The “Great Lock In” is the internet’s newest productivity trend, but it’s more than a hashtag. It’s a mindset: use September through December as a sprint, not a slide. Instead of coasting into the holidays, you lock in on habits, goals, and projects that set you up for a strong start to the new year.
The timing matters. Q4 is when companies finalize budgets, managers make promotion decisions, and entrepreneurs wrap up revenue targets. Personally, it’s when your habits either slip or stick. That’s why this “Great Lock In” movement resonates: the final months of the year are short enough to feel urgent but long enough to make meaningful progress.
And here’s where ChatGPT comes in. You don’t have to map it all out yourself. Use ChatGPT as your strategist, accountability partner, and creativity booster, helping you stay motivated and on track.
Below are five carefully crafted ChatGPT prompts designed to provide structure and momentum for your Great Lock-In sprint.
1. The ChatGPT Goal-Setting Blueprint Prompt
Prompt: “Act as a strategic coach. Help me identify my top three goals for the next four months (Sept–Dec). Break each one into monthly milestones, weekly action steps, and daily habits I can track. Then, create a simple visual plan I can revisit weekly.”
Why it works: Big goals often fail because they lack structure. This ChatGPT prompt forces you to translate ambition into tangible timelines—daily, weekly, monthly. That layered approach prevents overwhelm and creates a natural accountability system.
How to use it: Run the output through your preferred tool—such as Notion, Google Calendar, or even a paper planner. On Sundays, revisit it and adjust and realign. Think of it as a roadmap that evolves with you.
2. The ChatGPT Skill Accelerator Prompt
Prompt: “Act as a learning designer. Develop a 90-day learning plan to help me enhance [insert skill]. Include the best free and paid resources, weekly practice assignments, and one public project I can share to show progress.”
Why it works: Q4 is long enough to build a skill meaningfully, but short enough to stay focused. By asking ChatGPT for resources, assignments, and a public project, you create accountability and visibility at the same time. This accelerates both learning and recognition.
How to use it: Choose one skill that truly matters in your career or personal growth. Stick to the weekly assignments and share progress regularly. You can share the progress on LinkedIn, with your team, or on a personal blog.
3. The ChatGPT Visibility & Branding Prompt
Prompt: “Act as a personal brand strategist. Rewrite my LinkedIn bio (pasted below) so it reflects my growth during the Great Lock In. Then, give me five post ideas per month that highlight my progress and keep me visible.”
Why it works: Finishing the year strong isn’t just about effort; it’s about being seen. Employers, clients, and peers are already preparing for 2026. By asking ChatGPT to rewrite your bio and generate content ideas, you position yourself as future-ready.
How to use it: Paste in your LinkedIn “About” section and recent posts. Use ChatGPT’s revised bio and content calendar immediately. Block time on your calendar to help you publish consistently; it compounds visibility and opportunity. You can also use ChatGPT prompts to help you develop your personal brand during this “great lock in” time.
4. The ChatGPT Energy & Routine Prompt
Prompt: “Act as a performance coach. Design a daily routine for me that balances productivity, health, and recovery during the Great Lock In. Include a morning ritual, evening ritual, and adjusted versions for travel or low-energy days.”
Why it works: You can’t sustain momentum if your energy collapses. This ChatGPT prompt helps you build a repeatable system that protects productivity while embedding recovery and flexibility. Travel days and low-energy days are inevitable, making sure you plan for them keeps you on track.
How to use it: Ask ChatGPT to generate multiple variations, such as “ideal day,” “travel day,” and “reset day.” Print the output or pin it digitally. Follow it loosely, not rigidly; the power is in the rhythm, not perfection.
5. The ChatGPT Momentum & Reflection Prompt
Prompt: “Act as an accountability partner. Create a weekly review template for the Great Lock In that includes five reflection questions, two celebration prompts, and a space to reset goals for the next week.”
Why it works: These types of sprints fizzle without reflection. This ChatGPT prompt builds in regular check-ins, helping you measure progress, capture lessons, and celebrate small wins. Reflection ensures you’re not just moving fast, but moving with intention and in the right direction.
How to use it: Schedule a recurring calendar block every Friday or Sunday. Use the ChatGPT-generated template to journal responses (handwritten or digital). Over 12 weeks, you’ll have a record of growth that powers confidence heading into 2026.
How ChatGPT + The Great Lock In Can Help Teens
The Great Lock In isn’t just for professionals and adults; it’s a concept that translates powerfully to teenagers. In fact, teens may benefit most from learning how to lock in during key stretches of the year. High schoolers and college students often default to cramming before exams or waiting until January to “get serious.” By reframing the last quarter as a chance to practice consistency, reflection, and goal-setting, they build habits that last beyond school.
Imagine a teen using these same prompts—goal-setting, skill building, visibility, energy, and reflection—but adapted for their world. That might mean mapping out milestones for launching a side hustle, planning consistent study habits, creating a portfolio to showcase online, or even building healthier daily routines.
Teaching young people how to leverage ChatGPT for structure and accountability doesn’t just help them finish a semester strong; it equips them with lifelong skills that are essential for both entrepreneurship and professional development.
The “Great Lock In” isn’t about grinding harder. It’s about being deliberate with time and intentional with effort. Momentum compounds, and these ChatGPT prompts can help you build that momentum. By treating the last quarter as a launchpad, you’re not waiting for January to “start fresh.” You’re already in motion, which gives you a head start on 2026. While everyone else is still setting goals in January, you’re months into your “Great Lock In”.