I’m Not Doing a Winter Arc–Here Are My Strategies to End the Year on My Terms

I love keeping up with the latest trends as much as the next girl. But sometimes the pressure to constantly improve your life, hit your goals, or work toward your next glow-up can be more stressful than beneficial. With every swipe, we encounter yet another TikTok telling us what we have to do to get that snatched body or perfectly productive morning routine. When you’re bombarded with these messages, what’s meant to inspire can quickly become a cycle of feeling inadequate, frustrated, and unworthy. That’s exactly how I felt when my For You page kept pushing me to start my Winter Arc.

I understand the desire to finish the year strong. I also understand that the colder months make it much harder to do so, which can lead to wanting to have a strict plan in place to ensure you accomplish your goals. Without a solid plan, it’s easier to convince yourself that bed rotting is the way to go (Why brave the freezing cold for the gym when your bed is so cozy? Why push harder at work with the holidays around the corner?). The colder months and holiday stress make it easier to hit snooze, delay projects until January, and dive into a pint of ice cream while binging Abbott Elementary. A Winter Arc might seem like the perfect way to find motivation and stay “on track” when it feels hard to.

But there’s a reason we feel inclined to slow down during the winter months. We need seasons of rest and slowness–that’s what winter is supposed to provide us. Though TikTok may suggest otherwise, allowing yourself to lean into that need does not make you lazy or behind. But at the same time, it makes total sense to not want to lose the habits or progress you’ve worked hard for. I refuse to treat November like New Year’s, but I’m also aware that retreating into full hermit mode won’t do me any favors mentally or physically. Here are my go-to strategies for ending the year on my own terms.

“When I become too focused on achieving, I lose the very joy my habits are meant to bring.”

I’m Setting 2-3 Realistic Goals for the End of the Year

Many of the Winter Arc TikToks list at least 7 goals or habits. While these habits are each valuable, it can be unrealistic to set multiple goals and expect to crush them all at once. We are humans, not robots. We all face different circumstances that make it hard to give 100% every day. Plus, it’s the holidays. Our calendars are filled with travel, family obligations, Friendsgivings, and work parties. Time is even more limited than usual, which will make it more difficult to make room for multiple goals. Rather than make a list of 7-10 goals or habits to crush before the year’s end, I’m focusing on 2-3 goals that are the most important for me to make progress. Stick to a few that will allow you to hone in on what matters most to you this season without the added stress.

I’m Prioritizing Rest, Slowness, and Recovery

It’s easy to forget that winter is meant to be a slower season when our calendars are filled with holiday commitments and end-of-year tasks. Adding in a Winter Arc so we can push ourselves to get “ahead of the game” before January 1st can quickly lead to burnout. We don’t need to completely hibernate, but setting specific intentions for rest, slowness, and recovery is key so that we don’t return from the holidays utterly exhausted. Through the end of the year, I’m scheduling in a few days on the calendar for deep rest; using that time to go completely off the grid with as few obligations or commitments as possible. If you’re not able to commit to a few days, block off a few hours per week to unplug and be still. And yes, you can hit snooze some mornings. It’s OK to stay snuggled just a bit longer and tend to your body’s need for rest.

Remember that rest is necessary. Your inclination to slow down during the colder months is natural. It’s OK to say “no” to pushing yourself right now. It’s also OK to make sure your healthy habits and goals remain intact as we close out the year. There is room for both.

I’m Changing My Workout Schedule and Focusing On Consistency

Most of the Winter Arc girlies on TikTok are posting videos of their 5:00 a.m. workouts at the gym, and while I love that for them, I don’t love that for me. I have learned that my body does not enjoy when I push her to do multiple early morning workouts in one week. And, with colder weather and shorter days, some of my go-to workouts like evening tennis sessions are off the table until spring rolls around. To honor my body’s need for both rest and movement, I’ve adjusted my winter workout routine. Instead of forcing daily rigid 5:00 a.m. workouts that leave me drained, I’m aiming for flexibility—mixing a few early, longer sessions with later, shorter ones each week. And if I can’t make a morning sesh, no worries. I do an indoor walking workout after work to get some steps in. Consistency doesn’t require you to give 100% every day, it just requires you to keep showing up.

I’m Valuing Joy First and Foremost

Joy is always a priority for me, but I take extra care to find it during the winter months when seasonal depression can creep in. With the holiday chaos, cold weather, and difficult emotions (like anxiety or grief) that winter can stir up, finding joy can feel impossible. This may be one of the reasons many are hopping on the Winter Arc bandwagon—keeping up with positive habits and moving our bodies can help with mood tremendously. However, I’ve learned that when I become too focused on achieving, I lose the very joy my habits are meant to bring. While there’s a time for hustle, it’s in the moments of stillness that joy finds us—and we must create those moments in a world that doesn’t slow down.

I make it my mission to search for slow, simple moments of joy each day, and create big moments of joy that will become core memories for years to come. The goal is to be intentional with joy as much as possible this season, which requires more slowness, less hustle, less tech, and more presence. And, yes, it may even require a skipped workout or an extra indulgence. I’ll take an extra morning snuggle with my spouse over obsessing about my morning workout–especially during the holiday season.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Caroline Sumlin, Contributing Writer

Caroline Sumlin is a writer, author, and content creator specializing in topics ranging from self-worth, wellness, society, and culture. She received her Bachelor of Arts degree in Journalism from Howard University in Washington, DC. Sumlin urges readers to reflect more deeply and critically about themselves, their lives, and the world around them.