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What Is The Winter Arc?

As the year comes to a close, people tend to fall into one of two categories. Some embrace the dark nights and cold weather, choosing cosy evenings in and skipping the gym until January. After all, it’s not going anywhere.

Others keep up the consistency, hitting each push, pull and legs day without fail. It’s possible you’ve seen a lot of this second camp on your feed lately, proclaiming they are entering their “winter arc”.

Baffled? I was too. Thankfully, I’ve got all the answers to your questions in this useful explainer, including what it is, what it might involve and whether shaving your head is an absolutely necessary condition of it.

Jump to:

What is the winter arc?

The winter arc is basically an early new year’s resolution. It’s for those who don’t believe in waiting for January to make a change. Instead the beginning of October is the best time to make a change and bed in new habits.

The idea is that by the time January comes around, you’ll already be well ahead on your new routine while others are just getting started.

As with any trend, people are embracing the winter arc in different ways. Some are focusing on self-improvement — going to bed no later than 10:30pm, cutting out bad habits and prioritising mental health. Others are going a bit heavier — hitting the gym, prepping meals and staying on top of their protein intake.

Looking for somewhere to start?

50 Healthy Habits To Make Your Life Easier

All to make your life easier.

02/05/2024 By Myprotein

Should I enter my winter arc?

If you’re ready to make a change, there’s no need to wait until January. October is as good a time as any to get started.

But it is important to set realistic goals. Trying to make too many drastic changes at once is likely unsustainable, so focus on a few areas you’ve been meaning to improve.

Small, manageable goals are key, whether it’s hitting the gym three times a week, reaching 10,000 steps a day, or meal prepping every day.

For help setting manageable goals, try habit stacking...

Master Habit Stacking With 5 Simple Steps

A proven method for improving your daily routine.

What are the rules of the winter arc?

The winter arc doesn’t have a set list of rules — it varies, sometimes quite widely, on the individual.

Some go as far to suggest cutting off romantic relationships to focus on yourself, others recommend shaving your head to eliminate distractions.

Honestly, I’m not sure either is necessary. For me, the sensible approach is simply prioritising yourself and setting clear, actionable goals.

A few tips many seem to agree on include:

  • Set clear intentions
  • Create an action plan to achieve your goals
  • Prioritise yourself above everything else

Winter arc inspiration

If you need some inspiration or aren’t sure where to start, we’ve got you covered. Check out our Get Stronger, Build Muscle, Weight Management and the Fundamentals guides in our bundles for expert advice and tailored nutrition and training plans.

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Winter arc FAQs

What is the winter arc challenge?

For some, the winter arc is more about following small, manageable goals. Others are taking it further, challenging themselves to stick to strict “contracts”.

What are the rules of the winter arc?

There are no strict rules for the winter arc — it’s completely up to you. Some take it to extremes by cutting off social contacts, while others make simpler changes to focus on their own wellbeing. Ultimately, there’s no right or wrong approach.

Take home message

So what’s it gonna be? Will you enter your winter arc or save your resolutions until January? Whatever you decide, there’s no need to shave your head or become a hermit. Just set clear goals and focus on achieving them, and your winter arc should be a successful one.

 

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Emily Wilcock
Emily Wilcock Content Executive
After completing an internship with Myprotein, Emily returned to university to finish her Bachelor of Science degree in Business Management and Marketing. With experience in lifestyle writing, Emily aims to entertain and educate through her work. Her focuses include recipes, real and inspiring stories, and working with writers to help provide easy-to-digest evidence-based research. Her work on recipes has been previously featured in The Supplement magazine, with a particular focus on high-protein, nutritious meals, plus advice on how to properly fuel your body. Outside of work, Emily’s top priority is food. She’s a self-professed star baker and a connoisseur of all things baked. In her spare time, she’s either cooking up a storm, our looking out for the opportunity to try out Manchester’s newest restaurants. But as a huge fan of carbs, if it’s not pasta or pasta-adjacent, she’s not interested. If she’s not in the kitchen, she’s tucked up with a book for an early night, or you’ll find her in the gym working up a sweat. Afterall, all those carbs require quite the appetite.

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