are you locked in this summer?

In the very first edition of The Tennie Times, we discussed how “soft ambition” may be overtaking girlboss, with young people prioritizing wellness over the rise and grind mentality. Well, now we have a new contender: “locking in”. Goodbye, slow mornings. Hello, obsessive Google Calendar use.

So, what exactly is locking in? According to Refinery29, this trend is about going all-in on a routine or goal and trying to make every moment of the day count. It’s basically a productivity glow-up. Think of Saratoga water guy as an extreme example.

And it makes sense that people are “locking in.” Job insecurity is real, with layoffs and a high unemployment rate for recent college grads making many feel like they have to work harder just to stay in place. And it doesn’t end at the unpredictable job market: everything right now feels a bit up in the air – politics, the economy, the environment – and it makes sense to deal with the anxiety of a tumultuous, uncertain time by focusing on what you can control.

But like every trend, there are pros and cons:

✅ Pros:

• Helps build discipline when working towards a specific goal

• Enables focus in a world that’s constantly pulling our attention (Microsoft’s Work Trend Index Annual Report determined that the average employee is interrupted every 2 minutes with a meeting, email, or notification… more on their findings in the next article!)

• Can be a powerful antidote to feeling stuck or stagnant

❌ Cons:

• Too much structure can lead to burnout, making “locking in” unsustainable

• Might minimize space for rest and recovery, which are important for physical and mental health

• Could foster unwarranted guilt when you inevitably have an “off” day or get behind on your to-do list

At its best, locking in is about making space for the things that matter, and doing them with focus. At its worst, it can become another way for hustle culture to shame people into not taking care of themselves.

If you’re feeling the pressure to lock in this summer, ask yourself why. Will it help you build towards a goal you truly care about (as is the case with us here at Tennie – we are definitely locked in), or is it coming from a place of scarcity and fear? Remember:

• You can work hard and rest - in fact, resting can actually help you lock in

• You can stay committed to your goals without burning out

• You don’t have to match any standard of locking in you see on social media

tennie tip: Whatever trend you try this summer — locking in, soft ambition, or something in between — make sure you’re doing it for you. Not for any external validation or social media comparison.