Student Blog
Katelyn

Burnout to Balance: Revisiting 75 Soft ⟩
May 30, 2025, by Katelyn

Life Hacks School/Life Balance

Hi! I’m Katelyn, a current E-OTD student in her third semester of the program.

Following a ~very~ challenging Adult Rehab semester this past spring (that I will get into in my next blog post), I have the luxury of spending my first summer semester learning more about Mental Health.

The shift from the Adult Rehab immersion to the Mental Health immersion felt dramatic. Each immersion that we take has its own value, similar to how different work settings and clinical sites have different paces. That said, going from 50+ pages of textbook reading, wading through in-depth articles, and weekly quizzes that felt more like exams, to a slower pace in Mental Health, I felt as though I slammed on the brakes when I was going 100 miles an hour.

Honestly, it made me feel restless. I catch myself feeling that I’ve forgotten something important – like a quiz peeking around the weekend. My sense of urgency hasn’t left. In an effort to engage my restlessness into action, I decided to revisit something I tried during my Adult Rehab semester that I had pushed to the back burner when life got overwhelming: 75 Soft.

Before I dive into what the 75 Soft is, I have to introduce you to the 75 Hard. If you haven’t heard of the 75 Hard, the idea was originally coined by Andy Frisella as a “Transformative Mental Toughness Program” specifically designed to emphasize discipline and determination.

Let me tell you, the requirements are absolutely mind-boggling.

• Follow a structured diet
• No cheat meals or alcohol
• Two 45-minute workouts (1 of them MUST be outside)
• Drink a gallon of water
• Read 10 pages of a non-fiction, educational book (no audiobooks)
• Take a progress photo

The challenge lasts a total of 75 days. The kicker? If you fail to complete any of the daily tasks, you start back at Day 1.

While it might sound absolutely wild, 75 Hard has taken social media by storm. I have seen so many people on my feed who are trying it, have failed it, or have finished it. However, the popularity of the 75 Hard has created many spinoffs, one of which is the 75 Soft. In my mind, the 75 Soft is a more manageable and realistic challenge.

At the moment of posting this blog, I am starting Day 12. I tailored my 75 Soft to be reasonable yet challenging. Here’s what the 75 Soft looks like for me.

• 8,000 steps a day
• Workout for an hour 3 times a week
• Increase my protein intake
• Drink half my body weight in fluid ounces of water
• Read 10 pages of any book
• Avoid alcohol except for social occasions

Surprisingly, I have met all of my requirements. Having failed the previous semester, I came into this second attempt determined, hopeful, but wary. However, I have found myself prioritizing this challenge. During breaks and between classes, I walk around the USC Health Science Campus. I enjoy the hustle and bustle of fellow students, faculty, and staff while also achieving my daily 8k steps. Constantly sipping on water, I find myself feeling better: fewer headaches or bloating, and even better-looking skin. I have always heard about the benefits of drinking an adequate amount of water and walking throughout the day. However, having been intentional for almost two weeks now, I see improvements. If anything, I’m disappointed that I see improvements… because that means I’ll have to continue doing it even after the 75 Soft.

The biggest improvement about this challenge, however, would be my mental health. Ironic, because I’m in my mental health semester. But with more thought, it’s fitting. This challenge, paired with a slower semester, has regulated my emotional and mental well-being. Am I completely regulated? Absolutely not. But being able to read a good book to unwind, or to walk around a park after school, has helped me more than I would have ever expected. This challenge has given me the time, space, and excuse to slow down and do the hobbies I find meaningful.

Given my great emotional and physical start to my 75 Soft challenge, I have the full intention of completing this challenge. Maybe one day I’ll find myself embarking on the even greater challenge of the 75 Hard.

I look forward to updating you in my future posts on my progress and completion!

Ta-ta for now!

P.S. My wonderful boyfriend made me this 75 Soft Tracker spreadsheet that is super easy to use! If you find yourself interested in trying the 75 Soft (or Hard), be sure to check it out!

There are helpful notes located all around the Google Sheet that will tell you how to use it. Let me know if you end up starting 75 Soft! I’d love to hear from you! (:

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