Life has a way of throwing curveballs when we least expect them. My 2024 was exactly that… a rollercoaster of false starts and sudden stops. I thought I’d found my dream job… twice. (Spoiler alert: I hadn’t.) With each transition, the routine and structure I relied on to manage my anxiety and depression began to crumble.

When Everything Falls Apart

For those of us living with anxiety and depression, routine isn’t just helpful. It’s ESSENTIAL. It’s the scaffolding that holds our days together when our minds try to pull everything apart. When my structure dissolved, I knew I needed something dramatic to help me rebuild.

Enter 75 Hard. If you’re not familiar, it’s an intense mental toughness program that demands unwavering commitment. I also registered for the Mini Marathon and added the Miler Series to my calendar, creating external accountability for my training. Because nothing says “get your life together” quite like signing up for races you’re absolutely not prepared for! 😅

Showing Up Despite Yourself

Last Saturday was the 10k race. My training had been inconsistent at best. I’d been sick twice since January, and my anxiety was through the ROOF. I arrived late, nearly talking myself out of participating altogether. My anxiety was at 1000%, screaming all the reasons I should just go home and crawl back into bed.

But friends who won’t let you sabotage yourself? They’re worth their weight in gold. Mine stayed on me until I showed up at that starting line. Think less “supportive encouragement” and more “we’re not letting you bail, so put your running shoes on.”

The result? A personal record. PLOT TWIST! Sometimes our greatest achievements happen precisely when we’ve convinced ourselves we’re not ready.

Small Steps, Big Clarity

Only two weeks into 75 Hard, I’m already noticing something important: focus is returning. My 2025 goals, what I’ve come to call my Year of 40, are becoming clearer. The daily discipline is creating ripple effects beyond physical health. Who knew that drinking a gallon of water daily would make me both well-hydrated AND better at focusing on career goals?

Methods for Getting Back on Track

When life derails your carefully planned journey (or sends it careening off a cliff), here are some approaches that have helped me find my way back:

1. Create external accountability. Sign up for events that force you to follow through. When you’ve paid money and people are expecting you to show up, it’s harder to back out. Nothing motivates quite like non-refundable registration fees!
2. Embrace structured challenges. Programs like 75 Hard provide a framework when your own has collapsed. The clear daily requirements eliminate decision fatigue. When in doubt, follow someone else’s plan until you can make your own again.
3. Leverage your support system. Tell friends your plans and give them permission to hold you to them. Sometimes we need someone else to believe in us until we can believe in ourselves again. Or in my case, friends who will literally text you “GET UP AND GO” repeatedly until you do.
4. Start before you feel ready. If I had waited until I felt prepared for that 10k, I’d still be waiting. Action creates confidence, not the other way around. Fake it till you make it is basically my life motto at this point.
5. Track your wins, however small. That PR didn’t happen because I trained perfectly. It happened because I showed up imperfectly. “Showed up and didn’t die” counts as a win in my book!
6. Make peace with the restart. Life isn’t linear. Progress rarely is either. The ability to begin again might be the most important skill we can develop. I’ve gotten REALLY good at Day 1s.

The path forward isn’t always clear, but movement itself often creates clarity. Sometimes the most important step isn’t forward, but simply showing up… exactly as you are, anxiety at 1000% and all.

What methods have you found to get back on track when life throws you off course? I’d love to hear your stories in the comments below. Bonus points if they’re as messy as mine! 💕