Becoming the “best version of you in 90 days” Should we be worried about the “Winter Bow” trend on TikTok?

It’s October, the leaves and autumn rain are falling and for many it’s a turning point. a dreamtime with fireplaces (real or from Netflix), hot chocolates, lots of watching, and running. An app we should get rid of, according to some TikTokers. They want us to trade in our padded slippers for sneakers and replace our custard drink with a detox juice. This mindset has a name: “Winter Arch” in French. Coming from the American fitness world, it’s all about making good resolutions ahead of time, challenging yourself physically and mentally from October to become the best version of yourself by January 1, 2025, and fight off the winter blues. The craze is in full swing on TikTok, with over 350,000 posts offering advice on how to achieve your ‘Winter Bow’ in 90 days.

A mental, spiritual and physical challenge

At the start of this trend was one Carly Burgess, a 27-year-old Florida influencer and personal development coach. “My image of ‘Winter Bow’ is someone in an oversized black hat, with headphones in their ears, going for a run in the rain at 5 in the morning,” he sums up in a video posted on the site. on September 30 and has been viewed more than 4.5 million times on social media.

The TikToker then lists her resolutions for the coming months: wake up at dawn, increase the intensity of her workouts, review her diet, read 4 books, spend less time on her phone. “Think about the things you want to improve mentally, spiritually and physically,” she explains to her subscribers. Think about the habits and goals you wanted to achieve this year that you just put aside.

The comparison trap

If the statistics of an individual’s physical and mental health remains a healthy reflex and is already known in other trends on TikTok, such as the “October theory”, a number of commentators, however, invite us to mitigate the excess of good solutions based on the principle that that the best is the enemy. good By watching videos on the topic, we discover more radical versions of the “Winter Arc”. American TiktoTeuse @Phoebeisinger1 recommends, among other things, breaking up with your partner, drinking three liters of water a day, doing 6 sports a week, or even cutting yourself off from social connections to avoid distraction goals.

These rules also flirt dangerously with the enforcement directive. “What works for some of your favorite influencers may not work for you, and that’s especially true when it comes to nutrition and what you put in your body,” says registered dietitian nutritionist Joel Totoro in the column. Pop Sugar: who advises not to fall into the trap of comparison in social networks.

Beware of masculine videos

Another risk highlighted in the media is the re-appropriation of this trend by people with bad intentions. This is the case of masculinity, this conservative and anti-feminist movement, as reported by journalist Manon Mariani in the “Zoom zoom zen” program. France Inter:. “For them, the ‘Winter Arch’ is more than just a health trend, it’s a real mantra to discover their masculinity,” he says. Their “Winter Arc” begins with a specific action, shaving his head. For some masks, being bald is a sign of masculinity. Their idea is not to look bald, because it is a sign of weakness and an object of ridicule for women.

Among other rules announced by these men on social media and mentioned by the reporter: wear a hoodie to stay mysterious, keep your girlfriend quiet and avoid being alone except at the gym. “Always beware of the hidden mask,” he concludes. What about TikTok trends?