As we approach the final quarter of 2025, there's a powerful movement taking over TikTok and social media platforms that's changing how people approach their year-end goals. The great lock-in is a term used to describe a period of time where people put their goals front and center, and "lock in" what they will need to do to accomplish them. This isn't your typical New Year's resolution wait-until-January approach – this is about seizing the remaining 121 days of the year and making them count.
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Essential Rules for Your Great Lock In 2025
While the trend emphasizes personal customization, TikTokers like privttalex2.0 have created a pretty solid blueprint for the most important things to remember. These include prioritizing a certain amount of sleep each day, a hydration goal, and an ideal number of trips to the gym each week.
The Foundation Rules
Rule #1: Define Your Non-Negotiables Start with 3-5 daily habits that will anchor your routine. These might include:
- A specific sleep schedule (7-9 hours recommended)
- Daily hydration goals (often 8-10 glasses of water)
- Regular exercise commitment (commonly 3-4 gym sessions per week)
- Consistent meal timing and preparation
Rule #2: Eliminate the Obstacles Some additional rules that appear on many lock-in lists include cutting out some popular no-nos, like drugs, alcohol, smoking, sugar, and fast food. The key is identifying what specifically derails your progress and creating boundaries around those triggers.
Rule #3: Customize Based on Your Goals Your personal rules may change, especially if your goals are less physical in nature. For example, hitting the gym three times a week and cutting fast food may not be a high priority for someone who wants to use the great lock-in to finally finish writing their book.
Advanced Lock-In Strategies
Rule #4: Track Your Progress Visually Unlike some challenges that require daily photos, The Great Lock In encourages whatever tracking method keeps you accountable – whether that's journaling, apps, or simple checklists.
Rule #5: Build Momentum Through Small Wins "The Great Lock In is encouraging us to set goals, stick to routines. Marathon runners don't start by running 26.2 miles; they start small and keep going." Focus on consistency over perfection.
Rule #6: Create Your Focus Environment "Lock in" means eliminating distractions and creating an environment that supports your goals. This might mean:
- Curating your social media feeds to show inspiring content
- Organizing your physical space to support your habits
- Setting boundaries with people or activities that drain your energy
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How The Great Lock In Differs from Other Trends
Versus 75 Hard Challenge: There are some similarities between the Great Lock-In and the 75 Hard Challenge, which takes place over just 75 days instead of the 121 days that people are doing in 2025. According to Women's Health, the 75 Hard Challenge focuses more on mental discipline and resilience. Some of the rules of this challenge include following a strict diet (also sans alcohol), working out twice a day, and taking progress photos of yourself every day for 75 days.
The Great Lock In offers more flexibility and personalization, making it potentially more sustainable for long-term lifestyle changes rather than short-term discipline challenges.
Sample Lock-In Plans by Goal Type
For Physical Transformation
- Wake up at 6 AM daily
- Gym 4x per week minimum
- Meal prep every Sunday
- No alcohol or processed foods
- 10,000 steps daily
- 8 hours of sleep nightly
For Creative/Professional Goals
- 2 hours of focused work daily before checking phone
- No social media during work hours
- Read 30 minutes daily in your field
- Network with one new person weekly
- Eliminate time-wasting activities after 8 PM
- Weekly progress reviews every Sunday
For Mental Health & Wellness
- 10-minute daily meditation or mindfulness
- Journal three things you're grateful for daily
- Limited news consumption (15 minutes max)
- One outdoor activity daily
- Regular sleep and wake times
- Weekly digital detox periods
Making Your Lock-In Sustainable
Start Small: Don't try to overhaul your entire life on day one. Pick 2-3 key habits and build from there.
Plan for Obstacles: Identify your usual pitfalls and create specific strategies for handling them.
Find Your Tribe: Many people turn to the platform when they're looking for different ideas on how to become more intentional or focused, which has allowed for some really great goal-setting trends to be born. Connect with others doing their own Great Lock In for accountability and support.
Measure What Matters: Focus on metrics that align with your specific goals rather than copying someone else's rules exactly.
The Bottom Line
The Great Lock In 2025 isn't about perfection – it's about intention. If you're looking for a way to close out 2025 strong and accomplish all of the things you'd hoped to do during the year, this trend offers a structured yet flexible framework for making the most of your remaining time.
Rather than waiting for January 1st to start fresh, why not use these final months to build momentum, establish powerful routines, and enter 2026 already ahead of the game? The Great Lock In recognizes that transformation doesn't wait for perfect timing – it happens when you decide to lock in and commit to the person you want to become.
Remember: your lock-in rules should serve your goals, not the other way around. Make them challenging enough to create growth, but realistic enough to maintain consistency. After all, the best plan is the one you can actually stick to.
Ready to start your Great Lock In 2025? The clock is ticking, and your future self is waiting.
