75 Difficult
I love a good challenge. I’ve done quite a few “hard” things in my life which I have 100% voluntarily decided to do. Maybe I’m crazy but I think there is something magical about deciding to do something really difficult and then completing it.
I’ve walked 60 miles. I’ve completed multiple triathlons. I’ve moved, by myself, across the country to a city I had never even visited before. I’ve started a business and lived in an RV for two years…I think it’s safe to say I’m ok with challenging situations or experiences, as long as it’s something I really want to do.
75 difficult is no different. This is my personal version of the popular “75 hard” challenge that has been making its way across social media over the past few years and something that Paul (my hubby) and I have been chatting about for a while.
We have recently moved into our new house after two years of travel and 6 months of waiting for our house to be built. We are acclimating into our new town and community and are coming up on a couple of months where we have nothing on the social calendar….perfect time to do something really difficult!
What is this program exactly? I’m glad you asked. For the next 75 days I will be doing the following daily:
Following a strict diet** (more info on that below)
35 + min walk
15 + min stretch
1 gallon of water
read 10+ pages in a non-fiction book
write 500 words/day
no (ZERO) time on instagram
Paul’s program will look slightly different mainly because we have different goals. This is also why we altered the original 75 Hard program to fit more of what each of us are trying to accomplish.
I have many goals for completing this program, the biggest and broadest being - discipline. Over the past few years of running my own business and traveling I find I am lacking discipline in various areas of my life. I’d like to get into more of a schedule of when I get up, getting into the Word, getting outside and walking and moving my body more. I’d like to increase discipline in getting ready for the day, getting out of the house more and involving myself more in activities at the church or community.
I’ve been wanting to incorporate writing into my daily schedule for a while now as well. It’s been a long time goal of mine to write a book, but unless I write and write a lot that’s never going to happen. Writing hasn’t been a part of my identity in a long time, so incorporating this daily practice of writing at least 500 words (and hopefully more) should help break that cycle of talking about doing it vs actually getting the words out of my head.
Zero instagram. Yowza. Talk about conflicted. I’ve told myself for a long time that because of my business I couldn’t give up instagram, but I know deep down that’s just not true. My business will be just fine without instagram and the more tribal and idealistic our society is becoming, I find myself more and more depressed every time I open up that little pink square on my phone. I knew I needed a break, but the break needed to serve a purpose. I don’t feel like it will lead to a permanent stepping away from the platform, but honestly I just don’t know. I know I will miss connecting with certain people on the platform and it will be a hard habit to break. I’m interested to see how it goes, which is why I want to write about what it’s like to completely be gone from the platform for a decent amount of time.
Every day during the 75 days I will be documenting how it’s going. I know it might get kind of boring and monotonous, but I’m going to push through. I think it’s important.
Tomorrow we begin! Cheers!
**the diet I’ll be following will be loosely based on ketogenic eating. Higher fats, low carb and no sugar. Quality ingredients, avoiding processed foods. I will be aiming for an eating window between 12-8 and may also incorporate some 24 or 36 hour fasts along the way. I’ve done this before and have never felt better in my life. Hoping to regain some of those habits, take off some weight and clear my head.
