75 Hard came at the best possible time in my life. For that, I’m immensely grateful.
When I first started this challenge, I wrote The Perfect Time to discuss how there’s never a perfect moment to do something, so you should start now. When I wrote that post, I had no idea just how grateful I’d be to be in the midst of this discipline challenge in just a few more weeks.
If you’ve been keeping up with the blogs, you may be concerned for my mental health – let me assure you, I’m doing just fine. My blogs may make it all seem worse than it is, but that’s because I often write in the thick of it, when my mind is buzzing. I won’t say I’m doing great of course because I have had some rough days, but this is why I’m so hyped to be doing 75 Hard.
I’ve been imagining how different my life and mental health would be right now if I had been following the shitty routine I had been for months. If I was working full time, going home and wasting the evening away, not doing anything productive, and drinking beer regularly, I would not be doing as well as I am now.
This challenge has been the perfect outlet for all the negative energy I’ve needed to release. I wouldn’t call it a distraction because I’m still experiencing all these emotions, but instead of spending hours alone in my apartment, dwelling on all the thoughts, I’m using expending the energy into physical activities. The jitters of anxiety dissolve as I walk, the anger pushes out more reps, and the extra hours of sleep give my mind and body the rest I need to be prepared for the next day.
The part I’m happiest about is not turning to alcohol as a vice to numb my emotions. It’s not that I was drinking a ton before, but it was more than I wanted for the healthy lifestyle I desire. So knowing that I can work through these things without alcohol is liberating.
This entire challenge has taught me so many lessons and I’m only a third of the way through. In hindsight, I couldn’t have asked for a better time to start. I’m seeing just how tough a person can be in the heat of battle and how investing your energy into improving yourself can be the relief you need from turmoil.
I cannot wait to see where the rest of this challenge takes me and to see how much more I learn about myself in the next 50 days. It’s going to be taxing and I won’t always be hyped, but it’s going to be worth it.
September 16, 2024
