Reset Your Life: How Lifestyle Challenges Can Help You Transform

Lifestyle Challenges: A Personal Path to Growth

Over the years, I’ve come to love creating my own lifestyle challenges. It all started with a yearly ritual, where I would give up chicken then liquor for 60 days. That ritual evolved into a practice of mini-challenges that I didn’t even call challenges at the time; I referred to them as "Resets". But as I moved further into these resets, I began to see the power of discipline and consistency in shaping my mental, physical, and financial life.

My resets pushed me to give up more: fried foods, cheese, waking up late, and neglecting workouts. These little lifestyle adjustments made a lasting impact. I began waking up at 6 a.m. every day and working out three times a week. The funny thing? Some habits, like cheese, I returned to. But others, I never looked back on. I didn’t see this as depriving myself but rather as a transformation, a way of building habits that would stick with me beyond the challenge.

These resets helped me grow. They broke up the monotony of life, brought new hobbies, new foods, and even revealed parts of myself I hadn’t known before. One of the most significant moments came after a toxic breakup. I realized I needed a fresh start. I wanted to shed my old self and step into a new version of me. So, I crafted a 90-day reset leading up to my birthday—a reset that would align me with who I wanted to become.

In those 90 days, I set out to lose 10 pounds and ended up shedding 15, dropping from 185 lbs to 170 lbs. I also cut down on TV, took up art again, and dove into books like Vibrate Higher Daily and The Mastery of Self. Journaling became a nightly habit, guided by Michelle Obama’s Becoming for reflection, paired with affirmations to shift my mindset toward positivity. This 90-day reset didn’t just help me reset—it helped me rediscover and reinvent myself.

The thing people don’t always mention about lifestyle challenges is that they require commitment. It’s not a quick fix or a trend to follow; it’s a deliberate shift in your everyday life. To sustain these changes, I always remind myself and others that the focus should be on what works for you. It’s not about following a trend like Hard 75—it’s about understanding your own needs and tailoring your challenges to fit your goals, whether that’s 30 days, 90 days, or longer.

Who Can Benefit from Lifestyle Challenges?

• People seeking discipline: Challenges help build consistency in areas like fitness, eating habits, and time management.

• Those looking to break bad habits: Challenges provide structure to reduce or eliminate unhealthy behaviors.

• Anyone wanting to build new skills or hobbies: By taking on new activities, like journaling or cooking, people discover new passions.

• People undergoing major life transitions: Challenges provide a focused path forward during times of personal change, like post-breakup or career shifts.

• Those needing mental and emotional clarity: Challenges can lead to personal breakthroughs and a clearer sense of identity through introspection and goal-setting.

Things to Avoid When Creating a Lifestyle Challenge

While creating a personal lifestyle challenge can be incredibly rewarding, there are a few things to keep in mind to make sure you stick with it and see real results. I’ve learned a lot from my own resets, and I’ve made my fair share of mistakes along the way. Here are some pitfalls to avoid:

• Being Too Hard on Yourself
  It’s easy to get caught up in perfectionism when taking on a challenge, but progress is what matters most. I’ve had days where I didn’t wake up early or gave in to a craving. Instead of feeling defeated, I remind myself that one slip-up doesn’t erase all the effort. Challenges are about growth, not perfection.

• Setting Unrealistic Expectations
  I’ve learned the hard way that setting massive, unrealistic goals can backfire. If your challenge feels impossible, it’s tempting to give up altogether. Start with achievable steps and build up gradually. For example, if you want to work out, don’t start by aiming for six days a week if you’re currently at zero—begin with two or three, and let the momentum grow.

• Giving Up Too Soon
  In the first few weeks of my resets, I often didn’t see immediate changes. Whether it was weight loss or breaking a bad habit, progress was slower than I wanted. But I realized that meaningful change takes time. Challenges are meant to push you out of your comfort zone, but patience is key. Give yourself enough time to experience the rewards.

• Not Tailoring It to Your Needs
  One of the biggest mistakes people make with lifestyle challenges is trying to follow someone else’s plan. When you design your own reset, make sure it’s relevant to your specific goals. What worked for me might not work for you, and that’s okay. Your challenge should reflect your life, not what’s trending.

• Ignoring Your Mental and Emotional Well-being
  Challenges should improve your life, not add stress. If you’re feeling overwhelmed, it’s okay to take a step back and adjust the goals. During my 90-day reset, I made sure to balance physical changes with mental ones—reading, journaling, and art were just as important as working out. Remember, it’s about overall growth, not just one area.

• Impatience with Results
  Results won’t always be immediate. Whether it’s weight loss, improved habits, or a mental shift, change takes time. There were moments when I felt like I wasn’t progressing fast enough, but I stayed committed to the long game. If you focus too much on the end result, you might miss the small wins that happen along the way.

• Comparing Yourself to Others
  Avoid falling into the trap of comparing your progress to others. Everyone’s journey is unique. In my resets, I learned to stop looking at what others were doing and focus on my own progress. Celebrate your wins, however small they may seem, because it’s your personal growth that matters.

By keeping these things in mind, you’ll create a challenge that not only pushes you but also allows you to grow without feeling discouraged. Challenges should stretch you, but they should also be realistic, rewarding, and, most importantly, tailored to your own life.

Creating Your Own Lifestyle Challenge

Before challenges like Hard 75 became popular, I was making my own resets. It doesn’t have to be 75 days or involve specific rules. What matters is that the challenge suits your life and focuses on areas you want to improve. Maybe you want to reset your eating habits, cut out distractions, or find more balance between work and play. Start by identifying your goals. Are you looking to be healthier, more mindful, or perhaps more financially disciplined? Once you know what you're aiming for, break it down into smaller steps.

For example, if you want to improve your fitness, start by setting a goal like working out three times a week. If you’re looking to reduce stress, maybe your challenge includes daily meditation or journaling. When it comes to sticking with it, remember that it’s not about perfection—it’s about consistency and showing up every day, even when it’s hard.

Life is full of moments that call for a reset. So why not create your own challenge? It’s not about following a fad; it’s about designing a path that serves you. After all, the most impactful changes come when we step outside of our comfort zones and into the life we want to lead.