 6 hours of panicked reading. Lock in.

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Roast Mode — "Tough love, calls out excuses, then gives plan"

Voice: Loud, funny, specific to YOUR excuse. Unlockable via trigger phrases or Settings.

Best for:

• "I keep doomscrolling"
• "Can't start, totally stuck"
• "No motivation, feel lazy"
• When gentle stopped working

Example prompt:

"Activate roast mode. I've been on TikTok for 3 hours, essay due Friday, haven't written a word."

What you get:

"3 hours of 'for you page' but 'no time to write'? The algorithm knows you better than your professor does. Here's your plan — 4 blocks, no negotiations. Write the terrible first draft. Edit tomorrow. Lock in."

Then a real plan follows — same structure, Roast voice only in the intro/outro.

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How to switch modes

In chat: Type the mode name or a trigger phrase:

• "switch to crunch mode" → immediate switch
• "I'm burnt out" → AI suggests Chill Mode
• "test tomorrow" → AI suggests Crunch Mode

In Settings: Default mode picker + Roast Mode toggle

Auto-detect: AI reads your prompt and suggests mode switch if urgency/energy mismatches current mode.

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Pro tip: Mode stacking

Sunday night: Chill Mode → plan the week gently Monday-Thursday: Study Mode → execute Thursday 10 PM (test Friday): Crunch Mode → triage Anytime stuck: Roast Mode → pattern interrupt

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Try all 4 modes free at lockedn.in — no sign-up, guest mode works instantly.