Oct 1 to Dec 31. One contract.
Most winter arcs die in week two.
This one is a contract. Three to seven non-negotiables, signed and frozen until December 31. Call out a friend on what you share. A letter you can't open until it's over.
R.I.P.
Gym, daily
died day 9
R.I.P.
No sugar
died day 4
R.I.P.
Walk 8k steps
died day 13
R.I.P.
Read 20 pages
died day 17
Day
01
Everyone starts loud.
The terms
- 01
Sign.
Write your non-negotiables, record where you stand, write to December. Sign with your finger. Ice spreads over the page. No edits.
- 02
Call someone out.
Pick one or two goals you share with a friend. Same terms for both. Everything else stays private.
- 03
Show up.
One tap per goal. Their check-in hits your phone: they showed up, your move. A round is decided every week.
- 04
Jan 1.
The letter thaws. The Mirror puts October next to December. Each duel ends on its day 90 with a verdict: both survived, one fell, or both fell.
Missed a day?
You missed today. The Arc isn't over. Streaks break; the contract doesn't.
Sick? Travelling?
One freeze every 30 days. It covers your Arc and every duel that day.
Quitting?
You can. It's final, and it goes in the Graveyard with the day it died.
The short version
What is a winter arc?
A winter arc is a self-improvement challenge, usually run from October to the end of December, where you pick a few habits and work on them every day until the new year, without announcing it and without excuses.
Winter Arc is a free app that turns that into a contract for the season, October 1 to December 31. You choose 3 to 7 habits, sign them, and they can't be edited or dropped until it ends. You can only add more, up to 7 in all. Every day you check in with one tap per habit. You can add up to 5 big goals, like reading 12 books, and duel a friend on the habits you share. On January 1 a letter you wrote to yourself opens.
Questions
- What is a winter arc?
- A winter arc is a self-improvement challenge, usually run from October to the end of December, where you commit to a few habits and quietly work on them every day until the new year. Winter Arc the app turns that into a contract you sign and can't edit, running October 1 to December 31.
- How long is a Winter Arc?
- One season for everyone: October 1 to December 31, 92 days. Join any day and you're on the same calendar as everyone else. Joining late? For 3 days after you sign you can log what you actually did on the days you missed. Logged days count like any other; days you leave empty never count against you.
- How many goals can I set?
- Three to seven habits that you do every day or a set number of times a week (most people keep five or fewer), plus up to five big goals to finish by the last day: a total like reading 12 books, a number to reach like a target weight, or something done once. Each finished big goal is worth 500 points. After signing you can add more, up to those limits, but never change or remove one.
- What happens if I miss a day?
- The day is marked missed and your streak resets, but the Arc continues: your score is the share of promises you kept, and every day still earns points for whatever you did (2 of 3 counts two thirds), which climb you through the tiers. You also get one freeze every 30 days for illness or travel, which makes a day neutral.
- How do duels work?
- Pick one or two goals you share with a friend and send them an invite link. You both sign the same terms. Each 7-day week is a round won by whoever kept more of their promises, and at day 90 the verdict is both survived, one fell, or both fell.
- What's a crew?
- Up to 8 friends doing the season together, each with their own goals. Everyone sees who showed up today, and only the goals each person chooses to share; private ones only show whether they were done. The crew streak grows on days every member checks in at least once. Duels are one on one; crews are for showing up together.
- Is Winter Arc free?
- Yes. Try it without an account, or sign in with Google to keep your Arc on every device. Install it to your home screen as an app and get one reminder a day at a time you choose. Duels and crews need a Google account, so friends can find you.
- Is my data private?
- Solo goals are private. Duel partners only see the goals in that duel. Share cards never show private goals. You can export everything or delete your account at any time.
The guide
Everything about winter arcs
What is a winter arc?
A winter arc is a self-improvement challenge from October 1 to December 31: a few daily habits, done every day until the new year. Meaning, origin, common goals and how to start.
Winter arc rules
There are no official winter arc rules, so write your own. These 10 rules keep a winter arc alive from October 1 to December 31, with an example rule set.
Winter arc ideas
60 winter arc ideas for habits and goals: fitness, food, mind, study, money, sleep and relationships, plus big goals to finish by December 31.
Starting a winter arc late
It isn't too late to start a winter arc. How many days are left, how to scale your goals, and a checklist to start today, in October, November or December.
Winter arc vs 75 Hard vs monk mode
Winter arc, 75 Hard and monk mode compared: length, rules, what happens when you miss a day, and which one fits your goals. Plus how to run 75 Hard inside a winter arc.
You said
you would.