Why is everybody 'locking in'?

If you’ve spent any time on social media lately, you’ve probably noticed how many people are dropping the term ‘locking in.’

Vox recently called locking in “the ultimate Gen Z mantra” - intentionally hyperfocusing for a set period of time to make real progress in one area1.

The term may be a bit cringe, but the concept of locking in feels compelling, exciting. It makes you wonder: what could happen if you truly 'locked in’?

Locking in isn’t really a new concept - this generation is just rebranding commitment.

Commitment asks us to clarify our energy. Are you in, or are you out?

Are you going to fully take the thing on no matter what, until you reach the end - or will you give in to the discomfort and unknowns, the vulnerability of fully showing up for something you really want.

Will you go for it and finally climb this mountain, or once again stay in your safe zone?

I’ve been on a real journey with commitment the past few years. I’ve learned, in nearly every area of my life, that things only truly have a chance to succeed when we are both feet in. When we’re solid as a mountain. When we’re not going anywhere.

The ‘locking in’ trend has reminded me of how much can happen when we consistently take an incremental step, day in and day out.

If you want to experiment with ‘locking in’, I’ve found this 30 day personal challenge approach to be simple and impactful:

1. Choose one area of your life you’re less satisfied with or want to expand. (Chances are, you haven’t yet fully committed to that area!) It can be anything - work, health, a relationship, a creative project. It can also be a feeling you want to cultivate, or a character trait - e.g. receptivity, courage, honesty.

2. Define your daily action & commit to showing up in that area, for the next 30 days.

   Make sure you have some sense of the structure, but don’t get overly caught up defining the specific activities or KPIs. You know what progress looks like! If you’re working on something “softer” it’s extra important to define in advance what your daily practice is going to look like (e.g. opening your heart via a 5 minutes daily meditation).

3. Lock in! Show up every day, no matter what. I cannot emphasize this part enough - no matter what. Don’t judge how you show up, or if you’re doing less than you want. Just come to the party. Show up in some form every day. You can compare it to brushing your teeth - some days you do a better job, some days less. But you still show up and clean your teeth, without question.

   If you miss a day, make up the session or get back to your cadence immediately.

Watch what happens! Committing fully to any area can be pretty powerful.

I’m currently on Day 4 of a fitness ‘lock in’ and health reset after a period with lots of travel & work intensity. Today’s the first day where I’m feeling challenged - it’s already evening and I’m really tired and missed my morning workout. It’s only Day 4 and I already have every reason not to work out - but my commitment is clear. I’ll make it happen, even if it’s just 1 minute or 5 minutes or 15 minutes. Showing up every day is what moves the broader dial.

And don’t try to take on too much at once. Working with one area you really care about is more than enough.

Let me know how it goes!