The Winter Arc: Another Day, Another TikTok Challenge

If you’ve been scrolling on social media recently, it’s more than likely that you have heard about everyone’s plan for the coming months: The winter arc.

This refers to “a period where individuals use the coldest, darkest days of the year as a means to refocus, pre-visualise, and arrive at their desired destination”. It is a time to work on yourself and complete your fitness and personal goals.

It’s easy during this time of year to fall into a rut and to use New Year as an excuse to drag out your day one. Why not get ahead of everyone else? The idea is that by January 1st you will already be miles ahead, deep in a routine of productivity, fitness training and personal development. Sounds good? Here’s how.

Figuring out what the winter arc means to you is your starting point. Everyone has unique goals and desires for the person they want to become.

@mahima.p Winter arc starts tomorrow! Who’s locking in with me?😈 #winterarc #healthy #mindfulness #goals #greenscreen ♬ original sound – mahima.p

TikTok has been the focal point for winter arc inspiration, however tailoring the challenge to yourself will be most beneficial. While the challenge is typically very fitness-oriented, it’s up to you.

You might prefer to balance it with career or academic goals. Keep track of these goals by writing them down or keeping notes of them on your phone. If you are a visual person you might like to create a vision board. This is a collage of images that inspire you and will motivate you to achieve your dream lifestyle.

Here are some examples of goals to consider including in your Winter Arc:

● 2L of water

● 10k daily steps

● 7-8 hours of sleep

● Workout 5-6 times a week

● Read 30 minutes every day

● Practice gratitude/ journaling

● Protein-rich meals

● Alcohol only for special occasions

@christina.thornton Been seeing winter arc everywhere so I finally looked up what it is and I’m all for it ❄️🌥️✨🫧 #earlymorning #productivemorningroutine #morningroutine #workoutmotivation #5ammorningroutine #getreadywithme #workoutwithme #workoutinspo #fyp ♬ Genesis – Runa🖤

You can draw some inspiration from this list and add your own.

Routine is essential for a successful winter arc. Start by building a morning routine that will leave you refreshed and will set you up for the day. This might consist of waking up at the same time each morning and getting a quick walk outside. Your nighttime routine should allow you to wind down and relax after your productive day and set you up for the next. This might mean putting away your phone an hour before bed, which gives you time to read that book!

Create a workout split that is relevant to your fitness goals and your routine. This divides each day of your fitness routine into specific training focuses. This will allow you to have a more structured gym schedule and you will be ready to get stuck in as soon as you walk in those doors as you already know what exercises you plan to do that day.

By working on the same exercises each week, perfecting your form and focusing on progressive overload you will get the most out of your time in the gym. Giving certain muscle groups a couple of days between working on them again will also allow for adequate recovery which in turn will allow them to grow quicker.

Remember the 80-20 rule. This rule suggests “locking in”, working super hard and eating clean 80% of the time. However, it is also beneficial to enjoy the not-so-good things 20 per cent of the time (or more, why restrict yourself if you don’t want to?).

Don’t forget to spend time with your friends, go out, indulge in that dessert and treat yourself. This will allow for the challenge to be more realistic and not too restrictive which can oftentimes make people give up.

By the end of the challenge, you should have been successful in levelling up physically, emotionally and mentally.

But remember, it’s to only make changes that suit your schedule, your body, and your mind.

Someone else’s winter arc may be completely different to yours, so go easy on yourself, and put your own wellness first.

Words by Ava Grace