75 HARD -Round Two
Once upon a time, I had a trainer who would wait until we’d finished a brutal set and then say, "Anyone can do it once." Then we'd do it again.
That line has stuck with me for years. And it's exactly what went through my head when I decided to do 75 Hard for a second time.
What is 75 Hard?
If you haven't come across it before, 75 Hard is a mental toughness challenge built around seven daily habits: two 45-minute workouts (one of which must be outside), following a diet, drinking plenty of water, taking a daily progress photo, reading 10 pages of non-fiction, and zero alcohol or cheat days. For 75 days straight.
None of the habits are hard on their own. Doing all of them, every single day, for 75 days — that's hard. You can read about my first round here: https://www.stonesthrow.co.nz/blog/blog-post-75hard
Why do it again?
My first round was about proving something to myself - specifically, that I could keep the commitments I made to myself, not just the ones I made to other people. I could, and I did.
This time, I had a different focus. Perimenopause has brought some real changes to my body and my metabolism, and I've been struggling with them. The things that used to work weren't working in the same way anymore, and I wanted to do something deliberate and structured - not a quick fix, but a sustained effort to work with my body rather than fight it.
I started on the 1st of January. A fresh calendar date felt like a clean mental starting line. And 75 days takes you to the 16th of March, which meant no wriggle room to hide behind a slow summer.
Just do 10 days
75 days is daunting. Looking at the full stretch before you've even started is a good way to talk yourself out of it.
So I didn't look at the full stretch. I told myself: just do 10 days. Once those were done, I was already underway and the momentum was mine. I used the same trick from last time - breaking it into manageable chunks rather than staring down the whole thing at once.
Some days were easy. Some days were hard. A few required what some people might call stubbornness - I prefer to call it persistence and focus. Either way, it got the job done.
Here’s What I Learnt
Consistency is the whole game
There's no shortcut in a challenge like this. You either show up or you don't. The results don't come from any single day - they come from all of them, stacked quietly on top of each other. The cumulative effect of consistent action is something you genuinely cannot manufacture any other way.
Planning is what makes consistency possible
I didn't stumble through 75 days hoping the habits would happen. I planned when I'd do each workout, what I was eating, and what book I was reading. Planning removed the daily friction of deciding, and without that friction, the habits just happened. Structure isn't a constraint. It's what creates freedom.
Health is built into your everyday decisions
Not in the big gestures. Not in the extreme weeks or the occasional heroic effort. In the small choices, made consistently, over a long period of time. 75 Hard just makes that very visible.
Walking is genuinely powerful
I already believed this. 75 days of consistent outdoor walking made it undeniable. The physical benefits are real. So are the mental ones - it's thinking time, processing time, fresh air time. If you take one thing from this post, let it be this: walk more, and do it consistently.
The Results
Yes, I lost weight - 5.2 kg. But I also got stronger, physically and mentally. I didn't get sick (or not sick enough to stop). I didn't get injured. And I came out the other side with more trust in my own ability to follow through - which, if you've read my first 75 Hard post, you'll know is the thing I value most.
Anyone can do it once. Turns out, I can do it twice.
So What’s Next
Here's the thing about completing a challenge like this. The habits that made it work - consistency, planning, showing up even when you don't feel like it, noticing what's going well - aren't just fitness habits. They're the same habits that build a strong business.
Which got me thinking: what would a 75 Hard for business actually look like?
I've been sketching it out. Seven daily non-negotiables, no days off, and the same rule as the original - miss one habit on any day and you start again from day 1.
That's the rule that makes it real.
Here's what I've got so far:
1. Daily planning session | 5 minutes
Write down your top 3 priorities for the day. Not a to-do list, three things that actually move the needle. No skipping, no "I'll do it in my head."
2. One revenue-generating action
One thing every day that directly supports income, a follow-up, a pitch, a proposal, or a post that speaks to your ideal client. Every. Single. Day.
3. Read 10 pages of a business or leadership book
This one translates straight from 75 Hard; it’s so good, I had to keep it.
4. No reactive starts - protect the first 30 minutes
No email, no social, no messages for the first 30 minutes of your workday. Start with intention, not someone else's agenda.
5. One genuine connection
Reach out to one person in your network - not to sell, just to connect. Check in, share something useful, ask a genuine question. Relationships are a long game.
6. End-of-day review | 5 minutes
A stop/start/keep reflection before you close the laptop, what should you stop doing, start doing, keep doing? Plus three things you're proud of from the day. Not just the big wins. A hard conversation. Showing up when you didn't feel like it. A decision made with clarity. The pushers need to pause, too.
7. Write down one thing your business gave you today
Income, a meaningful conversation, a problem solved, a moment of pride, the flexibility to do something that mattered. One thing, written down, every day. Many business owners are brilliant at pushing harder and terrible at noticing what's already working. This habit fixes that.
I haven't done this yet; it's still just an idea on paper. But I'm thinking about it seriously. And if you're the kind of person who does better with structure, accountability, and a challenge that asks something of you every day, maybe you are too.
Watch this space.
If the habits in this framework sound familiar - planning, follow-through, reflection, momentum - that's because they're at the heart of how I work with clients. If you're ready to build some of that structure into your business, book a call and let's talk.