Now that we've started, let's be consistent
Lessons on consistency - My 75 hard journey
Exactly 56 days ago, I started a version of the 75 hard challenge. For my readers who don't know, the 75 hard program is a challenge that encourages people to do 5 major life changing things for 75 days with no days off.
The actual 75 hard was designed for participants to follow a nutrition plan, complete two 45 minute workouts, drink a gallon of water, read 10 pages of a book and take a progress picture everyday. Also if you miss a day, you go back to Day 1! It's a training on consistency.
My take however is a little different - mine is aimed at mental development and ending the spell of laziness. I want to learn to show up for myself daily. So Bukola's take entails reading 10 pages of a book, reading 3 chapters of my bible, working out for at least 45 minutes, praying and following a diet (no small chops and no alcohol). I also decided not to start from scratch if I missed a day because truly the struggle to be consistent is real so I had to be honest with myself.
I've been consistent for 50 days and I feel great. Asides the fact that my body feels amazing because I haven't been eating junk, I feel stronger and I've read 5 books!! I honestly thought my win would be losing weight (I gained some happy weight in Lagos) but I'm so satisfied with the fact that I've been consistent. Consistency is the win for me here.
You know how if you do something consistently for 21 days, it becomes a habit. Yeah, if you do it for 75 days, it apparently becomes a lifestyle.
I wanted to show up for myself and so far showing up for myself has me feeling empowered to do more, on top of the world and like nobody can touch me! I've always believed consistency is a sign of self-discipline but what I didn't know was how much confidence being consistent makes you feel.
Truth be told, it has been tough! After skipping 5 days, I was going to stop. I decided from the beginning to be accountable to my Instagram fam and I knew they were going to drag me for missing 5 days (not back to back but at different times). I was ashamed and did not want to be dragged! However, I was encouraged to continue and I did. I'm so glad I did :)
It is exactly 45 days till the end of the year and I want to leave you with 3 lessons I've learned while challenging myself to be consistent. I am hoping you get inspired to start your own 30 day challenge right after reading this.
Involve people!
You have no idea how many people are watching you and secretly rooting for you. It's so easy to focus on "haters" but you'll be shocked how many people want you to succeed. On days when I haven't felt like showing up, I've put it out there and people go as far as calling me to remind me to show up. I so much love it. Doing things with people sometimes makes it easier (key word here is sometimes, know when to move in silence as well). Having an accountability partner really helps
Prioritize structure over self-discipline
This is a concept I learned from Pastor Emmanuel Iren and I’ve been practicing it. If you know it'll be difficult to get yourself to do something, put things in place to ensure you do it e.g. if you don't like working out and you want to workout for 30 days, get a trainer who will come to your house at a certain day daily to force you into it or a workout buddy who has grown in self discipline and will push you to do same. It might seem forced but it's a way to ensure even if you fail yourself, you have something in place to push you! What you lack in self-discipline you can make up for with structure. Help yourself please
Switch things up.
It's possible that variety is the secret to consistency.
Doing the exact same thing for 75 days and essentially the rest of your life can get boring. Shake it up, make it different every month, every 10 days, every quarter or so. Instead of doing the same workouts for 2 months, join a group class, go on a 2 hour walk, go for a boxing class. Even a seemingly simple thing like praying everyday can become monotonous until you introduce prayer walks, worship sessions, writing your prayer and so on.
If you've found yourself struggling with consistency, I think you should give one of the tips above a shot and let me know if it works for you.
It's not too late to have a “consistency win” in 2024 - you can still get up to something, crush it and be absolutely proud of yourself.
How do you plan on showing up for yourself this week? Tell me what you want to be consistent with or put it in the comments - you might just find an accountability partner there.
Don't wait for the "new year, new me" season, go ahead and start now.
Yours in consistency,
Bukola.