What Is the Winter Arc Trend and Should You Try It With Your Family?

Experts say it can be fun to get your kids involved in this social media challenge.

As the year draws to a close, it's not unusual for families to begin thinking about their New Year's resolutions —whether it's family habits you'd like to change or goals you'd like to set for your brood for the coming 12 months.

But not so fast. Before your family sets its sights on 2025, there's another annual self-improvement tradition you may want to consider.

It's called the Winter Arc and it's a tradition that focuses on closing out the final months of each year with a wellness focus. All the rage right now on social media, the Winter Arc may be especially popular among 20-somethings and gym bros, but families can participate, too.

Here's more about the Winter Arc, how families can get started, and some family-friendly goals you might include.

Winter Arc Meaning

To be clear, the Winter Arc is not an entirely new development. But it has picked up a great deal of steam thanks to 27-year-old self-development influencer Carly Berges. The Miami resident recently posted a video about the topic on TikTok, which has garnered 666,000 likes at last count and more than 63,000 shares.

Berges kicks off the video by providing a helpful Cliffs Notes explanation of this wellness practice.

"Starting on October 1, you have three months or 90 days—more or less—until the end of the year. And these are the months when a lot of people tend to slow down," begins Berges. "It's starting to get colder. It's starting to get darker earlier. This is the time people tend to let their foot off the gas."

But here's the thing, Berges adds: There's still three months left in the year. And those three months can be used as your Winter Arc or a time to "dial in" and get "super laser focused" on goals, personal development, and growth, so that when January 1 arrives, your family is ready to hit the ground running.

Berges says she kicks off this annual three-month tradition by writing down everything her Winter Arc will include. And just in case you need a little inspo, Berges' Winter Arc includes things like being more adamant about sleep and wake up time (and tbh, what family couldn't use help in this area…raising hand), journaling , and finishing more books.

"If you're ready to become unrecognizable and go into the New Year a whole brand new, better, up-level version of yourself, then get to planning your Winter Arc right now," concludes Berges.

Oh and one other note courtesy of Berges, there's nothing wrong with starting a Winter Arc after October 1. Just get started as soon as you can.

Yes, Families Can Participate in the Winter Arc

The great thing about the Winter Arc is that people of all ages can participate. That includes children, says Mona Amin, MD, a board-certified pediatrician.

"While it might seem like a concept aimed at adults, children can absolutely join in, and it’s a great way to introduce them to goal-setting, self-care , and healthy habits," explains Dr. Amin. "It’s never too early to show kids that having goals and working toward them is a positive thing."

Reena Patel, LEP, BCBA, a licensed educational psychologist, concurs, pointing out that establishing goals can benefit children in various ways. "Goal setting is a great tool for kids to build confidence , implement positive changes, and accomplish achievements that create big impacts," she says.

And even young toddlers can learn by watching parents work on themselves and follow routines, adds Dr. Amin.

"While it might seem like a concept aimed at adults, children can absolutely join in, and it’s a great way to introduce them to goal-setting, self-care, and healthy habits."

Mona Amin, MD

The Winter Arc Can Also Help Families Bond

But why might families want to participate in the three-month-long Winter Arc trend specifically? To begin with, it can be a healthy activity for families to do together as the lazy months of winter roll around.

"For many, winter months can feel long and challenging, so this trend helps people build momentum and keep moving forward," continues Dr. Amin. "Even for families in warmer climates, like Florida, the Winter Arc can still be a great way to shift your mindset and focus on growth."

It's also worth underscoring that the Winter Arc is all about making intentional changes to support both physical and mental health. And who among us, especially harried, busy families, couldn't use a dose of that?

It's also a great way to connect in the midst of busy schedules.

"For families, the winter arc offers a chance to bond as you work on your goals together," says Dr. Amin. "You can find moments to come together, have good conversations, cheer each other on, and celebrate. This kind of teamwork strengthens family connections and shows the value of working toward goals with support."

Winter Arc Ideas for Families

The good news is there are plenty of family-friendly habits that can be part of a Winter Arc program, making it fun for children, while still teaching valuable lessons and being healthy for the family as a whole.

Here are some of the goals you might set for a family-friendly Winter Arc:

• Increased daily activity: Keeping kids active is key to healthy development, especially if outdoor play is limited during the colder months, says Dr. Amin. "Whether it’s an indoor obstacle course or a dance party, movement can be a fun family activity," Dr. Amin explains. "Choose a good time to weave this into your routine and let your child pick what they enjoy the most. It’ll help keep them engaged while staying active."
• Daily mindfulness and gratitude: Help your child focus on creating a mindfulness routine. During a Winter Arc, this could be as simple as asking children to share one thing they are thankful for each day. "This builds mindfulness and positive thinking," says Dr. Amin. Families could also start using a gratitude jar, which involves each family member writing down one thing on a small piece of paper each day that they are thankful for and dropping the pieces of paper into it. At a later date, the family can gather together and read each paper in the jar. "It’s a great way to reflect together," adds Dr. Amin.
• Reading more books: Winter Arc is a great time to level-up reading habits, especially for children. This could include planning more regular trips to the library and letting your child pick out a few new books to get excited about. And then establishing a goal to read one to two books each day.
• Improved time management: The Winter Arc can present an opportunity to help children focus on improving their time management as a goal. "Help your child design a simple weekly planner where they can fill in their homework assignments, extracurricular activities, and family events," says L’Taundra Everhart, MEd, founder and CEO of BYG! Mixed Greens for the Soul, LLC, a wellness platform promoting self-discovery and self-awareness. "Use colorful markers or stickers to make it visually appealing. This teaches them to prioritize tasks and allocate time effectively."
• Focus on healthy eating: Winter Arcs are all about wellness, so what better time to focus on stepping up your family's eating habits . This can be a fun goal that includes children of all ages. "Choose a healthy recipe together and have each family member take on a role in the cooking process—chopping, measuring, cooking," says Everhart. "Discuss the nutritional benefits of the ingredients while you cook. This promotes teamwork, creativity, and an understanding of healthy eating."

Other goals could include " limiting screen time ," says Patel, adding, "Maybe it's even trying something new and sticking with it like a new sport, hobby, or topic in school."

How To Kick Off a Family-Friendly Winter Arc

If your family wants to try participating in a Winter Arc this year, start by sitting down together and discussing your goals for the season. Identify a few simple, manageable ones that your family can commit to, such as going for walks more regularly or practicing gratitude together.

Whether it’s focusing on movement, mindfulness, or creating better routines, having this initial conversation can help get everyone involved and excited.

It's also a good idea to write down your family goals and "not dive into too many, too fast, as you want them to be achievable and not overwhelming," says Patel.

Then you can organize the list into categories or order of importance. "Pick one or two to really focus on and remember to start small and over time habits will form and momentum will build,” adds Patel.

As your Winter Arc proceeds, consider using mealtime once each week or more to check in on everyone’s progress. Family meals can present a good opportunity to talk about positive accomplishments and celebrate wins.

And make it fun for younger children. This can be accomplished by framing it as a challenge and letting them track their progress with checklists or a calendar. "Seeing their progress visually can help keep them motivated," says Dr. Amin.

But remember, the goal is progress, not perfection. "If life gets busy, give yourself some grace,” says Dr. Amin. “What matters most is that you’re working toward something positive as a family.”

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