the start of a 75 day challenge | weekly notes (may 11 - 15, 2026)

monday

theres many habits i've been wanting to build recently, and some even for years and I'm ready to be more disciplined. So I'm starting a 75 day challenge. I've done 75 hard and 75 soft in the past and this isn't going to be like that. Although it will incorporate some of the core goals like movement, hydration, nutrition, getting outside, and reading, it'll be more customized to my lifestyle as I struggle with autoimmune and chronic illness and there are just some niche things I want to focus on beyond the typical challenge. So today marks day 1 and the 75th day will be july 24, which feels very fitting to wrap this up right before fall. I want to document this journey here through my honest reflections and photos and document more of the actual moments on my youtube channel through long form vlogs. the concepts im thinking of centering the challenge around is analog living and a whimsy reset. or maybe i should just name it 75 days of slowing down. because at the end of the day, my goals and habits can only happen if I slow down and make intentional choices. 

I successfully completed my first long morning walk of this challenge. It ended up being 45 minutes which is pretty decent for being out of a walking routine. I walked about 4500 steps during a mostly brisk walk (with some stopping to capture videos and photos of nature). so this proves to me that my goals for week one and the rest of the challenge are doable. I am working against the florida heat so I have to be intentional about when im walking outside. so heres what im thinking:

week 1: walk in the morning and evening (5,000 step goal)

2 15 minute dumbell workouts
2 youtube dance or yoga workouts
rest day sunday

week 2: walk in the morning and evening, short mid morning walk outside or treadmill inside (7,000 step goal)

15 min arm day
15 min full body day
15 min lower body day 
3 youtube dance or yoga workouts 
rest day sunday

week 3: 10,000 steps

arm day
full body day
lower body day
3 youtube dance or yoga workouts
rest day sunday

so hopefully after week three I will have an established and well balanced exercise routine that includes 10,000 steps walking, cardio, low impact exercise and strength training. I think because my step goal is low the first week as I work up my endurance, 2 short dumbell workouts and 2 youtube dance or yoga workouts is totally doable. I want sundays to always be my rest day where I dont count steps and dont do additional workouts. And any day I have a doctor appointment or bloodwork is an exception to the challenge as they often exhaust me. Of course I have some lab work and a doctor appointment right around the corner. But Im actually glad it worked out that way so that I can establish that boundary at the beginning of the challenge. As I reach week two, I want to establish a workout routine that targets specific parts of my body and increase the other workouts. Strength training is something I've always wanted to learn and incorporate into my daily life so I hope by the end of this challenge I can say I successfully did that. 

Other wellness habits I want to focus on include:
hydration, eating more whole foods, cooking at home more, learning about nutrition, learning about the menstrual phases and how to best support my body, meditation, stretching, prayer, bible study, reading fiction, nonfiction, poetry and famous literature, working towards one of my bigger creative goals, prioritizing self care, trying new hobbies and activities, going more analog, finding a deeper sense of community, being more intentional about expressing myself through fashion, makeup, home decor, implementing rhythms and routines, getting outside more...

today I ended up walking 8,300 steps between my morning and evening walk + a short 10 min walk mid morning

tuesday

Yesterday felt like the first taste of florida summer - dry yet humid heat with a chance of afternoon thunderstorms. The rain didn't come until late evening which allowed us to go on our evening walk. I checked the weather this morning and it looks like it's more likely to rain today, and its expected to start early in the afternoon and rain through the evening. So with that, I knew I wanted to go on a long morning walk incase we can't make it on our evening walk tonight. It's not even 8 am yet and I've reached 4,600 steps, which is nearly my entire step goal for the day (5,000 this first week). This morning walk was about an hour. I forgot how much I love sunrise walks. I fell out of that habit awhile ago. It's interesting how easy you forget these simple things. They bring so much joy to my mornings, immediately bring me a sense of gratitude, and there are so many glimmers along the journey while moving your body, and being outside. I also have a greater sense of community when I get outside first thing. It's only day 2 and I'm already feeling so grateful for this challenge. 

we decided to go on a family walk this morning since its most likely going to rain this afternoon and I ended the day with 6,800 steps.

wednesday

today was an odd day trying to get my walks in, but it eventually worked out. I successfully went on a morning, mid morning and evening walk and ended the day with 6,800 steps. I almost didn't go on my evening walk, which I'm so happy I did because the sunset was spectacular. Truly, I don't know if I've ever seen anything like it. I think by that time of day I'm typically ready to be in pajamas and to get cozy for the night but what I'm learning is that it does not matter if I'm already cozy or in my pajamas. If an opportunity is there for me to experience the beauty of nature or see another sunset, I should take it. For as much as I love my sunrise walks because of the gratitude that arises and the beauty I get to witness, sunset is just another opportunity to experience those things, and sometimes in a more spectacular way because you never truly know what you may experience. So why not give yourself 2 opportunities in a day to have the chance to experience something beautiful? 

thursday

It is nearly 7 am and I am feeling really tired and kind of dreading my morning walk. But I know once I get out there I will be thankful I did. I have not completed the other aspect of the challenge yet which is 2 youtube workouts and 2 dumbell workouts. If sunday is my rest day I have three days to do so. I plan on going on another mid morning walk and cleaning the bathrooms this morning as well so I think working up a sweat with a cardio youtube workout and a dumbell workout will work well today. 

this morning was really productive. I got outside for an hour walk during sunrise. And it was a walk I almost didn't go on. It was purely divine. There was so much beauty to notice, I can't wait to share the vlog of my walk. By the end of the day, I went on 4 walks and reached 9,500 steps. This week I have proven to myself that I can easily reach a minimum of 5,000 steps, do 7,000 fine next week and even get up to 10,000. 

The one part of the exercise challenge I haven't really prioritized this week is the youtube workouts and dumbell workouts. I had planned to do 2 youtube workouts either cardio, dance or yoga, maybe even meditation. And 2 15 minute dumbell workouts. So I'm thinking of getting it all done tomorrow as I only have friday and saturday to do so. I'll probably do one 15 minute warm up or dance youtube video and one yoga video. And then for the dumbell, I'll probably do a full body or arm 30 minute video. 

friday

This morning I woke up at 5 am on the dot. I started the morning with prayer, my devotional and a quick bible study in the book of Romans. I want to make this my priority every morning and it will be part of this challenge. For awhile, I was in a good habit being in the Word first thing every day, but then I started prioritizing other things during this timeframe. I want to change that. 

I'm going to try to get out a bit earlier for my walk this morning because we are planning on getting coffee and stopping at publix or sprouts for a few groceries before the day truly begins. I'm thinking of getting a blueberry butter pecan coffee and picking up some fruit, yogurt, snacks and maybe lunch. 

I went on a few walks today and ended the day with 8,500 steps. 

end of the first week reflections:

This week was full of lessons and glimmers and I’m so thankful for it. I’m so glad I decided to do this challenge. My first take away is how much I miss sunrise walks. It’s interesting how you can be in the habit of something, know you love and appreciate it but all it takes is one moment to fall out of routine and it becomes easy to forget. This week reminded me of the gratitude I experience on sunrise walks and how beneficial it is to start my day like that. It also showed me that the more you do something the more you may crave it. Even in the midst of the Florida heat, I was getting outside up to 4 times a day for walks. And each walk brought a new opportunity to witness beauty and notice glimmers. 

It also made me realize how you truly never know what you may experience and that it’s always worth trying. Every sunrise and sunset were different. I noticed so much wildlife. Felt a greater sense of community. And I quickly realized that I can do this. I can reach my step goal. I can get outside more. There were a few times I tried to talk myself out of going on a walk and each time I went, I came out on the other side so grateful I did. There would have been a lot of beautiful moments I would have missed had I not. Some of these walks and sunrises were some of the most magical I’ve experienced EVER. It makes me want to optimize the opportunity for these experiences and just be outside more and experience sunrise and sunset more. 

Another takeaway I had was how easy it is to fall into toxic productivity or to want to keep pushing yourself just to cross things off a to do list. By the end of the week I noticed I was falling into that pattern, and I say no more! It was specifically about trying to fit in the additional exercise components I’m trying to incorporate - dumbbells and YouTube workouts. And then there was a day where I was literally living by a to do list and how much I could cross off. And I just felt burnt out. I reflected on the expectations or goals I set for myself at the beginning of the week for this challenge and I do want to change them moving into next week. I’ll make sure to start off next weeks post with those new goals. If you’re interested in following the journey, I’ll be vlogging this experience on YouTube as well.

Video one is live on YouTube now, but you can also follow the playlist where I'll be saving all of the videos related to this series.