Day 7 Update: What seemed impossible a week ago is starting to feel… normal?
A week into 75 Hard Phase 1, and I’ll be honest – the two-workout rule felt like the most ridiculous requirement when I started. Two separate workouts? At least three hours apart? Who has time for that?
Turns out, I do. We all do. We just don’t realize it yet.
What the Two-Workout Rule Actually Means
Let’s get the logistics straight first. The rule isn’t just “exercise twice” – it’s two separate, intentional workouts with at least three hours between them. One can be indoors, one must be outdoors. Both need to be at least 45 minutes.
For me, this looks like a mix of running, weight lifting (following push/pull/legs/upper body splits), walking, and mobility work. The variety keeps it interesting, but the real magic happens in the planning.
Here’s what I’ve learned: I schedule my workouts at least a week ahead. Every Sunday, I map out the entire week on my calendar. This isn’t about being rigid – it’s about removing the daily mental load of “what am I doing today?” Instead, I wake up, check my calendar, and execute.
This simple shift has been a game-changer.
The 3-Hour Rule: Your New Time Management Teacher
That three-hour separation requirement? It’s not arbitrary. It forces you to actually look at your day and ask: “Where does my time really go?”
Before 75 Hard Phase 1, I’d tell myself I didn’t have time for much. Now I’m fitting in two workouts, reading, drinking a gallon of water, taking progress photos, and following my diet. Same 24 hours, completely different results.
The truth hit me hard around Day 4: When I’m not on 75 Hard Phase 1, I waste a lot of time.
Scrolling. Procrastinating. That weird limbo between deciding to do something and actually doing it. The two-workout rule eliminates that limbo. It creates natural structure that everything else fits around.
Making It Work as a Dad
Look, I get it. We’re trying to show up better for our families, not disappear into endless gym sessions. The beauty of this system is that it actually makes you more present, not less.
This week looked like:
- 5 AM strength training (before the family wakes up)
- Evening walks with the kids (outdoor workout + family time)
- Lunch break runs when working from home
- Weekend long runs that clear my head
The key is flexibility within structure. I know what needs to happen, but I can adjust how and when based on what life throws at me. Kids get sick? The evening walk becomes a morning run. Work meeting runs long? The lifting session moves from lunch to early evening.
This isn’t about becoming obsessed with fitness. It’s about becoming intentional with time.
The Deeper Game
Here’s what really gets me: this challenge is teaching me skills that go way beyond physical fitness. It’s teaching me how to:
- Plan ahead instead of hoping things work out
- Create non-negotiable standards for myself
- Show my kids what commitment looks like in action
- Use structure to create more freedom, not less
Every day I complete both workouts, I’m proving to myself (and my family) that I can do hard things. That I can keep promises to myself. That showing up consistently is a choice, not a circumstance.
The System That’s Actually Working
Weekly Planning: Every Sunday, I map out both workouts for each day of the coming week. I look at my calendar, consider family commitments, and plan accordingly.
Daily Flexibility: The plan exists, but I can move things around as needed. The commitment is to complete both workouts, not to stick rigidly to specific times.
Progress Tracking: I’m not just tracking that I did the workouts – I’m noting what worked, what didn’t, and how I felt. This data helps me plan better weeks ahead.
Beyond 75 Hard
Here’s the thing that’s becoming clear: this isn’t just about completing a challenge. It’s about building the skill of intentional living.
When you can consistently fit two workouts into your day while managing work, family, and everything else, you start to realize what else might be possible. What other “impossible” things are really just planning problems?
The two-workout rule isn’t punishment – it’s practice. Practice at taking your time seriously. Practice at keeping promises to yourself. Practice at showing up, even when (especially when) you don’t feel like it.
Day 7 down. 23 to go.
What’s your biggest time management challenge? How do you balance personal goals with family commitments? Let me know in the comments – I’m learning right alongside you.
Currently navigating 75 Hard Phase 1 and sharing the real, unfiltered experience. Follow along for more insights on doing hard things while showing up for the people who matter most.