The Great Lock In: 2025’s Reset Trend For Self-Improvement

Written by Amy Alexander , edited by Eliza Plunkett

Self-improvement.

This phenomenon has taken the world by storm and interested not just the health fanatics, but another wave of Gen-Zs who want to buy into the latest craze. From 5 a.m morning routines, to breathing exercises, to extravagant facials, self-improvement and wellness trends have given people an outlet to de-stress and feel invigorated. “Locking-in” is another Gen-Z trend which has taken the internet by storm. Cue the thousands of TikTok videos all about it. Just in time for the autumn season, we’re buying planners and new stationery, beginning the ascent to achieving our own goals. Mass consumerism, an occurring trend many of us buy into like clockwork each year, seeks to perpetuate these high standards of “goal-achieving”. Perhaps we should make an effort to reduce our consumerist habits, especially in an age of climate change and the cost of living crisis. We don’t need to be buying expensive notebooks and planners. Vision boards, early mornings, and feel-good routines that work for us make it easier to “lock in” and be productive in this new phase of the year.

Another day, another trend. For those who have amassed hours and hours of screen time, “Locking-in” is a phrase used to combat excessive phone/social media usage. The Institute of Practitioners in Advertising (IPA) estimated that over-15 year olds spend an average of 7.5 hours each day partaking in screen-based activities, an increase of an hour since a decade ago. Our social media feeds have become convoluted; people are spending longer making or consuming content than they are focused on their own lives outside of the screen. “Locking-in” involves not just spending less time on social media. It also promotes goal-setting: personal, professional, and academic.

What’s In A Reset?

Self-development has been a formative trend in the new age of social media. In the early days of the pandemic, there was a ubiquitous correlation between increased social media usage and an interest in wellness and self-development routines. Millions turned to the internet and to social media platforms like TikTok for wellness advice and solutions to curb the incessant habit of high screen times. The autumn season is a reset and reminds us of a new academic year; the awe and wonder of a collective longing for healthy habits and re-invention.

As the year draws to a close, taking action feels more desirable especially when so many others are on similar journeys. There are online forums solely dedicated to the “locking-in” trend where people hold others accountable and give words of encouragement. What was designed as a self-improvement trend has formed into a community of people affirming and supporting each other. 

Two Ways To “Lock-In”

Encourage Healthy Habits

Having a routine that works for you is incredibly important. It is also crucial to set goals that feel achievable that you will be proud of. If your goal is to read more books, setting a goal to read one book a month is a great start. Waking up earlier (if you are a morning person) and starting your day with a workout or just simply listening to music with a coffee will set you up for a more aligned and productive day.

Set App Blocks For Your Phone 

There are many apps that allow you to restrict time-usage or block access to the social media platforms you tend to overuse. This may be particularly useful for the evenings and weekends when you want to spend more time with friends or focus on the hobbies you enjoy. Being offline during the day can give you the much needed mental clarity to focus and “lock-in” on the tasks on your to-do list. Your life doesn’t need to revolve around consuming content; your digital space should reflect the lifestyle you want to have. If you’re into meditation, apps such as Headspace and Happier are great for starting the day off right. There are also many productivity apps, such as: Notion and AppBlock that can help you achieve your Autumn goals. 

September is an optimal time to get clear on the goals you’d like to achieve by the end of the year. “Locking-in” and being more focused can inspire you to stay on track, but it is important to have a full life outside of goal-achieving. Wellness and self-development trends come and go, and this is no different. As the sequel to last year's “Winter Arc”, it has taken shape and transformed itself into being self-optimised and encouraging for many. We should, however, be mindful of how all-consuming these trends can become. The more productivity videos you watch on TikTok or Reels, the more likely you are to feel overwhelmed and start over-comparing your routine to someone else’s perfectly curated life. This is not a positive way of thinking, nor should it be normalised. Taking time away from social media is necessary. 

Self-improvement doesn’t have to be void of joy and fun; it doesn’t involve sitting at a desk for hours on end working. It’s meant to be personal and flexible. There’s a lot of pressure to be productive and wise with our time in the current social climate we live in, and trends that perpetuate this should be taken with a grain of salt. Many creators online see “locking-in” as a mindset; when productivity strikes, it’s a call to be focused and centered in your tasks and goals.