Skip The Winter Arc: Although the appeal of discipline is tempting, the winter arc, a fitness-and-lifestyle-fixing social media trend, isn’t worth trying

The winter arc is here. Time to lock in. To rise from the ashes of the bitter, gray winter months with a new toned figure, manifested from a disciplined workout routine. To surprise everyone in the new year as a new and improved man.

The winter arc — a new male-centric social media trend where participants grind through the winter months in search of self-improvement — thanks to its tendency to be taken a little too far.

A checklist found on the SubReddit, r/getdisciplined outlines some general rules for your winter arc.

Work hard. Study hard. Save money. No girls. Reject all social events with no purpose for three months. Drink only water. Workout 5-6 times a week,” a Reddit user said.

This trend turns self-progression into a fantastical storyline. Everyone except the main character is antagonized and ignored. Human interaction is a winter arc no-no, and relationships are an even bigger threat to the arc. Distractions are not necessary.   

Listen, I’ll admit some of this is objectively good advice, like the idea of studying and building better habits, but we’ve all heard our moms say “everything is good in moderation” and I think it’s time for some of us to listen to that advice.

winter arcs have unattainable goals with absolutely no moderation. You’re seriously telling me that you’re going to wake up at 5:00 a.m. and do calisthenics in your room and down two inedible protein shakes for the “bulk?” Get a grip. 

Bettering yourself is a great goal to have, but planning to build a few years’ worth of habits in a three month span is completely ludicrous. Everyone who attempts the winter arc is doomed to fail.

Gym influencers perpetuate these trends and create perfect traps for unsuspecting young men and boys to fall into. These posts are just close enough to young mens’ reality to appear within their reach — like influencers getting over heartbreak by working out — but that’s their job.

Rather than get on your winter arc, turn off your phone and go outside. Stop being so concerned with expectations to isolate yourself and just meet your goals on your own time.

I love working out and find it as a great way to feel better about myself while giving my mind a break. Regardless, I’m still not going to post myself working out in a low-exposure gym edit with a trending TikTok sound. 

While the winter arc has potential, the social isolation and depressive feeling of it all dims my interest. Can we please all stop acting like the world is ending because one minor incident left you heartbroken? A much more effective way to achieve long term goals is to give yourself more time and not completely cut out all enjoyable aspects of life. 

Self-improvement doesn’t have to be a lonely three month ordeal. Value your family and close friends over the holidays, find activities outside of your regiment that bring you joy and maybe take the winter arc off of your holiday break plans.