"When October hits, the temptation to hibernate beckons, soup hits differently, and leaving your apartment can feel like an Olympic-level feat. While we need to embrace moments of slowing down, sometimes they can turn into a rot, and any semblance of productivity and basic acts of self-care get neglected. If you’ve been personally victimized by autumn burnout or the winter rut, TikTok may have the solution for you. The Winter Arc is the “90 days before the end of the year where you can get ahead of the ‘New Year, new me’ crowd and hit your goals,” TikToker Jessica Agbolade explained in a video. Could the challenge be an early New Year’s resolution, giving you motivation to set healthy habits in motion for the rest of the year? Here’s everything you need to know about the Winter Arc challenge, including how to try it for yourself.
What is The Winter Arc Challenge?
Popularized by TikTok creator and life coach Carly Berges, the idea behind the Winter Arc Challenge is using the last 90 days of the year (AKA the colder, darker, and slower season) where we want to “hibernate” anyway to start new habits to recommit to your goals and go into 2025 as your best self—physically, mentally, and emotionally. TL;DR: October is the new January.
Berges explained in her video that October through December is the time when a lot of people tend to slow down, have the mentality that they’ll start come January 1, and “let their foot off the gas.” But her argument is that there are still three months left in the year to take action and identify the areas of your life that you can intentionally change to align with your best self. “The winter arc is all about just dialing TF in and getting super laser-focused on your goals, on your personal development, on your growth, so that way by the time the first of January rolls around, you are already coming out a whole other beast.”
Maybe you want to pay off your debt, change careers, or foster stronger friendships. Or, perhaps you’re looking to eat more protein, go to bed at 10 p.m., or remove toxic people from your life. The bottom line is a lot can change (for the better) in three months if you consistently show up for yourself. Here’s what Berges’ goals are by the end of the winter arc challenge: wake up at 5:30 a.m., follow a workout and meal plan, journal two times a day, finish four books, reprogram her mind to be in alignment with the version of herself she wants to become (what she refers to as “identify framework”), and be more consistent creating content. “If you’re ready to go into the new year a whole brand new, better, up-leveled version of yourself, then get to planning your Winter Arc right now,” she said.
Is It Worth Trying?
Phrases like “put your head down and grind” or “become unrecognizable in three months” typically have me throwing red flags like confetti, but I think the Winter Arc can be a positive way to jumpstart winter wellness. Ultimately, the end goal is to adopt daily habits and routines that help you become the best version of yourself and that you can stick to for not only the remainder of the year but in the long run. But sometimes we need a little push to figure out what those things are. During a time when it’s getting darker earlier, we’re spending more time indoors and we have less energy to make plans, so setting intentions for the next three months can feel more attainable and give you a framework to stay on track. If you have your sights set on sustainable, long-term lifestyle changes, the winter arc challenge can help fight the “I’ll start in January” urge and putting off prioritizing you (because we know how that goes!) and be the impetus to start implementing the habits that make you your best self now.
“If you’re ready to go into the new year a better, up-leveled version of yourself, then get to planning your Winter Arc right now.”
How to Try It
Step 1: Choose your goals wisely
The first rule of thumb when starting any kind of challenge is to make sure your goals are realistic and attainable. Otherwise, you can aim too high, burn out, and end up feeling defeated. So pick three to four goals that you can realistically commit to. Maybe you feel good about your existing fitness routine and eating habits, so look to setting financial, social, or mental health goals (because, yes, wellness extends beyond workouts and the way you fuel your body). Maybe you aim to pay off debt, develop stronger friendships, or try TikTok’s “dopamine menu.”
Step 2: Break down your goals into daily or weekly habits
Consistency is key to nailing the Winter Arc Challenge, so make it as easy for yourself as possible to show up every day. Take your big goal and break it down into daily and weekly tasks you can check off as you go. This keeps you accountable and gives you a little motivational boost every time you accomplish something. For example, say your goal is to develop closer relationships with female friends. Your daily goal could be texting one friend to check in, and your weekly goals may look like scheduling one coffee date with a new friend or catching up with an old one, hosting a casual get-together, or calling a long-distance friend.
Step 3: Remove obstacles
The last step in making your winter arc goals attainable is making sure your environment supports them. This could look like creating a daily schedule to make sure you can fit in quality time with your friends or partner. It may be joining a gym that’s closer to your work or signing up for a meal prep service to keep up with your healthy eating habits and make eating more protein a little easier. Sometimes, it’s setting boundaries with toxic people who don’t have your best interest at heart, whether at work or in your personal life. Whatever your goals may be, think about how you can reduce any obstacles that can get in the way of you checking off those small, actionable steps and hitting your goals before the new year.
Abigail Moseman, Social Media Assistant
As the Social Media Assistant, Abi works with the Social Media Editors to ideate and create content, and build community across all of The Everygirl’s social channels. She is also a group fitness instructor at Equinox.