The drift of the Winter Arc, the new anti-depression trend on TikTok

According to Gen Z, New Year's resolutions are outdated. Why wait for New Year's Day to set goals when you can do it (almost) anytime? Today, October 1st has become the new January 1st. The reason? The latest TikTok trend called “Winter Arc” encourages users to take on a three-month challenge to become “the best version of themselves” before the New Year, getting a head start on others. Popularized by content creator @carlyupgraded, the challenge involves following a set of more or less strict rules, such as waking up very early (around 5 a.m.), eating healthy, going to the gym 5-6 times a week, reading a book every day, sleeping 7-8 hours a night, and avoiding aimless social media scrolling—all with a focus on personal development. The goal is to “improve” not only physically but also spiritually and relationally. While most rules focus on lifestyle, some TikTokers also suggest working on inner self by avoiding unfulfilling dates or recognizing people-pleasing tendencies, for example.

Autumn and winter are typically slow periods, where colder temperatures tempt us to choose a Netflix night under a cozy blanket rather than sweating it out in the gym for an unwanted cardio session. But this is precisely what “Winter Arc” followers aim to counter. Instead of slowing down during winter, they want to take advantage of this time to adopt new habits and, in the process, ward off seasonal depression. The trend has grown so much that there’s even a preferred uniform for the most devoted: an oversized hoodie with a hood, projecting the image of someone hiding away and focusing strictly on their personal goals.

Some challenge supporters go so far as to encourage people to disconnect from the world, stopping the use of social media or going out for drinks with friends to rigorously focus on their goals. While the intentions behind the challenge are likely well-meaning, some criticize it for promoting a “perfect” life image that is unrealistic and guilt-inducing for those who fail to conform. This opinion is shared by some influencers who have posted sarcastic videos outlining their own Winter Arc rules, like @phoebeisginger1, who even suggests getting divorced or ending all romantic relationships for the winter.

Moreover, it’s important not to be fooled by this trend and the motivational speeches surrounding it, as some “gurus” see it as a financial opportunity to self-promote and sell their products. For example, Carly, the young life coach who boosted the winter challenge, offers her audience a downloadable ultimate wellness guide to perfect the Winter Arc. In a TikTok titled “Winter Arc, productive vlog” viewed more than 50,000 times, @lenalifts takes her followers through a typical day where she completes the various tasks she set for the challenge. In the video, while writing in her journal, she doesn’t hesitate to promote her own planner that she designed herself, available for purchase on her website. Like all social media content, caution is advised, and blindly following every trend would be unwise. Because let’s be honest, what’s better than a comforting raclette night—with no guilt—to warm up on winter evenings?