In a tropical country like India, where summer stretches on like a never-ending saga, winter emerges as the shining star of the seasons. It's the perfect time to embrace the great outdoors, dust off those stylish jackets and snugly shawls, and get ready to indulge without a hint of guilt. But, but... it's also the season of the [sinister music] Dreadful Winter Arc. No, it's not a variation of the Northern Lights those upper-latitudewalas keep on gloating about, or any atmospheric wonder. DWA is a social media-driven self-improvement scheme that can - no, will! - suck the joy out of your life faster than you can say 'Happy New Year!'

DWA marks the season when PPPs - professional party poopers - come out in droves, squirming all over social media, shouting, 'I'm super laser-focused on my goals, my personal development, and my growth! You?' These are people who give New Year resolutions a bad name. Apparently, they're all gearing up to enter 2025 as the 'ultimate' version of themselves: better, buffer and fully optimised - like iPhone 99. While it's okay to think ahead, it's not okay to be overwhelmed by killjoys. Remember what they taught you in school: all work and no play makes.... So, let's not allow anyone to convince us that joy is a distraction from life goals and - what was that again? - finding 'ultimate' versions of yourself.