The Great Lock-In
Fad or the Future of Personal Development?
There's a new trend called the "Great Lock-In," and I hope it becomes more than just another internet fad.
I've always been fascinated by personal development. The idea that you can control your destiny by selecting the right habits and following through is compelling. The world isn't fair, but personal development provides a reassuring illusion of control.
The most potent manifestation of this is New Year's resolutions. But serious people don't wait for New Year's—they start early. Research from the University College London says it takes 66 days on average to form a habit. If you want to start the year with your new habit already established, theoretically you should begin on October 27th. That gives you 66 days to lock it in before January 1st.
The Great Lock-In takes this further. This trend says start at back-to-school time—September 1st. Get four months of reps in, so by January 1st, the train already has momentum. I fucking love this! Instead of getting 66 days of practice, you get 120 days. If you can actually maintain your habit for 120 days, you'll make significant progress.
All this runway allows for human error. You can mess up and restart without the crushing pressure of a "perfect January." Most people cave under that pressure.
When I wanted to get back in shape at the end of 2022, I did my own mini lock-in. I committed to Orange Theory three times per week throughout December. This way, when January rolled around, I already had a routine. The approach worked well for me. I missed days, but perfection wasn't the point. The point was to get ready for 2023—to start my fitness journey strong.
I went to 10 of the 13 classes I'd planned that December. The previous month, I'd gone to 4 classes. In October, 6 classes. September, 7. But in January 2023? I hit 13 classes. This approach worked. It started the journey to my first half marathon in September 2023 and my first full marathon in September 2024.
Internet trends tend to be cringe, and the pressure to develop perfect habits is exhausting. But the Great Lock-In is a sound approach because it's gradual and allows room for error.
Who could you be in 2026 if you started working on it now?