Though I’m dealing with depression and anhedonia, I recognise that I need to be disciplined and keep working towards my goals. For a few days, I was supremely lazy, and I think I needed that time, but taking too much time off when depressed can result in weeks going by with no progress. I don’t want that to happen because I can feel it already happening when I work in my manifestation planner.

75 Hard Challenge

Core Rules (Must be followed for 75 days straight):

• Two Workouts: Two 45-minute workouts, one of which must be outdoors regardless of weather.
• No Alcohol or Cheat Meals: Follow a structured diet of your choice.
• 1 Gallon of Water: Consumed throughout the day.
• Read 10 Pages: Non-fiction, educational, or self-help books only (no audiobooks).
• Progress Photo: Take one photo every day.
• No Compromises: If any rule is missed, you must start back at Day 1

Undertaking 75 Hard, the challenge that develops mental toughness, was a consideration to help push me out of depression. Ultimately, I’ve decided against it. As a personal trainer and mid-life female, I know that recovery time is necessary to prevent injury and to encourage muscle growth.

I also don’t want to take a daily photo in my underwear. Once a week, that’s fine. But every day is just ridiculous.

Another aspect of the challenge is to drink 1 gallon of water a day. Luckily, I know that my sodium is usually low to low-normal so I don’t think drinking a gallon of water is a good idea. Instead, I often include some electrolytes when drinking water to promote hydration and improve sodium levels. Only plain water is allowed for the challenge.

I don’t mind reading a minimum of 10 pages of nonfiction; I do that already.

I do like how the challenge provides for personal choice when it comes to selecting a diet. That is probably the most balanced aspect of the program. I’m not drinking any alcohol, and I am following a mostly vegetarian diet.

The no compromises part is where a lot of people stumble, including myself. I am good at rationalising why I will or won’t do something that is scheduled for the day. I make excuses and back out of plans that I know will benefit me in the future. I do like the no compromises aspect, but I think it can be softened a little. For instance, one cheat meal shouldn’t mean you start back at day 1, it should just signal that you need to adjust your daily calories and nutrient intake for that day. If a program is too punitive, it defeats the purpose of growing discipline and healthy habits that last past the 75 days.

In my opinion, mental toughness is not the absence of making bad choices or not reaching a goal followed by punitive measures. Mental toughness is the resilience that allows one to achieve goals despite obstacles and imperfections that can derail a person and result in an abandonment of goal-seeking behaviours.

So, today, I’m going to create my own 2026 Reset to help me recover from depression and achieve my daily goals. I might post it to my blog tomorrow in case it inspires anyone else to create their own 2026 reset program.

Well, I need to get some research done for my book on maternal psychosis. I need about 200 sources and I’m on source 2 after taking time to learn a new source management system, Zotero, creating a book outline, and narrowing down research that I have already done to fit the outline of the book. I read a lot of studies, but I decided not to use a great number of this for this project.

Thank you for following, and I hope you have a wonderful and productive day.