The "Great Lock-In" trend has taken social media by storm, where people are using autumn's slowdown to tighten routines, build healthy habits, and reset before the holidays begin. This fall, many individuals are turning over a new leaf well ahead of January, aiming to make positive changes in their lives.
Experts recommend starting small and setting realistic goals. Laurie Singer, a licensed psychotherapist and behavior analyst, suggests identifying what you truly want to achieve and then breaking it down into manageable tasks. "The act of achieving a goal, no matter how small, propels us forward," she said. Starting with small, attainable, and realistic objectives can be the key to success.
Lauren Harris-Pincus, a registered dietitian nutritionist, emphasizes the importance of focusing on progress rather than perfection. She advises committing to simple and achievable habits, such as adding one serving of produce per meal or scheduling workouts like appointments. "We are all human. Life happens, and it's essential to give ourselves grace when it comes to our own self-judgment and evaluation of success," she said.
Another expert, Marc Santa Maria, vice president of group fitness at Crunch Fitness in New York, stresses the need to pace oneself and avoid burnout. He recommends starting with two or three 30-minute sessions a week, opting for something simple and enjoyable like walking or stretching, and gradually increasing challenge and accountability. "Meeting yourself where you are" is crucial to avoiding burnout and ensuring long-term success.
To make habits stick beyond the season, Harris-Pincus suggests anchoring goals in real life. Selecting a single nutrition habit, such as meal prepping, can lead to significant changes over time. Experts emphasize the importance of prioritizing sleep when life gets busy, as consistent, sufficient rest is crucial for the body's recovery.
Finally, finding others who share similar interests and lifestyle goals can provide support and reinforcement. Singer advises engaging in activities that brought you to where you are today, rather than abandoning them.
Experts recommend starting small and setting realistic goals. Laurie Singer, a licensed psychotherapist and behavior analyst, suggests identifying what you truly want to achieve and then breaking it down into manageable tasks. "The act of achieving a goal, no matter how small, propels us forward," she said. Starting with small, attainable, and realistic objectives can be the key to success.
Lauren Harris-Pincus, a registered dietitian nutritionist, emphasizes the importance of focusing on progress rather than perfection. She advises committing to simple and achievable habits, such as adding one serving of produce per meal or scheduling workouts like appointments. "We are all human. Life happens, and it's essential to give ourselves grace when it comes to our own self-judgment and evaluation of success," she said.
Another expert, Marc Santa Maria, vice president of group fitness at Crunch Fitness in New York, stresses the need to pace oneself and avoid burnout. He recommends starting with two or three 30-minute sessions a week, opting for something simple and enjoyable like walking or stretching, and gradually increasing challenge and accountability. "Meeting yourself where you are" is crucial to avoiding burnout and ensuring long-term success.
To make habits stick beyond the season, Harris-Pincus suggests anchoring goals in real life. Selecting a single nutrition habit, such as meal prepping, can lead to significant changes over time. Experts emphasize the importance of prioritizing sleep when life gets busy, as consistent, sufficient rest is crucial for the body's recovery.
Finally, finding others who share similar interests and lifestyle goals can provide support and reinforcement. Singer advises engaging in activities that brought you to where you are today, rather than abandoning them.
just started getting into all this whole "Great Lock-In" thing myself and I'm loving it 
. I mean, who doesn't want to make positive changes in their life? 
for me, starting small is key - like setting a goal to drink more water or something. And yeah, perfection is overrated 
. Lauren Harris-Pincus makes total sense with that one. I've been trying to meal prep more and it's made such a big difference in my eating habits 
. Also, prioritizing sleep is like, totally essential 
. I'm definitely gonna try some of these tips out and see how it goes 
i feel like people r finally wakin up 2 themselves & their lives! this great lock-in trend is all about self-love & takin care of ourselves. it's not about bein perfect, but about makin progress & bein kind 2 ourselves along the way 
. i love how experts r emphaasizin the importance of startin small & set realistic goals, so we dont feel overwhelmed or burnt out 
. and its so true, finding ppl who share similar interests & lifestyle goals can b a game changer! we should be celebratin our wins, no matter how small they may seem 
So like I was reading this article about the whole "Great Lock-In" thing and I gotta say, I'm a little skeptical about it all... 
Don't get me wrong, it's great that people are trying to make positive changes in their lives, but let's be real, some of these experts sound way too... wholesome 
. I mean, setting realistic goals and giving yourself grace? Sounds like a bunch of touchy-feely nonsense to me 
. Can't we just be a little more honest with ourselves about our struggles and imperfections? I mean, who are these experts to tell us how to live our lives and what's "achievable" for us?
.
i mean idk if u've noticed but suddenly every single social media post is like "let's get healthy" or "new year new me"... and honestly it's all just a bit too much for me. 
. and can we pls prioritize sleep already?! 
u gotta love how people r gettin into all these healthy habits 
ahead of the holidays! its like we r tryna reset our minds before the whole festive season gets crazy lol 
anyway experts say start small & set achievable goals like adding a serve of veggies to ur meals or just 30 mins of walkin each day that sounds doable to me 
and if u r feelin overwhelmed just remember it's all about progress not perfection u can't pour from an empty cup so prioritize sleep & self care too 
I love how people are getting ahead of the holiday season by making positive changes now 
. It's all about finding balance and being kind to ourselves - we're not expected to be perfect 
. Starting small and setting realistic goals is key, and it sounds like the experts have some solid advice 
. And let's be real, sleep is essential 
. Having a support system of friends or family who share similar goals can make all the difference too 
. No need to rush into anything - it's about progress, not perfection 
people should stop trying to be perfect, just make small changes that feel good 1 day at a time 
. Setting realistic goals and starting small is the way to go, imo 
. I mean, who hasn't tried to make drastic changes on January 1st only to give up by mid-February? 
. Like, if you start meal prepping or scheduling workouts, it becomes a part of your routine and can lead to lasting change 
. And don't even get me started on the importance of self-care and rest 
. It's all about finding that balance and being kind to yourself along the way 
.
! And hey, it's okay to not have everything figured out right away 
.
. Like, I get it, we all wanna be healthier and more productive, but can't they just make these changes a bit more realistic? 
. Can't we just aim for progress without beating ourselves up over every little slip-up?