If you’re on GymTok at all, you’ve probably heard of the iconic “winter arc.” This is particularly relevant among college students because, typically, everyone is off campus for winter break. This month off from school is filled with ambition and more free time than the semester offers. Many dub this period of time the “winter arc.” It’s a time to be consistent in the gym and to come back to campus as a better version of yourself. Just like any 20-year-old girl going through a breakup, I am in desperate need of a new distraction. My partner and I split up just days before winter break — talk about a rough finals week — and now I’m back at home with very little to do. What better way to spend my time than hitting the gym and bettering myself?
Naturally, I will be hopping on this trend. However, I want to make my own addenda to it. Wellness and lifestyle videos on TikTok can often promote toxic ideas of fitness or health. I want to make sure I am not falling into the rabbit hole of short-term diet culture or unrealistic expectations. As if going through a breakup isn’t enough, I don’t want to make myself more miserable with an unachievable trend. I’ve been gathering inspiration from social media accounts to see how other people define and construct their own winter arcs.
So, here’s how I’m constructing my winter arc plan according to my own fitness goals and a long-term healthy lifestyle.
Setting Goals
First things first. Let’s talk about goals. My hope for this winter arc is to create healthy habits that I can carry with me into the Spring semester. I hope to:
- Lower my screen time
- Run 5-6 times a week
- Gym 3 times a week
- Invest in my hobbies
- Keep a journal
These are reasonable, achievable goals for me. I didn’t want to pick anything that would feel too out of reach, as I get discouraged by setbacks that can come with overly ambitious ideas. With these general goals, I can only exceed my expectations. I don’t see myself running or working out more than what I outlined above, but I can definitely stay consistent with that schedule as it is. To keep myself accountable, I created a spreadsheet to organize all of my runs and workouts. I made sure to check the hours of the gym and track, and also took into account holidays where I may not feel as motivated or able to get those workouts done.
Investing in my hobbies and lowering my screen time go hand-in-hand with one another. During the Fall semester of college, it can be very difficult to do the hobbies you used to love. Academics, work, and tightly packed schedules take over. I love music and playing the piano. I even used to write songs to sing and play. During the school year, I rarely have the time or energy to enjoy music the way I want to. The first two years of college, I didn’t even have access to a piano or keyboard. At home, I have plenty of time to spend with my keyboard. I cannot wait to refresh my memory on some old tunes, and hopefully some new ones too!
I am also an avid reader. However, my reading during the school year is mostly assigned, and I find very little energy to read for pleasure beyond that. For winter break, I bought myself the newest Hunger Games book, Sunrise on the Reaping. With no assigned readings to worry about, I’m hoping this brings back the true joy of reading for pleasure.
I will attempt to keep a journal throughout my winter arc journey. It will help me hold myself accountable, and give me something to look back on afterwards. My hope is that a journal entry will help keep me grounded and force me to create space for mental health throughout this time.
Beyond the goals I outlined above, I will also be treating myself to some other self-care activities. I booked hair, tattoo, and nail appointments. These are things I always enjoy getting done, but rarely make time for throughout the semester. I hope a fresh set of nails and newly colored hair will help me feel refreshed and confident to take on the Spring semester. The tattoo appointment is more of a treat to me, because I’ve been wanting a third tattoo for some time now. This is my way of investing in myself. It’s a sort of reward for taking the time to work on myself in every department.
However, with all of these major appointments and a detailed workout program, I want to ensure I’m not burning myself out. That’s why I’ve made sure to have some face masks and other spa items handy! I bought some whitening strips for my teeth and a new face scrub. These little self-care items make me feel pampered every day. They are quick and easy, and don’t take too much effort.
I think it’s the canon to want to go through some major transformation after a break-up. It’s not that I feel any less confident in myself, but doing these self-care and self-improvement activities make me feel like the best version of myself. Going to the gym and exercising has always brought me joy, so to me, this is just a focused effort on something I already love. I foresee a couple of major challenges to my winter arc. The biggest is the winter weather that keeps me indoors. I will also be spending a week in Florida with my grandparents, so it may be difficult to find a gym and work around a more vacation-oriented schedule, but I am nothing if not determined. I am excited to take the time to truly focus on myself and to come back to campus feeling stronger, happier, and healthier.
That’s all for now, I’m off to the gym! I hope you enjoyed my take on the “winter arc,” and I look forward to reviewing my journey, come the Spring semester.