By October, many have given up on their “New Years goals,” so what better way to get ahead of everyone and start mastering your 2026 goals & resolutions now! The “Winter Arc” is a trend (mainly found on social media) that involves using the last three months of the year to get a head start on self-improvement goals before the new year. New Year’s resolutions might seem daunting because many come up with many they want to put in action all at once and this isn’t always feasible. By doing a Winter Arc prior to the new year, you can set yourself up for success by developing new healthy habits and self-improvement early on! Being in college is stressful and with mid terms happening in October and November, it can sometimes be hard making time for yourself, your wellness and self-improvement. For this reason, it’s important to start small with your goals! What are some simple goals that are easy to implement into your life you ask? Don’t worry, I made a list to help you out!
Simple Winter Arc Goals:
- Drink more water (there are SO many benefits of increasing your water intake- clearer skin, better gut health/digestion, more energy, etc!)
- Aim for 7-8 hours of sleep (you can’t do your best if you don’t feel your best!)
- Explore journaling (even if it’s just a few sentences each day, journaling can boost your mood and is a great form of self care!)
- Set aside time each week to clean your room (a messy room can create a messy mind- stay tidy!)
- Get all homework done for the week by Saturday night (it’s important to have a rest day and Sunday’s are the perfect day to reset before the week ahead!)
Now Onto More challenging goals!:
- Go to the gym 4-5 times a week (staying active is a great way to both make time for yourself and becoming healthier!)
- Eliminate sweets (I’ll admit, this one is a hard one for me… Living on campus can get difficult when it comes to eating healthy since there aren’t many options)
- Screen time limit (try and avoid excessive screen time and try to spend that time picking up new hobbies!)
- Read (whether it’s 10 pages or 1 hour, reading takes your mind to another world, which can be beneficial for you to become more creative and even escape your reality!)
- Aim for 8-10k steps a day (outside or on a treadmill, there are ENDLESS benefits of walking!)
Being the healthiest version of you that makes you feel good is so important and developing healthier habits brings you one step closer to living the “that girl” lifestyle. During this time it’s important to not compare yourself to others. Just because someone might run a mile a day doesn’t mean that just because you only try to incorporate journaling into your life, that is is any less of a task or accomplishment! Become the best version of yourself TODAY, not tomorrow. Start small and make it happen. Quit making excuses, your time is now!