The Zenova Wellness Journal Β· AI & Digital Wellness
ChatGPT can do far more than answer questions. Here are practical features worth exploring, where they help, and example prompts you can try today.
Not sure where to begin? Visit our ChatGPT tools beginnerβs guide to choose a starting point for learning, research, or planning.
Start with a goal: learn something, understand a document, investigate a question, or organize a project. Then choose the tool that matches the job.
1. Study Mode
Use interactive lessons and practice questions rather than copying an instant answer.
Teach me the basics of AI in three short lessons. Ask a question after each one.
2. Temporary Chat
Temporary chats stay out of your normal history and are not used for model training. OpenAI may retain a copy for up to 30 days for safety. This is not an anonymous or zero-retention service.
Explain how temporary conversations differ from deleting a normal chat.
3. Deeper Thinking
Depending on your plan, you may be able to choose greater thinking effort for complex questions. These settings are not officially called Genius Mode.
Compare three business ideas. Separate evidence, assumptions and risks.
4. Health
Eligible users can explore personal health data and supported connections in ChatGPT Health. Medical decisions still require appropriate professional care.
Help me prepare questions to discuss my lab results at my next appointment.
5. Deep Research
For complicated questions, Deep Research gathers and compares sources and produces a report with citations.
Compare credible research about sleep consistency and identify uncertainties.
6. Web Search
Search can find more recent information than a model's built-in knowledge. Prefer original sources and check publication dates.
Find OpenAI's latest official feature announcements and explain them simply.
7. Voice Conversations
Talk through questions hands-free on supported devices. Voice capabilities differ by device, mode and plan.
Talk me through planning my week one task at a time.
8. Projects
Keep related conversations, instructions and files together so you don't repeatedly rebuild context.
Help me structure a project for learning AI over four weeks.
9. Memory
When enabled, memory helps personalize future conversations. Review and adjust it in Settings β Personalization.
What do you understand about how I prefer to learn?
10. Custom Instructions
Set a consistent response style. Text shortcuts such as /simple or /expert are your own conventions, not official built-in modes.
When I type /simple, use short sentences and define technical terms.
11. File Analysis
Upload a supported PDF, document or spreadsheet to summarize, compare or extract information. Verify consequential conclusions.
Summarize this file in five key points and flag anything uncertain.
12. Image Understanding
Upload a screenshot, chart or photo and ask for an explanation. Remove private details before sharing.
Explain what these settings in my screenshot do.
13. Image Generation
Create diagrams, social graphics and educational visuals. Check generated text and scientific claims.
Create a clean infographic showing five everyday sleep habits.
14. Scheduled Tasks
Set reminders and recurring information summaries, subject to account limits.
Every Monday, summarize important AI announcements from official sources.
15. ChatGPT Work
Eligible users can delegate longer, multi-step work across supported sources and apps. Review access and any significant changes.
Research three approaches, compare their trade-offs and produce a practical checklist.
Build Your Own ChatGPT Plugin: The Successor to Custom GPTs
OpenAI is transitioning from Custom GPTs to Plugins. Existing Custom GPTs are scheduled to retire December 11, 2026, although account and workspace notices may vary. A plugin can package reusable instructions, reference material, and connected tools into a repeatable workflow. Unlike a simple prompt shortcut, a plugin can help with specialized tasks and, when properly connected and authorized, work with supported apps.
βHelp me design a private plugin that turns my notes into a consistent weekly wellness newsletter. First define its instructions, reference material and testing checklist.β
Explore the Plugin Directory or Plugin Creator to get started. Plugin creation and sharing depend on plan and workspace permissions; review connected-app access before enabling actions. If you built Custom GPTs, review their instructions, files, sharing and custom actions before migrationβintegrations may need separate setup and testing. Read OpenAI's migration FAQ and plugin developer guide.
Create Your Own Slash-Command Shortcuts
Typing /simple, /expert or /brief can serve as a convenient prompt convention, but these are not official built-in ChatGPT modes. Explain the shorthand in Custom Instructions or the conversation first: for example, βWhen I type /simple, explain concepts in everyday language suitable for a 12-year-old.β
Bonus: Which AI Model Should You Choose?
Seeing a long list of AI models can feel overwhelming. They are not simply ranked from worst to best: models make different trade-offs among speed, reasoning, coding performance, context limits and usage cost. The best choice depends on the job.
| Type | Best for | Watch out for |
|---|---|---|
| Fast / everyday | Summaries, drafting and quick questions | May miss complex constraints |
| Reasoning-focused | Multi-step planning, tricky analysis and debugging | Often slower or more usage-intensive |
| Coding / agentic | Reading repositories, editing code and running tests | Needs correct files, permissions and safeguards |
| Multimodal | Working with images, speech and documents | Supported inputs and tools vary |
Model versus thinking effort: the model is the system you choose; reasoning or thinking effort is a separate setting that may let a supported model spend more time on a hard problem. Start with a fast or medium-effort option for routine work, and increase effort when complexity warrants it. Exact model names and settings change, so check OpenAI's current Help Center rather than relying on a static ranking.
Bonus: Get Codex Ready Before You Write Code
OpenAI Codex helps with software tasks, but choosing the right model is only part of a successful coding session. Before asking it to edit anything, confirm the repository, working folder, branch, uncommitted changes and project instructions. A powerful model in the wrong folder can still make the wrong changes.
For a simple, isolated fix, start with a quicker available model and modest reasoning effort. For cross-file changes, authentication, database migrations or deployment issues, choose a stronger coding-capable option and higher effort if available. Review the proposed diff and test results before merging or deploying.
Before editing, confirm the repository, working directory, current branch, and uncommitted changes. Read the project's instructions and locate the relevant files. Tell me which model and reasoning effort fit this task and why. Task: [describe the goal]. Constraints: preserve existing behavior, work in development, run relevant tests, and do not merge or deploy production without approval. Summarize the changes and any remaining risks.
For more background, explore Codex documentation. Model availability, controls and usage allowances depend on the product and plan.
Which should you use first?
For learning, start with Study Mode. For evidence-heavy questions, use Deep Research. For ongoing work, choose Projects. For easier explanations, set Custom Instructions. For sensitive topics, understand Temporary Chat's limits before sharing information.
AI and Wellness: Useful Together, With Boundaries
AI can help explain unfamiliar terminology and prepare questions, but it can also make mistakes. For health-related questions, confirm important information with reliable sources and qualified professionals. For a deeper discussion, read Healing Code: AI in Healthcare (find the article in the Journal if the link changes).
Keep Learning With Zenova Wellness
Zenova Wellness explores practical education at the intersection of technology and everyday well-being. Visit Zenova Wellness and meet Zara, our AI wellness guide.
Official OpenAI Resources
Updated October 15, 2026. Zenova Wellness is independent and is not affiliated with or endorsed by OpenAI. Feature access and interfaces vary by plan and may change. This article is educational, not medical advice.
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