The Conversation (0)
Why you should attempt New Year's fitness resolutions for at least two …
Cover Media - Shareable / VideoElephant
Ah, January, we meet again.
We're entering the month where everyone goes into temporary hibernation while setting unrealistic goals for major lifestyle changes - only to re-emerge as their former selves by February.
But the last couple of years, new approaches to the start-of-year reset have emerged, forcing us to incorporate sustainable tweaks to our everyday that genuinely have the power to change our mindsets over time.
One you may have seen popping up online is 75 Hard, a 75-day challenge dedicated to making major changes to core elements of your life - from water consumption, to diet, exercise, and hobbies.
It's gruelling too, with no alcohol or cheat meals, two 45-minute workouts per day (one must be outdoors), one gallon of water each day, and reading 10 pages of a book among the list of rules.
Pexels
But, those who have managed to persevere (for perspective, if you were starting on 1 January, you'd complete the challenge on 16 March), they've documented major mental and physical overhauls that frankly, are enough to convince us that maybe we should try it.
Following 75 Hard came 75 Soft, a far more flexible version of the original trend, which encompassed social drinking rather than a complete ban, eating well, three litres of water per day and 10 pages of a book with 45 minutes of daily exercise (allowing one recovery day per week).
However, the jump between the two is stark, which has allowed for a new contender to emerge 2026: 75 Medium.
A blend of the two challenges means you'll still feel and potentially see the benefit of 75 Hard, but still have some of the flexibility of 75 Soft. Quite literally a happy medium, if you will.
What's more, you're more likely to stick to something that doesn't feel like a chore.
75 Medium rules
- Work out for 45 minutes each day (indoor or outdoor)
- Stick to a diet of your choice 90 per cent of the time, avoid alcohol
- Drink half your body weight in ounces of water - someone who weighed 70kg would need 1.2L of water per day (half of 70kg is 35kg converted into ounces)
- Focus on personal development and take 10 minutes per day to read or listen to something inspirational
- Meditate for 5-10 minutes per day to encourage mindfulness
Of course, the rules can be tailored to suit you, because with any 75 challenge, the long-term goal is to feel good and see improvement in important areas of your life. You want this to fit into your existing life, not be your life entirely.
One social media user outlined that they'd be avoiding sweet treats and committing to 8,000 steps per day, while another vowed to switch to a whole food-only diet six days a week, and ditching caffeine.
Others suggested cutting out fizzy drinks, or switching post-dinner desserts for protein-based snacks.
"It was the best thing I ever did last year", one person noted.
With 75 Hard a little too all-or-nothing for many people, it's easy to see why its friendlier younger sister is gaining traction.
If you're looking for a way to upgrade your life without the unnecessary pressure, this could be it. See you in March.
Why not read...
I tried the Monk Mode challenge, and it broke my life
What is TikTok’s ‘Great Lock In’? Experts are convinced it’s more than just a fitness fad this time
Sign up to our free indy100 weekly newsletter
Have your say in our news democracy. Click the upvote icon at the top of the page to help raise this article through the indy100 rankings.
Top 100
