Black Folks Online Are Doing the Great Lock-In, Here’s How You Can, Too!

Beginning in September, folks online are gearing up to participate in “The Great Lock-In,” the viral social media trend that’s centered on hyperfocusing on various life goals and ending the year strong by meeting them. And while this trend has taken off around the same time every year for the last few years, this time around, more and more Black folks are opting to tap in.

If you’ll remember, “The Great Lock-In” trend gained mainstream attention last fall, after being covered by major platforms like The New York Times, “The Tamron Hall Show,” Forbes, CNN, and more. Now, it’s come back around and is garnering all-new attention as a new swath of dedicated Black folks are determined to finish out the year strong—well before the “New Year, New Me” vibes kick in at the beginning of 2027.

But what is it about this trend that has so many Black folks engaged this time around? Well, if you let TikTok user Coach Zha tell it, it has a lot to do with not wanting to enter a new year with the same old, same old.

Related: Before You Step Into 2026, Do You Understand Your Assignment? Here’s Some Help.

“December’s gonna get here regardless. So when it gets here, we are not walking into another January carrying the same goals, the same excuses, and the same unfinished promises,” she recently explained. “We’re walking into 2027 with the receipts. With proof that we showed up. With proof that we followed through. And with proof that we can trust ourselves. That is the Great Lock-In.”

Although anyone can join in, user Candice Denise broke down five reasons women should engage with the challenge.

“One, you need to give yourself enough time to see what actually happens when you follow through. Two, you need a few non-negotiables – not a life overhaul, just a few things that you’ve decided you’re going to do consistently. Three, you need something on your calendar that isn’t about work, family, or whatever else anybody needs from you,” she said.

She concluded by saying that women needed accountability and to know that January isn’t the only time of the year that people can change their lives, and they can choose to start and implement new practices well before then.

User Audrey Vale opted to channel her “Great Lock-In” energy by participating in a “75 Medium” challenge (a fun play on yet another viral trend, the “75 Hard” challenge, just not as strict). Her goals were mostly focused on health and wellness, but as she and others in the space note, goals should be personalized to what each person wants to achieve, with a commitment to follow through no matter what.

“You can customize any of these to fit your lifestyle. The goal is consistency, not perfection. If you start by September 1st, by mid-November, you would’ve made a massive improvement. [It’s] 75 days to show yourself what you’re capable of,” she said.

So how exactly do you “lock in”? Some common goals include taking 10,000 steps per day, practicing daily mindfulness, establishing morning and nighttime routines, waking up an hour earlier each day, and more.

But that doesn’t mean you have to limit your goals to just health stuff. Your goals should be tailored to your lifestyle and what you want to accomplish by the end of the year. Whether that means finally starting that business, taking some classes, saving enough for a new car, making a career move, or whatever—the key is to stay disciplined, consistent, and focused on what you’re trying to accomplish.