Today is September 1st, which means it’s officially time for The Great Lock In. Four months. From now until December 31st, I’m disappearing a little. I’m tightening my circle, silencing the noise, and putting myself back in alignment with the goals that matter most.
For some time now, I’ve felt like I was moving without intention—busy, but not purposeful. Out of rhythm with myself. And I don’t want to carry that into a new year. These next four months are my reset. My chance to pause, realign, and lock in.
This stretch of the year isn’t always exactly calm—it’s deadline season, the holidays are coming, and everyone’s either scrambling to wrap things up or already thinking about their New Year’s resolutions. It’s a natural go mode. Psychologists call it the fresh start effect—our brains love milestones. A new month, a season shift, even a Monday morning—it’s basically a reset button. And September 1st? That’s giving “new season, new me” energy.
Why Lock In Now?
Motivation is cute, but it’s not sustainable. Motivation flares up like a sparkler—bright, exciting, but gone in 30 seconds. What really sustains change is the dopamine effect every time you hit a small win, your brain gives you a tiny hit of reward, and then it craves the next one. That’s how momentum is built—not from one grand finish line, but from stacking those little “I did it again” moments.
The Four Pillars of The Great Lock In
For this season, I’m focusing on four core pillars:
- Mind: Learning, reading, and studying lessons that sharpen perspective.
- Body: Movement, nutrition, and energy management for sustainable health.
- Creativity & Career: Bringing ideas to life, executing projects, and making moves that set the stage for the new year.
- Personal Life: Nurturing friendships, relationships, and all the joy and connection that make life richer.
Each week, I’ll be sharing a weekly focus, prompts, and small wins on Twitter to help you stay on track and inspired.
What Lock In Season Looks Like for Me
Locking in means creating a personal blueprint for these four months:
- Putting myself on a personal curriculum and studying books, podcasts, and lessons that sharpen my mind.
- Prioritizing health with movement, clean eating, and daily energy practices.
- Letting creativity breathe—finally working on ideas I’ve been hoarding.
- Showing up for my personal life—deepening friendships, family connections, and romantic relationships.
- Stacking career and wealth moves now so I walk into January already ten steps ahead.
You don’t have to change everything at once. Pick one thing you want to feel different by January 1st. Write it down. Put it somewhere you’ll see every day. Give your brain proof you’re serious.
Your Invitation to the Lock In
Zakia & Co isn’t just about talking vision—it’s about building it. These next four months are your chance to create real separation between the you that coasts into the new year and the you that walks into January already transformed.
Follow along on Twitter for weekly prompts, focus ideas, and encouragement to keep stacking your small wins.
Because when December 31st hits, I want us all to be living the proof—not wishing we had started earlier.
Four months. Lock in.
Future you is waiting.
-Z
