In my previous post, I shared with you the 75Hard Challenge. To put it simply, it is a mental toughness challenge that involves 5 specific tasks that you need to do for 75 days. These are:
- Exercising twice a day, one of these sessions must be done outside.
- Drink a gallon of water.
- Follow a diet and stick to it. NO CHEAT MEALS and NO ALCOHOL.
- Read 10 pages of a non-fiction book.
- Take a progress picture
Full disclosure, I have still to finish the challenge. In fact, I'm on my 37th day as of writing and in the span of more than a month, I have already encountered a couple of challenges and improved my systems and strategies to make sure I'm seeing this through.
If you are considering doing the 75Hard Challenge, read on. Here are some tips that helped me stay committed and in integrity.
1. Know why you are doing it in the first place.
To stay in integrity, having a clear picture of why you are doing this in the first place makes it easy.
I am doing 75hard because I want to work on my discipline and responsibility to myself. I feel like, in the past years, the commitments and responsibilities I make for myself were the ones that were so easy for me to break. It took its toll on my work ethic and in my relationships. I wanted to make this year a year that I focus on making a difference in how I am and how I see things. I couldn't wait for the new year for that.
2. Drink 2/3 of your water goal before lunch.
The last thing you want to happen is to wake up in the middle of the night for multiple trips to the toilet. This happens when you cram your water requirement in the later part of the day. Make sure to consume most of your water before noon.
3. Schedule your tasks
Some tasks like taking your progress photo or reading 10 pages are super easy to forget. The best way I remember tasks and make sure I can make time to do them is to schedule them. I take my progress shot after I wake up, then do my first exercise session before starting the day. While I drink my morning coffee, I read 10 pages of the book. The second exercise schedule comes after lunch of when I take an afternoon break at 3 pm.
4. Trackers
Trackers are helpful too. Having a visual representation of your progress helps you stay in check and motivated. Seeing that I have come so far helps me want to finish the challenge.
5. Buy an Insulated water bottle.
I just refill my water bottle 3-4 times daily, that's when I know that I finished my water requirement for the day. I prefer drinking cooler water so, I intentionally bought an insulated water bottle to keep it cool and to prevent condensations that would leave my tables wet.
6. Walk in the rain with your pink umbrella. 😄
It's been raining lately here in Cebu. When it rains, I take it easy. I just grab my pink umbrella and walk in the rain while listening to some podcast or while I scroll through Tiktok or just listen to music. In this way, it's nearly impossible not to do your outdoor exercise.
I hope these tips are helpful. I'll see you on the other side. 😉