Every Aura uses a boundary, and AuraLock gives you two kinds: Standard and Strict. These are not difficulty levels. They are two different kinds of commitment, and the right one depends on the situation.
Standard Aura — flexible focus
A Standard Aura is a supportive boundary that leaves you in control.
You can pause when you need a real break. You can extend the session if you are in flow. You can end early if the work is actually done. And you can change allowed apps mid-session.
Standard suits everyday focus — the kind where you want a reminder of your intention rather than a hard gate around it. It fits most sessions: writing, reading, studying, working through your inbox with focus.
Strict Aura — a commitment you keep
A Strict Aura is a deliberate commitment. Once it starts, it stays until the Aura ends. You cannot end it casually.
This is what Strict is designed for:
- A deadline you promised to meet
- A study session before an exam
- A morning you decided belongs to you, no matter what the phone offers
Strict Aura asks one honest thing of you at the start: are you sure? The confirmation screen makes the commitment visible before you enter.
How the boundaries actually differ
| Capability | Standard | Strict |
|---|---|---|
| Pause | Freely | Limited |
| Extend time | Yes | Yes, with confirmation |
| End early | Simple confirmation | Deliberate emergency exit |
| Change apps mid-session | Freely | Confirmed |
Notice that Strict still lets you extend when you are in flow. The boundary limits how easily you leave, not how long you can stay.
Emergency access is always protected
The most common worry about Strict is safety. AuraLock answers it: essential system functions — emergency calls, phone, essential settings — remain available even inside a Strict Aura. A boundary should protect your focus, not your safety.
For rare, genuine emergencies, a deliberate emergency exit exists. It requires a conscious, held action rather than a casual tap, so it is available when you truly need it and not easy to reach by accident.
Choosing between them
Ask one question: “Is this a moment I want to be able to change my mind about?”
If the answer is yes — or if you want the flexibility to adapt — choose Standard. If the answer is “no, I promised this to myself” — choose Strict.
You can always start with Standard. AuraLock never forces you into a stronger boundary than the moment needs.
The same Aura, two moods
Both boundary types work with every Aura you create. Your Deep Work Aura can run Standard on a normal Tuesday and Strict on the day before a deadline. The Aura stays the same; only the strength of your commitment changes.
Focus is not about being perfect. It is about matching your environment to your intention, moment by moment.