Free Editable Canva Habit Tracker Template For The Great Lock-In

While scrolling Instagram at 2AM this week, I came across the trending term “The Great Lock In.” What does this entail? Curiosity piqued!

My mind went immediately to thinking maybe we collectively have decided to stay home for the last quarter of the year… a challenge my introverted heart can definitely get behind!

But alas, that is NOT what this movement is referring to. Still, it is worth taking a minute to share in case you haven’t heard the term yet.

What is The Great Lock In (Or Winter Arc)?

To put it simply, this is a year-end challenge to recommit to yourself and your goals and put yourself at the top of your priority list to help yourself finish this year feeling accomplished.

Similar to other trendy challenges (think 75 Hard or the Last 90 Days), this is a time specific push to hold yourself accountable for doing all the things you’ve been saying you want to do – but haven’t.

I’ve also seen this referred to as the “Winter Arc” which I don’t love because Winter doesn’t really start in my mind until December! But… just know that these terms seem to be interchangable.

What Makes The Great Lock In Unique?

Based on my understanding, this challenge is a little bit different than some of the ones I mentioned earlier because it is more open ended.

For example, 75 Hard is really rigid. I tried that for like 3 days and failed. At first I kind of beat myself up about it but then I realized… it wasn’t really in alignment with my personal goals anyway. So why was I trying to force myself into doing something that didn’t necessarily meet me where I was?

“The Great Lock In” just means you identify a goal you’ve been wanting to accomplish:

• Starting a business
• Writing a book
• Losing Weight
• Improving Your Mental Health
• Quitting a Bad Habit

Then identify the actions and behaviors that will help you achieve that goal- and lock in to repeating those things daily from now until the end of the year.

How To Set Your Goals For A Successful Great Lock In (Or Winter Arc)

Basic wisdom in terms of setting goals suggests that your focus behaviors should be SMART:

• Specific
• Measurable
• Attainable/Achievable
• Relevant
• Time-Based

Step 1: Identify a Specific Focus Area

If you have a few different things you’re working on that’s great! But in order to be truly locked in, it’s best to choose ONE area of focus and then break it down into specific daily behaviors that will help you move the needle there.

For example, I am working on my health and I am trying to be more consistent with my housework and I want to blog weekly.

But if I try to focus on ALL of that I know I will burn out and probably not accomplish any of it.

Instead, I might choose a single, SPECIFIC goal: Lose 10 lbs. by New Years.

Step 2: Pick 5 (Or Fewer) Supporting Behaviors

Your daily habits for the Great Lock In (Or Winter Arc) should be small measurable, attainable, and relevant actions that help support your selected goal.

Would running 5 miles a day would help me get to my 10 pound weight loss goal? Absolutely! But will that be something I can actually commit to for the next 4 months? Heck no! I know from experience that it just won’t happen for me. But 3 miles 3 days a week? Or an outdoor walk 5 days a week? Those would both be attainable supporting behaviors.

Make sure the behaviors you select are truly relevant as well… if I’m trying to focus on losing weight I should focus on diet, exercise, water, etc. Although “no phone scrolling” is a great goal that I’d like to work on, it might be better to focus on that behavior at a later time as it does not directly impact the goal I selected.

Here are some examples of what goals and corresponding daily behaviors might look like:

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Goal: Start a Business

Daily Behavior Examples

• Wake Up 1 Hour Early Daily To Work On Business
• Listen to 1 Industry Podcast Daily or 20 Minutes Of Related Reading
• Daily Social Media Scheduled Time
• Weekly Blog Post Schedule
• X Number of Emails/Calls To Potential Clients

Goal: Improve Mental Health

Daily Behavior Examples

• Daily Outdoor Walk
• No Social Media
• 20 Minutes A Day On A New Hobby
• Connect With A Friend or Family Member
• Gratitude Journaling

Goal: Cleaner House

Daily Behavior Examples

• 15-Minute AM/PM Decluttering Session
• Make The Bed
• 1 Load of Laundry
• Clear Kitchen Counters
• Follow Weekly Cleaning Checklist

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These are just some ideas to get you going! Take a minute to identify your goal and brainstorm a list of ways to help you meet that goal.

Tip: If you’re feeling stuck, log into Chat GPT. Try this prompt:

I would like to complete the Great Lock in over the next 4 months. My specific goal will be to (insert your specific goal) by New Year’s eve. Please help me generate a list of small, measurable actions that I can check off my list daily to help me meet that goal.

Step 3: Commit and Track!

Once you have narrowed your Great Lock In goal and behaviors, it’s time to find a good habit tracker to help you record your progress, stay motivated, and hit those goals!

I created a version of this tracker for the Last 90 Days challenge a few years ago and it is my most downloaded free resource.

I could have made another printable habit tracker for The Great Lock In, but because everyone’s goals and challenges will be so different, I decided a free editable Canva habit tracker template would be more useful to you.

You can get the link to the Canva template by clicking here. You can edit the colors, title, and daily actions by as shown in the video below ↓

Will you Be Jumping on the Great Lock In Trend?

I’m curious what goals you are wanting to focus on right now… care to share your thoughts?