75 Hard, How Do You Start? A Realistic Guide for Your First 75 Days
1. Ask This Before You Even Begin
There’s something undeniably exciting about deciding to take on a 75-day challenge. The clarity. The rules. The promise that you might come out of it sharper, stronger, more grounded.
But before you dive in, let’s pause for a moment.
What are you really hoping to get out of this?
Not in a pressure-filled, make-a-life-plan kind of way. But just honestly: What feels unfinished in your life that this challenge might help focus? 75 Hard isn’t just about discipline. It’s about structure. About seeing what happens when you create one and try to stick to it for longer than you’re used to.
And how you start—what you prepare for, what you expect from yourself—matters a lot more than the first few workouts.
2. The Rules, Plain and Simple
In case you need a refresher, here are the five daily non-negotiables of 75 Hard:
Two 45-minute workouts per day (one must be outdoors)
Follow a diet of your choice (no cheat meals or alcohol)
Drink 1 gallon of water
Read 10 pages of nonfiction
Take a daily progress photo
Miss even one? You start back at day one.
These rules are strict, but there’s also comfort in their simplicity. You don’t have to make it complicated. You just have to make it consistent.
3. A Smarter Pre-Challenge Checklist
Before you hit "Day One," walk yourself through this:
✅ Can I clearly explain why I’m doing this challenge?
✅ Have I loosely imagined what my daily routine will look like?
✅ Do I have a backup version of my routine for busy or low-energy days?
✅ Do I have a system to track my progress (like an app, notebook, or calendar)?
✅ Is there at least one person, system, or tool I can lean on when motivation dips?
Starting strong isn’t about being hyped. It’s about being honest—and realistic.
4. So What Should You Actually Do for 75 Days?
The magic of 75 Hard is that you get to shape your own structure. Here's how some people make it work:
🟦 Routine 1: The Commuter
Morning: 45-min walk + audiobook
Daytime: Meal-prepped clean lunch
Evening: Bodyweight workout at home + 10 pages nonfiction
🟩 Routine 2: Home-Based Focus
AM yoga/stretching session (outdoors)
Hydration throughout the day
Evening: Dance cardio video + reading
🟥 Routine 3: Nature and Mindset
Early hike or outdoor walk
Plant-based clean meals
Night: Journaling + progress photo + mindset book
If you’re looking for inspiration, here are some creators who've documented their 75-day journey:
@laurengiraldo (for a more balanced take)
Andy Frisella on YouTube (founder’s perspective)
5. Structure > Willpower
Here’s something I remind myself often (and others, too): You don’t need more motivation. You need more structure.
That’s where things start to stick. Where it gets less dramatic and more sustainable. Where it becomes something you don’t think about, but just do.
In the next article, we’ll talk about what happens when you feel like quitting—and how your brain is actually working against your goals (and how to beat it).
Read Next: What Happens in Your Brain When You Want to Quit 75 Hard?
