The Winter Arc

Butlers Naas

Get a head start on your goals before new year rolls around.. here are my tips to have the best winter arc ever.

One concept that has been making the rounds online lately is the winter arc. The whole winter arc concept is about using the cold, dark winter months to turn inwards and focus on yourself, getting a head start on your goals before the new year rolls around. Maybe it's that back to school feeling that sticks with you but to me September and October have the air of a fresh start and looking at the last quarter of the year as your chance to finish strong makes so much sense. 

Whatever it is you want to achieve, taking it on before the January gloom rolls around seems infinitely more appealing. There's so many different areas of your life you might be looking to overhaul or work on so why not take this opportunity to work on the things that matter to you.

Evaluate

We've all had that moment when we get inspired and want to overhaul our whole lives at 2am.  The problem with this is that we don't have the time, energy or money to do everything. So, evaluate which of the goals on your list will is a priority for you right now. Pick a maximum of three goals and be realistic about what you can achieve based on your current lifestyle and bandwidth. 

Focus

Once you have selected your goals, focus in on how you can take steps towards these daily. For example if your goal is to drink more water, increase the opportunities you have to drink it throughout the day. Cut out alternatives, carry a water bottle, have a water beside your bed etc. Whatever goal you choose, you need to be thinking of it daily in order to achieve it so set alarms on your phone as reminders, or put sticky notes or other visuals around to keep you on focused and on track.

Habit Stack

Habit stacking is a method for implementing new habits from the book Atomic Habits. The method involves adding new habits to the habits you already have. So in the case of drinking more water, maybe you have a glass before each meal. If you can find ways to fit your new habits into your existing routine, you're more likely to succeed and smash your goals this winter.