The Finish Strong 40-Day Grit Challenge is comprised of five disciplines to be completed each day for 40 days.

The 40-Day Grit Challenge Disciplines

Sleep: Get a full 8 hours of sleep each night. Go to bed and get up at the same time each day. Remove sleep disruptors; no eating within 3 hours of bedtime, no screen time within 2 hours of bedtime. Use credible and effective technology tools to fine-tune actual sleep time. Your optimum may range anywhere from 7 to 9 hours.

Exercise: Complete one exercise block of at least 60 minutes each day, at least two of which each week are outside. Alternating daily, the seven weekly blocks are made up of three cardio, three strength-training, and one of your choice. For more on stretching see Exercise here. For an alternate exercise start see The Hudson Bay Start here.

Diet: The body is an engine. Fuel for your engine is comprised of protein, carbohydrates, and fat. Pick an eating plan that provides your body with the mix of these three fuels that will achieve the goal outcome you desire. Our default recommendation is high protein. See Eating here.

Hydration: Drink 100 to 120 ounces (3 to 3.5 liters) of water each day. Women less than men. More with aggressive exercise (cardio) than with lighter exercise.

Reading: Read a great book at least 30 minutes each day. Start with An Incomplete Education (Third Edition, 2008) and then move on to the Hillsdale College Great Books Collection. Assiduously avoid self-help books of any kind. See Honoring God here about reading the Bible, the greatest and best-selling book of all time (the GOAT book).

40 Day Grit Rules

  • Set specific goals for your 40 Day Grit Challenge. Make them challenging.
  • The aspirant is allowed three mulligans. If she/he misses completing all five disciplines on a given day, they can use a mulligan to continue the challenge. The 40-Day Grit challenge has 200 disciplines over the 40 days (5 each day, 40 days). After three mulligans one must start the 40 Day Grit Challenge over from the beginning.
  • Take before and after pictures. Do NOT upload or share those pictures online. The internet is forever. And for data-miners. Who, despite what you may believe, provide nothing for free.
  • Accept failure as part of life and the discipline building process. Repeated failure requires a heaping dose of self-reflection. Remember, if nothing changes, nothing changes. Repeating the same choices and hoping for a new outcome is a quiet form of madness.