Planning for my Resolution: 75 Hard

It is not morning. I woke up at 2 am and really couldn't go back to sleep. I went into work early today to try to get as many hours as I can this week. I also had an iced Chai Latte today but I made it at home and I spilt it in the car ride to work. I want so badly to go camping and, I am literally not kidding, I feel like I will go crazy if I don't get away from the noise of Auburn. I love it here most of the time, but not for too long.

*On my other monitor, I have a private college campus pulled up that is currently covered in snow. Oh to be a transfer student.*

: )

I need to distract myself and visualize my goals so I don't lose all my motivation. So I want to plan out my new years resolution: The 75 Hard Challenge.

*opens a new window*

* googles "What are the rules to 75 Hard"*

*copy & paste*

• Follow a diet.

• Work out twice a day for at least 45 minutes. (once outside)

• Drink 4 liters of water per day.

• Read 10 pages of nonfiction a day.

• Take a five-minute cold shower.

• Take progress photos every day.

• Perform other unrelated tasks like a random act of kindness or talk to someone in person daily.

• 75 days straight with no breaks or cheat days (if you mess up you have to start over from the beginning)

I knew most of these rules because, I am not joking, I have been researching this challenge for 3 months. It is a mental challenge created by Andy Frisella and it is designed to help you be more disciplined (Lord knows I need help with that.) Andy (aka Andog) said he thinks only two people will actually complete this challenge. More people have done it since then. This is still something I want to see if I can do because discipline and accomplishments are hard for me to achieve but help me through some of the tough mental things that burden me daily. When better to start than winter: If I can do it in late winter and early spring and kick seasonal depression in the booty, I should email Andog myself and tell him to make a challenge a little bit harder next time.

Okay so let's break it down.

Follow a Diet : Caloric Confusion

I have been researching which diets will be most effective for me and I think this is the one that fits my lifestyle and body type. This diet requires you to alternate high calorie days with high fat days. I have been testing it out on and off and although it can be a bit confusing, it is not that difficult. With planning, it has been doable and for 75 days I can eat on this diet and still be nourished and satisfied.

Work Out 2 times a Day for 45 min (Once outside) : Randomized workouts and locations

For my indoor workout. Two words. Auburn. Rec. Thank you, God.

For my outdoor workout, I could combine several walks outside to and from classes and work. Weekends, I could go on hikes or do some yoga. Endless options.

The good thing about this challenge is it doesn't have any weight loss goals or any sort of physical goals set. Although I will be making those for myself as I go, I appreciate the idea that not everybody and every body has the same ability to do the same thing and the goal for this rule is literally just to commit an hour and a half to working out. I can do that.

Drink 4 liters of water

I already do this. I have a giant mason jar at home that I drink one a day. That has to be 4 liters right?

Okay I just googled it. I am only drinking 1 liter. We have some work to do.

*I took a break from writing and resumed the next day, Hi again. It is morning right now.*

Read 10 pages of nonfiction a day - First book choice is... um...

*takes lunch break at work*

*walks down stairs to the book store*

*grabs book and a scone*

Okay so back to what I was saying.

My first book choice: Princess Diarist by Carrie Fisher

Star Wars. Awesome and strong-willed woman. A recap of her time creating a New Hope with diary entries. I think it will be interesting to see inside one of my favorite characters.

I will probably finish that book very quickly so my next one will be a book about Dolly Parton. If I finish both of those, we will see what I pick out later.

Take a five-minute cold shower

Ughhhhhhhh. Okay, I don't like this one. But here is my plan. It doesn't say I have to get my hair wet so I may do this when I wake up in the morning with my hair in a bun. For the first few days I will start with warm water and then turn on the cold water after I've been in the shower. I should get used to it eventually. But watch my skin have the biggest glow-up ever.

Take Progress Photo's every day

Self explanatory. I'll do this after my nightly workout.

Perform other unrelated tasks like a random act of kindness or talk to someone in person daily - My task: Be kind to someone and keep my room clean

My favorite part of this challenge. This will really test my mental and emotional limits. As I see it, this would be the worst day I could imagine: Wake up late for class and its cold and rainy. I take a cold shower and have to do minimal make-up. I still have to workout outside so I walk in the rain instead of driving. I forget my lunch and my mason jar so I have to buy a water bottle and it won't be flavored with lemon water and I have to wait to get my food or try to find something that fits my plan for the day. I read my book pages in a rush during work or lunch. Somewhere in that bad mood day I have to find time to do something out of the ordinarily kind things I do daily anyways and when I get home I have to clean up after my frantic morning in my bedroom. If I can do this, I will be very proud.

75 days straight with no breaks or cheat days (if you mess up you have to start over from the beginning)

Ok, starting January 1st, if I do this perfectly with no cheat days I will end on March 17th (although I hope this has a permanent impact on my behaviors and habits.) Do I think I won't mess up? No. I think I will. Will I be strict about this rule. Well I kind of have to be. I am going to document everything and I want to really learn discipline. So if its later than March 17th, that's okay. What I really hope for is that I don't mess up half-way through. That would stink because then I have to start all over. Let's plan to avoid that all costs.

I think I am going to keep up with my progress by 1. Taking a picture, 2. journaling, and 3. making a video series. I don't know yet. I am excited to get started though. And I am excited to continue sharing with you about this challenge and I hope you all will keep me accountable. Andog made this challenge to force you to be more disciplined and controlled over choices. I am excited to test my limits and push myself. Anyways, this blog was kinda more for me than you. I wonder what your new years resolution will be though? Do you normally keep your resolution or do you give up?

If you would like to share with me, I would love that!

Thanks for reading if you have made it this far!

xoxo