I Can Do Hard(ish) Things: My 75 Hard Challenge Experience
If you’ve ever had a sibling talk you into something you wouldn’t normally do, welcome to my life. Back in November, my sister came to me with an idea: the 75 Hard Challenge. I had never heard of it, so naturally, I did what we all do—I Googled it. And, to be honest, it sounded terrible. But when it comes to my sister, I have a bit of a “you go, I go, we go” mentality. She wanted to do this for her birthday, and even though the rules were daunting, I agreed to do it with her.
It was all fun and games… until it was 9 p.m., 24 degrees outside, and I hadn’t done my outdoor workout yet.
What is 75 Hard?
For those of you unfamiliar with 75 Hard, it’s a 75 day physical and mental toughness challenge. Here’s the breakdown:
Complete two 45-minute workouts daily (at least 3 hours apart).
One of them must be outside, no matter the weather.
Drink 1 gallon of water a day.
No alcohol.
Stick to a diet of your choice (no cheats allowed).
Read 10 pages of a non-fiction book daily.
Take a progress photo every day.
And here’s the kicker: if you miss anything—one ounce shy of a gallon of water, 30 seconds short on your workout—you start over from Day 1. It’s as intense as it sounds, but I went for it anyway.
The Challenges, the Wins, and Everything in Between
Let me start by saying I did not finish all 75 days. But you know what? I learned so much about myself along the way. Here are some of the biggest takeaways from my 75 Hard-ish journey:
The Hardest Part: The Water
Drinking a gallon of water sounds manageable in theory—until you realize that if you don’t start early, you’ll be waking up at 2 a.m. for a bathroom run (or three). Lesson learned: start hydrating the moment your feet hit the floor.
The Best Part: Outdoor Workouts
To my surprise, the outdoor workouts were my absolute favorite. Have you ever gone for a walk in the rain or taken a moonlit hike with headlamps? It’s peaceful, energizing, and a little magical. My son started encouraging me to wait until after dark for our outdoor workouts, and those walks around the farm became core memories for both of us.
The Big Motivation: The Checklists
Knowing that missing even one task meant starting over was a powerful motivator. It made me prioritize my time in ways I never had before, like squeezing in walks between meetings or doing YouTube Pilates with my kids.
The Lessons I Learned
While I didn’t complete the challenge, I’m not beating myself up about it. Here’s why:
I discovered I’m not hard, but I’m definitely hard-ish.
I built better habits, like reading daily (and actually finishing books!) and getting outside more.
I learned that restrictive diets don’t work for me. The moment I tell myself I can’t have desserts, all I can think about is lemon cake. So instead of focusing on what I can’t have, I’ve started focusing on adding more good things—like challenging myself to eat 30 different fruits and veggies each week.
Most importantly, I learned that progress is more important than perfection. Even though I didn’t check off every single box, I made real changes to my daily routines. I felt healthier, stronger, and more energized, and I loved seeing how my example encouraged my family and friends to move more and set their own goals.
Why You Can Do Hard Things Too
You don’t have to tackle something as intense as 75 Hard to challenge yourself. The principle is simple: set your goals, create a plan, and show up every day with intentionality. Maybe it’s committing to a morning walk, journaling every night, or drinking more water. Whatever it is, the key is consistency—not perfection.
Final Thoughts
I’m proud of the progress I made—and even prouder of the habits I’m carrying forward. Whether you’re tackling a big challenge or making small, consistent changes, remember: You can do hard things.
Cheers to progress, to trying, and to showing up for ourselves—even when it’s not perfect. Let’s make 2025 the year we embrace the hard-ish things and watch how they transform us.
