I Started 75 Hard after my 39th Birthday and now I’m joining the Great Lock-In of 2025

Let’s rewind to June 30th, the day after my 39th birthday.

I’ve always treated my birthday as the start of my real new year. Not January 1st, but the fresh chapter of another year of life. And this year, I wanted to start my 39th chapter with momentum.

So I decided the best way to kick things off was to take on a big challenge. Something that would push me, build consistency, and set me up for where I want to be heading into 40.

So, I chose to start the 75 Hard challenge.

I’d been hearing about it for a while. I saw the transformations, the water jugs, the daily selfies on IG, and it made me want to try it one day.

So, on my birthday, I thought, ‘eff it, let’s do it!’ So the next day, I joined the Facebook group, made a post, and jumped right in.

Why I Started

One of the reasons I decided to take the leap and do 75 Hard is that next year, my goal is to walk into 40 looking and feeling the best I have ever felt in my entire life.

And 75 Hard seemed like the perfect way to set that energy since it had strict rules and daily habits I could follow.

If you slip, you start over. That kind of structure felt like exactly what I needed to start my new year off right.

What I Discovered

I went in thinking 75 Hard was about getting into the best shape of my life. And yes, I am getting fitter, but that’s not the real point of 75 Hard.

75 Hard is about self-discipline and mental toughness. It’s about doing what you said you’d do, even when it’s annoying.

And honestly? For me, it’s more annoying than hard.

Two workouts a day, separated by at least 3 hours. Even when you want to put it in one big session, you can’t. Even when you’re exhausted after work, you still have to do that second workout. A lot of nights, mine turned into a tired walk around the neighborhood.

Same with reading. Once you pick a book, you’re stuck with it. Even if it’s boring and you’re not into it, you must finish because you committed.

And the 75 Hard Facebook group? Let’s say the culture is strict. They’ll quickly let you know when you have broken a rule and must start over.

The Great Lock-In of 2025

Fast forward to September 1st.

I’m on Day 64 of 75 Hard, and suddenly, my FYP on TikTok is trending about something new called The Great Lock-In of 2025.

The idea is to focus on the goals you want to accomplish over the last four months of the year, so that 2026 begins on the right note.

People are comparing it to 75 Hard, but it’s not the same.

75 Hard hands you the rules. With the Lock-In, you make your own. That gives you freedom, but it also means that the responsibility is on you to set clear goals and establish a structure.

Unfortunately, many people lack that clarity. They want to lock in, but they haven’t decided what matters most.

But honestly, I love it. Because collective energy matters. Sometimes a wave like this is exactly what someone needs to finally start.

And anyone shaming people for waiting until September to focus? They’re missing the point. Better to start now than not at all.

My Lock-In

Since I’ve already committed to 75 Hard, I decided to tap into this energy for something I’ve been putting off for years. Being consistent with writing.

I started my blog back in 2018, and I’ve always envisioned myself waking up, writing, publishing, and creating an arsenal of articles. But I never committed to it like I should have.

So my Lock-In vision for the rest of 2025 is to strengthen my writing practice and build a consistent body of work.

And one of the daily goals that supports that vision is: Publish one article per day until Dec 31, 2025.

And I’ll take a photo of each article as proof and motivation.

My only rule is that one new article goes live every day. How I make it happen is up to me.

I might add to this list as the Lock-In goes on, but this is what I am starting with.

Your Lock-In Blueprint

If you want to join the Great Lock-In of 2025, choose a set of goals that reflect your overall vision.

Think of it like 75 Hard.

The ultimate goal was to build self-discipline, and the daily rules (two workouts, reading, drinking water, taking progress photos, abstaining from alcohol, and following a diet) were chosen to support that.

Your Lock-In works the same way. Start with a theme or vision.

Maybe it’s building your personal brand, improving your health, strengthening your creativity, or deepening your relationships. Then choose the daily or weekly commitments that support that vision.

Here’s how to break it down:

1. Choose your overall vision. What do you want to strengthen or focus on by December 31st?
2. Pick 3–5 daily or weekly goals that align with that vision. These are your “Lock-In rules.”
3. Write down your why. Be clear on why these goals matter to your overall vision.
4. Track it visually. Circles, checkboxes, or a wall calendar to see your progress.
5. Decide on accountability. Photos, journals, and sharing with a friend to prove you did it.
6. Set consequences. Restart the week if you miss, or give yourself a set number of “strikes.”

Remember that your Lock-In “rules” should serve your vision, not the other way around.

Locking In With Intention

One thing 75 Hard taught me is that alignment matters.

If your structure doesn’t align with your real goal, you’ll end up feeling frustrated and tempted to quit.

So if anything, for these next four months, make sure to commit to something that really matters to you.

For me, this article marks the beginning of my lock-in, my Day 1. I’m going to publish it and then take a picture.

Because at the end of the day, the big goals in life are simple:

• Manifest what you truly desire
• Help others along the way
• Change the world in whatever way you can

That’s why it matters to have the right codes (the rituals, strategies, and insights) that help you keep moving forward.

If that speaks to you, I invite you to join my email list. That’s where I’ll be sharing the codes I’m learning and using on my own manifestation journey.

Join my email list here.