THE ROOT 9: 17.2

Beyond The Challenge

I started my 75 Hard journey on March 15th and wrapped it up on May 28th – three weeks ago! Initially, I had grand aspirations for how I'd document it: daily vlogs, quick check-ins, or even a reel of my progress photos. But as I reflected, it became clear it was about so much more than just the 'how' or 'what' of the experience.

Looking back at all the podcast notes, book annotations, journal entries, and even texts to myself (more on that below) that I gathered throughout the process, the most impactful way to truly capture and celebrate the journey was through what I was doing semi-subconsciously and with no agenda - reflection.

So, I took some time to gather all those notes and compiled 75 Learnings from 75 Hard, which I've shared on my Instagram and TikTok (linked at bottom of post)

For me, the real 'value add' wasn't just showing what I did, but in trying to distill the introspection from the experience into something that might actually benefit others. My hope is that these '75 Learnings' can be a small source of free, impactful wisdom for a wider audience, moving beyond simply showing my journey to sharing its most valuable takeaways.

I found great purpose in putting this together, I hope you enjoy.

I realized that every meaningful experience, no matter how personal, holds lessons that can resonate far beyond our individual lives if we take the time to reflect and share them openly. Universal truths can emerge when we simply take the time to properly look back and connect the dots.

Texts To Self

A while back, I brought an observation into therapy I may have written about here: we often internalize advice from our loved ones more readily, even when we tell ourselves the very same things. It's as if the external validation carries more weight.

From this, we created a simple yet powerful practice: texting myself. It sounds silly, but hear me out. I regularly send reassuring thoughts, reflections, reminders—you name it—to my own iMessage. The genius of it lies in how it subtly re-wires my brain; seeing the message appear on the "receiving" side, as if from someone else, helps me feel like I’m getting a gentle, affirming nudge or a helpful reminder from an external source. It's a small shift that has profoundly helped me lean into the overarching principle of becoming a true friend to my own mind.

From sending myself songs I love or quotes from books to simply jotting down a fleeting thought I don't want to forget, these texts act as a personal stream of consciousness. You might even notice some of my ‘texts to self’ I snipped below reflected in my "75 Learnings from 75 Hard." It's a low-friction way to capture thoughts before they vanish and to offer myself the same kindness and guidance I'd extend to a close friend.

This has seamlessly transitioned into my work life, serving as my own personal, dynamic to-do list. When a small task comes up in a call or a passing conversation – something I need to follow up on but can't immediately action – a quick Teams message to myself captures it. I intentionally leave these messages on "read" until I’m back at my computer, keeping the notification bubble as a persistent, gentle reminder until I can cross it off. This helps me not forget those minor, yet important, details that often slip through the cracks, allowing me to close out my day with the peace of mind that nothing essential has been overlooked.

Let’s get a bit vulnerable and open. Here are some examples of ‘texts to self’ from March and April.

One of my favorite aspects of the work week and making relationships with your colleagues is making the space to catch up on a monthly or bi-weekly basis and cultivate a relationship that naturally expands past your work.

Even better if those connects are in a refreshing environment 🙂 One of my dear coworkers has this Cucumber Diffuser by elizabethW that I, without fail, complement quite literally every time I enter her office. I’ve done it so many times that when I did it today and noticed I was repeating myself week over week - the realization smacked me in the face. Duh! I am writing about it this week!