It’s been almost a year since I took on this challenge. Currently, I’m busy with a new 75 Soft, though it’s not going as well as it did last year—that’s a story for another time. Let me tell you about our challenge last year.
I needed to change something—anything. I was stuck in a slump.
In 2021, I created a group with two of my friends where we shared what we were up to and motivated each other to get moving or tackle tasks we had been putting off. So, what better place to start than by asking my friends to join me and help me make the changes I needed?
On May 6th, 2024, we started our 75 (Hard) Soft challenge. If you’re unfamiliar with the 75 Hard challenge, you can read more about it here. The beauty of this challenge is that you can use the list as a guide and tailor it to your own needs—which is exactly what we did. Here’s how it went.
I wanted to get moving, read more, and build healthy habits for both my home and myself. My five things were:
- Drink 2L of water a day
- Move for 30 minutes
- Dress for success
- Read 10 pages
- Clean the kitchen
Let’s break it down.
Drink 2L of water a day
Apart from the fact that our bodies need water to survive, it also has countless health benefits. I once had renal tubular inflammation—it was incredibly painful. After that experience, I promised myself I would never neglect water again. But guess what? I did. And to this day, I’m still terrified of going through that again, which is why I made water intake a priority in this challenge.
At the beginning, I really struggled. I don’t like drinking water—I swear my body runs on coffee. But deep down, I knew it would benefit not only my overall health but also help me manage my diabetes.
Looking back, I probably shouldn’t have jumped from drinking little to no water straight to 2 liters a day. It was a real challenge. Some nights, I’d be sitting there at 10 PM with a full liter still left to drink. But over time, I started noticing the benefits—better glucose levels, reduced hunger, proper hydration, and cutting down on coffee and calorie-loaded soft drinks.
I remember nearing the end of the challenge, I just wanted day 75 to arrive so I could take a break from drinking so much water—haha!
Next time, I’ll do things differently. Instead of forcing myself to hit an arbitrary number, I’ll find my own ‘sweet spot’—the amount of water I feel comfortable with—and start from there.
Move for 30 minutes
I hate exercise. Funny enough, in my 20s, I was really active—I used to run, go to the gym, bike, hike… you name it. Looking back, though, I wasn’t necessarily happy, but staying active did help with my diabetes management.
This time around, I wasn’t aiming to become super fit; I just wanted to move again so I wouldn’t feel so stiff. My goal was simple—30 minutes of any kind of movement, whether it was stretching, Pilates, gym, walking, or swimming.
Did it make a difference? Yes, yes it did. Did I enjoy it? No. Most of the time, it felt like a chore. Will I do it again? Maybe.
But one thing I did realise—any bit of movement is necessary. It doesn’t matter what form it takes.
Dress for success (sing it like Roxette!)
Working from home has been an absolute blessing. But as we all know, it’s easy to slip into that ‘slouchy’ look—because, really, who’s going to know?
I’m not a fan of working in my PJs, and I remember during lockdown, my neighbor told me she got dressed and put on makeup every day as if she were going to the office. She said it helped her stay focused and avoid falling into a slump.
I set this challenge for myself because joggers and crew necks were my go-to—especially in winter. And you know what? It made a difference. I felt fancy, and it forced me to dig deep into my wardrobe and get creative with what I already owned. In the process, I figured out what was comfortable and what I didn’t actually like wearing. I ended up donating the items I knew I’d never wear again.
This was a good one, and I really enjoyed it! Here are my outfits from the 75 days.
Read 10 pages
This seemed like a no-brainer—something that should be easy. But nope! I completely misjudged the actual work involved in reading 10 pages a day.
I’m an avid reader, and it’s my absolute favorite hobby. Looking back, I should have phrased this challenge differently. The moment I attached a specific page count to it, it started feeling like a task rather than something I enjoyed.
That said, I stuck with it—I read 10 pages (sometimes more, depending on the book) every single day. But some nights, I found myself reading at 11:30 PM just to hit that number, and honestly, it wasn’t worth it.
Next time, I’ll include this challenge again—but without a fixed number. Reading should be about joy, not obligation.
Clean the kitchen
My kitchen doesn’t look like one of those ‘let’s-clean-the-dirtiest-kitchen’ episodes on YouTube. I promise. The issue stemmed from the fact that, after the party’s over and dinner is done, the kitchen often gets forgotten, and I’d just go to bed. We all know that ‘I’ll do it in the morning’ routine—yup, that was me.
So, I added this rule: the kitchen had to be tidied up before bed—counters wiped, stovetop cleaned, all dishes rinsed and neatly stacked in the scullery, and the rest (dishwasher-safe dishes) put in the dishwasher (not left on top).
Did I do it? Yes, yes I did. And it made such a difference! In the morning, I no longer dreaded walking into a messy kitchen. I could start my day without scrambling to clean up before work. This has become a solid habit now, and for that, I’m really thankful.
I absolutely loved doing this, especially with my friends. It was so motivating and empowering. There’s almost nothing more satisfying than setting a challenge and completely acing it. I was so proud of myself, and I will definitely do it again.
That being said, I did take a break after the challenge ended. It’s hard work! No, I didn’t stop reading, and I didn’t stop cleaning my kitchen, but I just took it slow.
This year, we’re doing it again, and I’ll let you know how it went once the 75 days are over.
E xx
The Travellingmind 