12 December 2025

Why’s everyone ‘locking in’ – and should you?

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‘Locking-in’ means focusing fully on your goals to maximise the final four months of the year.

Have you ever heard of the “Great Lock-In”?

If you’ve scrolled through social media recently, chances are you’ve seen people talking about it. It’s a new challengethat started in September 2025 and runs until the end of December. The idea is simple enough: cut out distractions and focus on your goals to make the last four months of the year count.

This challenge has struck a chord with people who are tired of feeling scattered and unproductive – especially after realising, somewhere around August, that those shiny New Year’s resolutions have begun to collect dust.

At its core, the Great Lock-In is about commitment. The idea is to choose just a few key areas to work on and build routines over these 121 days (fewer days now that we are in December, of course). The flexibility is its biggest appeal: unlike rigid programmes with one set of rules for everyone, people define their own “lock-in” habits. This makes it feel personal and adds motivation.

The execution of the challenge varies largely among its participants: some are taking it to extremes – deleting every social app, waking up at 5am, journalling, hitting the gym, etc.

Others are doing softer versions – enforcing no-scroll mornings, stopping the procrastination or trying to eat healthier.

Why I actually get it

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Honestly? I think it makes sense. September comes, summer’s over, and suddenly we realise that half the year has slipped by. The Great Lock-In is based on the late-year anxiety we all get – the urge to reclaim control by the end of December.

In many ways, it’s a catch-up season for our New Year’s resolutions. All those goals we established back in January – to get in shape, save money or finally learn that one skill. These goals suddenly feel achievable again. It’s like one last chance to rewrite this year before it’s over or at least try to convince yourself you did something productive or tried to. It gives the year kind of a redemption arc.

I also love that it’s community-driven, that people share their efforts online. There’s something motivating about seeing other people put in the work. When you watch someone actually follow through – hit the gym, study, build – it makes you want to get your act together too.

The pitfalls

The same intensity that makes the Great Lock-In exciting also makes it dangerous. Experts already warn that the challenge can slide into perfectionism or burnout. When people treat every day like a test, missing one habit feels like failure – which is exactly how burnout starts.

And the irony is hard to ignore: it’s supposed to be about digital discipline, yet most people are documenting their ‘disconnection’ on social media.

Some creators are even monetising it with affiliate links, while brands are using it as an excuse to promote their products.

Should you do it?

I think it’s worth trying – but only if you do it on your own terms. You don’t need a 5am wake-up call or a super-strict routine to make it count. I suggest picking one or two things you actually care about, the stuff you keep saying you’ll get to ‘when life slows down’. Cut one distraction that’s been eating your time. And most importantly, do it for yourself, without turning it into spectacle online.

If the Great Lock-In becomes a way to reset and to finish the year feeling proud instead of worn out, great. But if it turns into another source of stress and pressure, it’s missing the point. Do it because it makes your life feel a little clearer – not because everyone else is posting about how “locked in” they are.

Written by:

Sofia Vorobei

Culture Section Editor 2026

Vergel, Spain

I’m Sofia Vorobei, with a passion for quality cinema. It all started when I was around eight. While watching one of those Nickelodeon sitcoms, I couldn’t stop thinking about how fun it must be for the actors and how I wished I could be part of something like that. Ever since then, I’ve wanted my life to have something to do with it. I’ve wanted to act, create, write, direct…

In middle school, however, my perception of that changed. I wasn’t eight anymore, and I understood that this path is an uphill battle. It’s demanding, messy, and a bit like a lottery: you either get very lucky and win, or you don’t.

Still, that realisation didn’t push me away from my dream; it was simply a reality check. I began to understand that passion alone isn’t enough — it takes hard work and making the most of every resource available, while continuing to improve without rushing the process. The industry may be unpredictable, but I believe that if you truly put everything into something, it has a way of standing out.

I was born in 2009 in Kyiv, Ukraine, and moved to Vergel, Spain, near Valencia, in 2020.

I joined Harbingers’ Magazine in the summer of 2023 and have since written about the intersections of culture, creativity and society. My work with the magazine led to my appointment as Culture Section Editor in March 2025.

I also serve as Afghanistan Newsroom Editor, roles I continue to hold in 2026, helping shape the magazine’s cultural coverage and coordinate reporting within the newsroom.

I speak Ukrainian, Spanish, English and Russian.

Edited by:

Lola Kadas

Editor-in-Chief 2026

Budapest, Hungary

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