Your Guide to The Great Lock In & Personal Curriculum Challenge

As the final months of the year approach, has your TikTok feed been flooded with a new kind of “that girl” energy? We’re seeing it too!

Two powerful trends are taking over the self-improvement space: “The Great Lock In” and the “Personal Curriculum.”

They’re a call to hyper-focus on yourself, to reclaim your power, and to build the life you’ve always dreamed of.

But for ambitious women like us, who are committed to living a life of balance and intention instead of burnout – how do we join in without falling into the hustle culture trap? This guide is for you.

We’ll show you how to take the best parts of these viral challenges and make them your own, so you can finish the year stronger, healthier, and happier.

Understanding the Trends: “The Great Lock In” and “Personal Curriculum”

First, let’s unpack what’s resonating with so many of us.

The Great Lock In Challenge

This is a wellness challenge that typically runs from September 1 to December 31, reframing the end of the year as a “wellness-driven hibernation period.”

It’s about intentionally focusing on personal goals like early alarms, healthy meal prep, and saying “no” to social plans that don’t serve you.

While some versions of the trend advocate for strict, prescriptive rules like daily cold showers or a complete ban on sugar and alcohol, many others encourage a more flexible approach, focusing on building self-trust through small, consistent wins.

The Personal Curriculum

This is a self-designed, self-directed course of study on a subject you’re genuinely curious about. It’s about fighting “brain rot” and rediscovering the joy of learning without the rigid pressures of formal schooling.

Think of it as creating your own syllabus. The topics are as unique as you are, from diving into poetry and wine to mastering gardening or a new language.

The Winter Arc, 75 Hard and 75 Soft

These trends feel like the natural evolution of the Winter Arc, 75 hard and 75 soft challenges.

• The Winter Arc: This was a mindset shift, encouraging a period of quiet, intentional productivity during the colder months. It was a call to “glow up” in private by focusing on personal projects, healthy habits, and skill-building while others were in a post-holiday slump.
• 75 Hard: Created by Andy Frisella, this is an intense mental toughness challenge with a strict set of non-negotiable rules you must follow for 75 consecutive days. These include two 45-minute workouts per day (one outdoors), drinking a gallon of water, following a diet of your choice (no alcohol or cheat meals), and reading 10 pages of a non-fiction book daily. The pass/fail nature of the challenge makes it all about strict discipline and adherence to rules.
• 75 Soft: This challenge is a gentler, more flexible version of 75 Hard. The rules are less rigid and more focused on building sustainable habits. Participants are encouraged to exercise for 45 minutes daily and eat mostly healthy foods while still allowing for some treats. The goal is progress over perfection, making it a more accessible entry point into self-improvement challenges.

While those trends were often about a rigorous, “all-or-nothing” approach, the “Great Lock In” and “Personal Curriculum” place a greater emphasis on deep, personalized growth.

The Deeper Why: It’s All About You

These trends aren’t just a flash in the pan. Their popularity is a sign of a deeper desire for control and purpose.

Gen Z and younger millennials report feeling significantly more stressed and burned out than older generations. In a world that often feels chaotic and overwhelming, these movements offer a sense of structure and the profound comfort of personal control.

Reframe your “lock in” not as a “sprint” but as a period of gentle, intentional focus. Lasting change comes from flexibility, not from the strict elimination and restriction that often leads to a rebound. This is about deep personal growth, not just surface-level changes.

Common “Rules” of the Great Lock In

The following are the most frequently mentioned guidelines, which participants can customize to fit their own needs and goals:

• Intentionally Hibernating: The core principle is to use September through December as a period of focused, private growth. This involves saying “no” to social events that drain your energy or don’t align with your goals, and instead, redirecting that time and energy inward.
• Prioritizing Health & Wellness: Participants often set health-related goals. These are about building sustainable habits. This could include daily walks, consistent sleep schedules, healthy meal prep, or reducing alcohol and sugar intake.
• Pursuing a Personal Curriculum: Dedicate time to learning a new skill or exploring a topic of genuine interest, like a language, coding or a creative hobby.
• Creating a Cozy & Productive Environment: The trend emphasizes a “hygge” (a Danish term for coziness) element. The idea is to make your personal space a sanctuary for productivity and rest, with an emphasis on journaling, reading, and other quiet, restorative activities.

Your Lock In Action Plan

Ready to start? Here is a simple, actionable blueprint to design a journey that feels good to you.

1. Define Your Vision: Before you pick a habit, ask yourself: What are you truly curious about? What’s a skill you want to learn just for the joy of it, not for a resume? Let your personal values be your guide, not what’s trending online.
2. Design Your Gentle “Lock In”: Forget the daunting checklist. Choose just 2-3 small, health-promoting habits that feel achievable and sustainable. The goal is to build self-trust through small, consistent wins that add up.
3. Create Your Personal Curriculum: Get specific with your learning but be flexible and allow your plan to evolve as your curiosity grows. Remember, there’s no pressure to master a subject in 30 days, it’s an invitation to embrace slow, meandering learning.
4. Find Your Collective: Self-improvement is a beautiful solo journey, but it thrives in community. True growth is enhanced by meaningful connection and accountability. Find an accountability partner or a community that shares your values to transform your solo pursuit into a shared journey.

Your Personal Curriculum Template

1. My Core Focus: What is the one big idea, skill, or area you want to explore? Be specific but not rigid.

2. Why This Matters to Me: Connect your curriculum to your “deeper why.” This isn’t about productivity; it’s about purpose.

3. My Resources & “Teachers”: Where will you find your information? Think beyond formal classes – books, podcasts, YouTube, videos, online courses, museums, exhibits, local events, etc.

4. My “Gentle” Timeline: This isn’t a race. Outline a flexible, enjoyable pace. Set a weekly/monthly goal and an end-of-Lock-In Celebration.

5. My Success Metrics: How will you know this was successful? Focus on how you feel, not on a grade or a certificate.

These trends are a powerful catalyst for change. Their true value lies not in chasing a fleeting online persona, but in using them to build a balanced, intentional life that honors your authentic self.