Why everyone you know is locking in

When I stumbled upon a TikTok that began with, “If you are participating in the Great Lock In of 2025, this is how you’re going to stay consistent,” I thought I might be late to a weird, pandemic-reminiscent challenge encouraging people to stay in their houses. As I kept watching, I learned that it was, in fact, quite the opposite. The Great Lock In referred not to people literally locking themselves into anything, but rather metaphorically “locking in” (Gen Z speak for focusing on something) to achieve a goal, and it’s doing the rounds on TikTok. Instead of committing to a goal quietly or making a New Year’s resolution like our ancestors once did, the Great Lock In is all about broadcasting your journey. Because what’s the point of achieving a goal if no one else knows you’ve achieved a goal?

The Lock In joins the ranks of other self-betterment challenges like 75Hard — where people trade sugar, alcohol, junk food and the like for a strict exercise regime and other means of self-improvement, like reading, in pursuit of better health, fitness and the chance to tell everyone they’re doing 75Hard. But where the Lock In differs from its goal-setting, mind-shifting predecessors is that it’s not exclusively focused on health — it’s supposed to be about holistic improvement, whatever that looks like for its participants. 

What Exactly Is The Great Lock In Of 2025?

Commencing on September 1, 2025, the Lock In encourages participants to set a goal (maybe two) and between then and December 31, work towards it. If it sounds a lot like a New Year’s resolution, that’s because it essentially is. But because it’s a glossy new TikTok trend, there are fewer associations with failure…for now. 

Content creators (most of which, it’s worth noting, don’t have formal qualifications in areas like psychology or behavioural sciences that give them authority to provide advice about self-improvement) are really capitalising on the trend, with a slew of videos educating people on how to stay motivated and consistent on their Locked In journey. “If you haven’t already, clean your home, clean out your fridge, refresh your energy,” one user, Nicola Varlamos, instructs viewers. “Step one,” says another creator, Kadie Glenn, “start small with actions that you can consistently show up for.” Glenn is so invested in helping people fully immerse themselves in the challenge that she’s gone a step further, starting a TikTok series called The Locked In Blueprint. It’s all very self-helpy, which is great if that’s what you’re into, but it does beg the question: who is actually benefiting from this whole Lock In thing?

How Effective Is Something Like ‘The Lock In’, Really?

“Many people are drawn to structured challenges because they provide scaffolding for motivation,” explains psychologist Bec McWilliam. “The structure taps into behavioural psychology principles (such as reinforcement and accountability), while also creating a sense of belonging through shared struggle and community.” What could be a better bonding experience than struggling through four months of reduced screen time or a sugar-free diet with your partner? 

The effectiveness of a challenge like the Great Lock In, though, is less about the challenge itself and more about the way people approach it. “Structured challenges can be helpful for some people as they provide clarity, accountability, and momentum toward goals,” says McWilliam. If you’re the kind of person who thrives off routine and consistency, maybe a goal-setting challenge that keeps you accountable will, in fact, work. 

Others, though, might find it stifling. “Their rigid and inflexible approach can create unnecessary pressure or shame if someone struggles to keep up,” McWilliam notes. “Challenges have been shown to be most effective when used flexibly and adapted to individual needs.” What that might look like for one person is probably going to be pretty different from what it looks like for another, which is where the “rules” disseminated by Tikokers can make the whole thing a little dangerous.

Posts Or It Didn’t Happen

One search of “the Great Lock In” on TikTok yields hundreds of videos — people giving tips on how to succeed, others setting themselves rules, more still documenting their progress. Is it a bit show-offy, or just a way for people to keep themselves accountable? “Sharing goal-setting journeys on social media can be useful for some as it can increase accountability and foster social support, both of which are linked to stronger motivation,” McWilliam says. 

Equally though, it’s one way to guarantee visibility, which can also equate to pressure.”It can become harmful if comparison, external validation, or public pressure overshadow intrinsic motivation and self-compassion.” It’s a slippery slope — an intention to better yourself can morph into trying to keep up with the Joneses, at which point the whole endeavour becomes rather futile.

PSA: You Can Still Achieve A Goal Without 'Locking In'

If you missed the September 1 cut off and are now lamenting that you’ll never be able to achieve any goals between now and the end of the year, it might be time to close TikTok.  “Structured approaches can make progress measurable for some, which may strengthen motivation and persistence over time. However, this does not mean that extreme challenges are the best way to do this,” McWilliam says. Trends like the Great Lock In might offer some parameters to work within if you need a bit of motivation, but — shock — it’s not the only way of achieving a goal. 

“One of the biggest indicators that someone will stick to their goal is if the goal is tied to their values, is individualised to that persons’ needs and is purposeful,” McWilliam says. So essentially, if you set a goal you’re actually invested in achieving, you’re on the right track. Failing that, you can always wait till New Years.