Hey, hey all (both) of my readers!
Long time, no blog. Side note: I feel like that should be my slogan. #sorrynotsorry #lifeiscrazy
I am writing this blog today from my couch. It is Monday. It is 45 degrees and raining according to my Galaxy Watch. Sammie is sleeping on her #realtreecamo dog bed, snuggling her stuffed pickle she chose from Petco. I’m sipping my coffee (at 4 PM) and drinking my water… thinking about how the world is a bit chaotic right now.
This is not a blog post about COVID-19. Rather, it is a blog post about something that has tremendously helped me managed my anxiety, changed habits around consumption of negative media, and created healthy ways of endulging in a little #selflove: Rachel Hollis’ #last90days challenge (stay tuned—there is a challenge happening right now that you can join to kick your @$$ in gear too).
Last 90 Days Challenge
Fun fact (or the saddest fact you will ever know about me): every year since I was 13, I have set some sort of #NewYearsResolution around weight loss: being healthier, losing weight, or being happy with the way I looked. LITERALLY the same three things but I just worded it differently depending on how my feng shui was aligned that day. 2019 was no different. After being successful with #keto, I wanted to “hit and maintain a healthy weight.”
So, here I go again, on my own (bonus points if you sang that). Usually, this “trying” to lose weight looks something like this: Change all of my eating habits drastically. Then I’m doing really great. Then there is some reason to derail that is stronger than my reason to continue—a birthday party, Halloween, Thanksgiving, Christmas… “One slice of cake isn’t going to cause me to gain it all back.” “One piece of that candy isn’t going to kill me.” “Having 9 plates of Thanksgiving dinner isn’t going to destroy my life.”
This may be true—if it stops there. For me, that “one” decision typically spills over. “Well, I’m going to the birthday party tonight and I know I’ll have cake so I may as well eat McDonald’s for lunch.” “I had that piece of candy last night and I’m fine today. Maybe I’ll have a couple pieces for dessert today.” “Hell, if 9 plates of dinner isn’t coupled with a whole pumpkin pie, then what am I even doing with my life?”
Anyone else hit that #treatyoself cycle? It happens to me ALL. THE. TIME. Before you come after me with the torches and pitchforks (but maintain a 6ft distance), I am NOT saying never treat yourself. What I am saying to literally look at it as a TREAT. #treatyoselfday Weird, I know, but hear me out.
I discovered #RachelHollis around May of 2019. At the risk of sounding melodramatic and paid to say so, I literally have been changed. #notanad After I became a crazy fan girl, I joined her Facebook group, #madeformore. (If you need daily pick-me-ups, real life success stories, and motivation to just live your life the best you can, GO FORTH MY FRIEND. Do it.)
From that group, I joined Rachel’s #last90days challenge. The whole idea is ending the year strong to start the year stronger. Nearly 80% of people fail at their New Year’s Resolution. She describes joining this challenge as climbing the stairs towards the top floor instead of waiting for January 1st to start climbing. By January 1st, you could potentially be on the fourth, fifth, or seventh floor… or you could be digging through the floor of the lobby with those Halloween candy decisions. I decided I wanted to climb.
Part 1: Five to Thrive
This is the core of the entire challenge (and honestly, Rachel’s life). If you have ever heard of her, you probably have heard these words. The Five to Thrive are the five key elements she believes are essential is a healthy, thriving life. Do these five things every day and you’re a winner in my (and Rach’s) book.
Wake up an hour earlier.
Yep, it’s hard. Yep, it’s worth it. The reason behind this is to give yourself more time for you. So often, we put others first which isn’t necessarily a bad thing—until you are not even on your priority list. You can’t fill from an empty cup, people. Take care of yourself.
Do the thing you’ve wanted to do. Drink your coffee in peace. Write the book you’ve been dreaming of since you were little. This time is for YOU.
I was not 100% successful in this and to tell you the truth, I usually do better taking time for me either later in the afternoon or before bed. Truth is: you won’t find the time for your goals so you have to make the time for your goals. Do what works for you.
Drink half your body weight in ounces of water every day.
Yep, it’s hard. Yep, it’s worth it. I have this giant, gallon-sized, obnoxiously pink water bottle. NEARLY every day for the #last90days I drank the stupid water.
Biggest lessons I learned from drinking a literal sh!tton of water:
I pee all the time.
I am less bloated.
I pee all the time.
I stay feeling full longer.
I pee all the time.
My face is clearer.
I pee ALL THE TIME.
Move your body for 30 minutes every day.
Yep, it’s hard. Yep, it’s worth it. (See a trend here?) This is most definitely the aspect I struggled the most with which is a little sad if you ask me. 30 minutes. That is only 2 PERCENT of your whole damn day. She’s not even saying go run a marathon, join a cross-fit gym, or complete P90X. Literally just MOVE YOUR BODY.
Dance party in the kitchen. Hike with your friends. Walk the dog around the neighborhood. Pull the weeds that have been staring you down. Get creative! Just move your damn body.
I have a gym membership so most days I moseyed my to the gym, completed my workout, and then left feeling like a million bucks. When I didn’t want to do that, I started a #50burpeesaday challenge. I stuck with this most of the days of the challenge! Also, I started a burlesque dance class. #owow Just stay active, y’all.
Give up a food you know you shouldn’t be eating for 30 days.
Yep, it’s hard. Yep, you got it. Most of us eat things we are well aware are not the best for us. All Rachel asks is you give up ONE of those foods for 30 days to prove to yourself you can. This was surprisingly the easiest part of the challenge for me.
October 1: I gave up ice cream. Ice cream had become my post-dinner meal. It wasn’t a treat. I ate it ALL THE TIME. I knew it was a problem so I had to stop. I had NO ice cream in October.
November 1: I continued with no ice cream and added no delicious, take-out coffee. #DutchBros This one was a two-fer. I also was focusing on paying down debt and saving money. #winwin I think I had Dutch three times in November and NO ice cream!
December 1: I continued with no ice cream, gave myself back the Dutch Bros, and gave up my worst crutch: sugarfree Rockstars. This was the WORST. Headaches and the whole shebang. But! I made it! NO ice cream and NO Rockstars in December!
Practice gratitude daily.
This was easily my favorite part of the challenge. Rachel believes practicing gratitude trains your mind to be more positive and see the good in each day—and I would have to agree. Each day she asks to write down five to ten things you are grateful for. That’s it!
This part of the challenge I NEVER missed. I naturally am a pretty positive person who tends to look at the silver lining of most situations. Sure, I have bad days but I still find nuggets of good in every day. I found myself listening to birds chirping and enjoying those extra long hugs a little more.
Part 2: Start Today Journal
This is what I consider the “second half” of the challenge: journal in your Start Today journal every day. This practice is quite literally my new obsession. Rachel developed the process when she realized she was naturally doing it every day to help her stay focused and achieve her goals.
What is your dream life? The secret to achieving that life you have always dreamed of… is knowing how to get from Point A to Point B. So, to start, Rachel believes you need to define what that life looks like. She calls this process, “Ten Years, Ten Dreams, One Goal.”
Ten Years: Envision your best self in ten years. What are you wearing, driving, eating, feeling, doing? Are you a parent? Are you married? Are you debt free? Are you a homeowner? Where do you work? Do you work? What are your hobbies? Who are you friends with? What habits do have? What does your day-to-day look like? Do you travel? Do you have pets? Anything you can think of, write it down.
Ten Dreams: Now that you have that dream life in writing, how are you going to get there? Rachel says, “Look at your vision of who you want to be ten years from now and write down all of the things that would be true if that was your reality.” Also, write these dreams as if they have already happened. Writing this way trains the brain to go from, “That could never happen,” to, “I have already achieved this.” My ten dreams for the challenge included, “I am debt free,” “I have completed a 10K,” “I keep a clean house,” and “I am an exceptional girlfriend.” After you have written down all of your dreams, choose the 10 that will help you obtain this #dreamlife the fastest and make your list.
One Goal: After you have your roadmap in place, it’s time to get down to business. #defeattheHuns She believes the fastest and most effective way to achieve your goals is to go ALL IN on one goal at a time. Put all you have into achieving this dream. Define clear, specific goals to help you obtain this aspect of your dream. For example, one of my dreams is to maintain a weight under 160. My first goal was to “lose 5 pounds by October 16.” That gave me 16 days to give it my all and lose those 5 measly pounds. And guess what? I did. Little bite sized goals to help you achieve these dreams to get you to that dream life. #boom
Once all of these have been established, you journal. Every. Day.
List what you’re thankful for. Write those ten dreams as if they have already happened. Write your specific goal.
Rachel does sell these journals but you also can just fill a notebook. She isn’t in it for the money. She wants to see others succeed. Although, the journals are VERY cute. ;)
Conclusion
Phew! Holy sh!t, we did it. That is the #last90days challenge in depth. I legit feel like these small changes helped me start the year off right rather than on that bottom floor as I have every other year.
With all of the chaos in the world, Rachel has launched a NEW #next90 days challenge—what?! Yeah! Same concept but to help us stay on track and not wallow in our sorrows while the world is in a weird “new normal.”
Join me for the Next 90 Days Challenge. Today was the first day and there is still time to set yourself up for the #next90days.
Cheers,
Karen
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