it's 2026
everyone's locked in right now
new year, new goals, new energy
the gym is packed, productivity twitter is going crazy, notion templates are selling out, and everyone's got that "this is my year" energy
but here's what nobody's talking about:
by February, 80% of people will be back to their old habits
the momentum dies
the discipline fades
and they'll be waiting for next January to try again
so the real question isn't "are you locked in right now?"
it's "will you still be locked in in March?"
this is about building momentum that actually lasts
not just surviving January
Why January Energy Always Dies
let's be honest about what happens:
Week 1: You're on fire. Waking up early, hitting all your goals, feeling unstoppable.
Week 2: Still going strong. A few slip-ups but you're committed.
Week 3: Life starts lifing. Work gets busy. You miss a day or two.
Week 4: "I'll get back on track next week."
February: What goals?
this isn't because you're lazy
it's because motivation is temporary
and most people are running on pure motivation
when it fades (and it always does), they have nothing left to carry them
the difference between people who stay locked in and people who fall off:
systems, not motivation
habits, not hype
small daily actions, not massive unsustainable changes
The Real Locked In Playbook
here's what actually works when you're trying to build something that lasts:
1. Start Stupidly Small
the biggest mistake people make in January:
going from 0 to 100 overnight
bad approach:
- "I'm waking up at 5am every day"
- "I'm working out 6 days a week"
- "I'm learning to code for 3 hours daily"
- "I'm reading 50 books this year"
this sounds impressive
but it's also why you'll quit by February
your brain hates massive change
it will fight you every step of the way
better approach:
start with something so small you can't say no
- Want to wake up early? Start with 15 minutes earlier. That's it.
- Want to work out? Start with 10 minutes. Just 10.
- Want to learn a skill? Start with 5 minutes a day.
- Want to read more? Start with 1 page before bed.
"but that's not enough to see results"
it's not about the results in week 1
it's about still doing it in week 10
consistency beats intensity every single time
once the small habit is automatic (usually takes 2-3 weeks), then you can scale up
2. Pick One Thing (Seriously, Just One)
January energy makes you think you can change everything at once:
- new workout routine
- new diet
- new side hustle
- new morning routine
- new skill to learn
- new everything
this is how you overwhelm yourself and quit everything
the locked in move:
pick ONE thing that matters most right now
focus on that until it's automatic
then add the next thing
example:
if your main goal is getting in shape, make that your only focus for the first month
don't also try to:
- build a side hustle
- wake up at 5am
- read 2 books a week
- learn a new language
just lock in on the fitness habit
once that's running on autopilot, add something else
sequential goals > simultaneous goals
3. Make It Automatic (Remove Decisions)
here's what kills momentum:
decision fatigue
every morning you wake up and have to decide:
- "should I work out today?"
- "what should I work on first?"
- "do I have time for this?"
- "maybe I'll start tomorrow?"
each decision drains your mental energy
by noon, you're too tired to actually do the thing
the fix: eliminate the decision
bad: "I'll work out when I have time"
good: "I work out Monday/Wednesday/Friday at 7am"
bad: "I'll work on my project when inspiration hits"
good: "I work on my project every day from 6-7pm"
bad: "I'll eat healthy when I feel like it"
good: "I meal prep every Sunday for the week"
no decisions = no excuses
you just do it because that's what happens at that time
same as brushing your teeth
you don't debate it, you just do it
4. Stack Your Habits
don't just randomly add new habits to your day
attach them to things you already do automatically
this is called habit stacking and it's stupid effective
formula: After I [current habit], I will [new habit]
examples:
- After I pour my morning coffee, I'll write for 10 minutes
- After I brush my teeth at night, I'll read one page
- After I close my laptop for the day, I'll do 20 push-ups
- After I get home from work, I'll change into workout clothes immediately
your brain already has routines
hijack them
5. Track It (But Keep It Simple)
what gets measured gets managed
but most people overcomplicate this
you don't need a fancy app or complex spreadsheet
you just need a simple way to see your progress
the simplest method that actually works:
get a calendar or notebook
every day you do the thing, mark an X
that's it
after a few days, you'll see a chain forming
now your only job is: don't break the chain
visual streaks are weirdly motivating
seeing 15 days in a row makes you not want to break it on day 16
bonus: the two-day rule
never miss twice in a row
missed Monday? Fine. Life happens.
but you MUST show up on Tuesday
missing once is a slip
missing twice is the start of a new habit (the bad kind)
6. Optimize for Your Actual Life (Not Instagram)
here's what Instagram productivity looks like:
- 5am wake up
- 2 hour morning routine
- cold shower
- meditation
- journaling
- gym
- green smoothie
- deep work from 7-12
- perfect aesthetic everything
here's what real life looks like:
- snoozing your alarm twice
- rushing to get ready
- coffee that's too hot to drink
- checking your phone first thing (we all do it)
- interruptions and chaos
- unexpected emergencies
- being tired
stop trying to copy someone else's perfect routine
build something that works for YOUR life
questions to ask yourself:
- When do I actually have energy?
- What time do I realistically wake up?
- What can I consistently do even on bad days?
- What's the minimum viable version of this habit?
design for reality, not for the highlight reel
When You Feel Like Quitting (And You Will)
let's be real:
there will be days you don't feel like doing it
days where motivation is zero
days where you just want to skip
this is normal
this is when most people quit
but this is also when locked in people separate themselves
here's what to do when motivation dies:
Lower the Bar (Temporarily)
can't do your full workout? do 5 minutes
can't write for an hour? write one sentence
can't do your full routine? do the absolute minimum version
the goal isn't to do everything perfectly
the goal is to not break the chain
showing up at 20% is better than not showing up at all
Remember Why You Started
January energy comes from excitement about the future
February energy comes from remembering why it matters
write down your "why" in January
read it when you feel like quitting
not some motivational quote
your actual reason
the real thing you're trying to change or build
Zoom Out
one bad day doesn't erase 30 good days
one missed workout doesn't undo a month of progress
one lazy weekend doesn't kill your momentum
what matters is the trend, not the outliers
if you're showing up 80% of the time, you're winning
perfection is not required
consistency is
The February Test
January is easy
everyone's motivated in January
February is where you prove you're actually locked in
February is when:
- the newness wears off
- the excitement fades
- nobody's posting "new year new me" anymore
- you have to show up because of discipline, not motivation
if you're still going in February, you're different
if you're still going in March, you're in the top 10%
if you're still going in June, you've actually changed your life
Your 30-Day Momentum Challenge
here's how to build something that actually lasts:
Week 1-2: Build the Foundation
- Pick ONE habit to focus on
- Make it stupidly small (can't say no level)
- Do it at the same time every day
- Track it with simple Xs on a calendar
- Don't break the chain
Week 3-4: Make It Stick
- Keep doing the habit
- It should feel easier now
- If it doesn't, make it smaller
- Once it's automatic, you can scale up OR add a second habit
- Don't rush this part
Week 5+: Build Momentum
- Your first habit is now automatic
- You can add complexity or add a new habit
- But never lose the core routine
- This is when real change starts showing
The Real Secret
people who stay locked in past January aren't more disciplined
they're not more motivated
they just built better systems
systems that work when they're tired
systems that work when they're busy
systems that work when motivation is zero
locked in isn't a feeling
it's a system
January energy will fade
that's guaranteed
but if you build the right habits now, you won't need the energy later
you'll just be someone who does the thing
automatically
without thinking about it
without needing motivation
that's the difference between posting about being locked in and actually being locked in
start today
not tomorrow
not next Monday
not when you "feel ready"
pick one small thing
do it right now
then do it again tomorrow
that's how you build momentum that actually lasts
now stop reading and go lock in for real 🔒