Good morning friends and happy Friday! Last week I shared some of the goals I had for the upcoming year, one of them being to complete the 75 Soft program. There were a few questions about the 75 Soft program, so I figured I clear it up today and tell you a little more about the version I will be doing.
What is 75 Soft?
75 Soft is the much easier/more realistic/healthier (in my opinion) version of the 75 Hard that went viral awhile back. 75 Hard is a "mental toughness program," lasting for 75 days, that is supposed to help get good habits back on track and build self-discipline, perseverance, and fortitude. The rules are:
Thanks to Pinterest for the graphic. 😉
I like some of the ideas in the program, but 75 Hard is way too tough/strict/time-consuming for me. I don't have time for two 45-minute workouts a day, nor do I want to spend my time that way anyway. I'm also not taking progress pics every day, that feels unnecessary and my phone doesn't have that much storage anyway. 😆
Before I knew 75 Soft existed, I thought "I'd like to do that but maybe just do it my own way," and then after searching Pinterest found out I was clearly not the only one who thought that-- there are ideas/recommendations for 75 Soft everywhere! You can modify it to fit your needs, or choose a 75 Soft program/tracker that someone else has already created. This one is the one I plan to follow:
I'm pretty sure that's supposed to say take a progress picture on days 1 and 75, not 57. 😉
Why Am I Doing This?
I have REALLY been struggling to find my new routine since going back to work. If I'm being 100% honest, I am real quick to say "oh I'll just workout tomorrow" or "oh whatever it's fine to eat junk food, I'm tired" or spend my evenings scrolling social media instead of reading, when reading is obviously so much better for you. I also have been hoping to get more into journaling (my form of quieting my mind/meditating) each day. All of those things were things I wanted to make more of a priority going into 2023, and the 75 Hard/Soft program felt like a way to do all 4 at once under the same umbrella.
How's It Going So Far?
As I write this, I am on day 12 and it has been GREAT! It feels so good to be back into a routine of working out, eating healthier, reading, and journaling. My favorite part so far has actually been journaling. There is something so therapeutic about putting into writing what's worrying me, or conversely, writing positive things about the day. And not surprisingly at all, after eating healthier, exercising, journaling, and reading a book at night, I have been sleeping better-- which just makes everything better!
I really love the flexibility with exercise too. In 75 Hard if you skip a day, you need to start over again at Day 1. In 75 Soft, you only need to work out 4 days a week. This is obviously more realistic for people who have busy schedules, and also better during winter flu/cold season. For example, last week we all had minor head colds and I needed to take a few days off from exercise to rest (obviously that's the smarter, healthier thing to do). I had already been able to get 4 workouts in that week, so it there was no need to start over from Day 1.
It feels like the perfect amount of a "challenge" without being too difficult.
Today I am linking up with Andrea and Erika for Friday Favorites. Have a great weekend!
