The first two weeks of my 30-day challenge [an honest review]
- Abigail Douglas
- Feb 4
- 4 min read
Last Sunday, February the 1st, I officially completed the first two weeks of my 30-day challenge. Before I share how it truly went, let me gently remind you what this challenge is about:
Moving my body with intention(two gym sessions and one workout at home)
Waking up at 5:00 AM to set the tone for the day
Daily reflection, improving just one small thing the next day
This week wasn’t about perfection. It was about awareness. And awareness always begins with honesty. So today, I want to share my first failures, my wins, and the lessons that shaped my new approach.
Moving My Body With Intention
I did go to the gym twice this week—and that felt good. But the home workout? That one didn’t happen. And instead of forcing myself or feeling guilty, I paused and asked why.
I realised something important:There is magic in leaving the house. The act of going to the gym, stepping into a different environment, instantly shifts my mindset. At home, I simply didn’t feel the same motivation—and that’s okay. This awareness already taught me something valuable about how I work.
Waking Up at 5:00 AM
This habit lasted exactly three days.
After that, I felt exhausted. I became irritable more quickly. My focus dropped. My brain power simply wasn’t there. And the reason was very clear:I go to bed around 11:00–11:30 PM, and for me, that means waking up at 5:00 AM is not sustainable. I need at least seven hours of sleep to function well—and I had to learn that the hard way.
The Wins 🤍
Even in a week full of adjustments, there were beautiful wins.
Every single day, I took time to reflect—even if it was just five minutes.That small habit gave me peace, closure, and a softer ending to my day. It also allowed me to read a little before bed. At the moment, I’m reading Atomic Habits, a beautiful book filled with practical, realistic insights. My goal is to slowly implement these habits into my daily life—and I’ll share that journey with you as I go.
What I Learned — And What I Changed This Week
The biggest lesson? Sleep is non-negotiable.
So this upcoming week, I made one clear decision:Seven hours of sleep. Every night. No exceptions.
And the difference has been incredible.
I’m happier
I regulate my emotions better
My natural enthusiasm is coming back
I can think and analyse my work better as an accountant
In the evenings, I have more energy to study(yes, I’m currently in my post-master ACCA)
Because of this, I made a conscious choice:No more 5:00 AM wake-ups.
You might wonder—how do you set the tone for the day then?
A New Morning Rhythm
Instead of waking up earlier, I gave myself 30 intentional minutes every morning—from 6:30 to 7:00 AM—to set the tone for the day.
Yes, I could choose to sleep earlier.But I deeply need my evenings.
From 7:30 PM (my son is asleep—yes, peacefully 😌) until 11:00 PM, I work on my dreams. And that looks different every season.
Right now:
8:00 PM – 8:45 PM: studying
8:45 PM- 11:00 PM: Sewing/ Blogging/ Financials
After that: winding down
One chapter of my book
Reflecting on my day
This rhythm feels nourishing, realistic, and aligned with the life I’m building.
A New Strategy in the Gym
After just one week, I realised something else:I need support.
Not just movement—but guidance. I want to lose a few pounds, shape my body, and build strength in a healthy, sustainable way. So I decided to invest in myself and hire a personal trainer. The 29th of January was my first session and honestly, I’m excited. It feels like the next level. Along with training, I’ll slowly adjust my nutrition, drink more water…And hopefully still keep my coffee—because yes, I love it ☕😉 I’ll share more about this journey after a few sessions.
Conclusion: Progress Over Perfection
Looking back, I’m not disappointed. These first two weeks were orientation weeks—a moment to observe, adjust, and learn. It reminded me of something important:It’s okay to fail. It’s okay when things don’t go as planned. What truly matters is not how we reach our goals—but that we don’t give up on them.
If my goal is to set the tone for a successful day, it doesn’t have to be at 5:00 AM. 6:30 AM works beautifully too.
If my goal is to move my body and build discipline, it doesn’t have to start with three workouts a week. Two is enough. We can always build from there.
And this applies to everything in life.
So if you’re planning, trying, failing, and trying again—I see you. You’re not alone. I’m figuring it out too. Every day gets a little better. Every week gets clearer. And eventually, we’ll discover what truly works for us. I hope this inspires you to try again—every single day.
With love,
Abigail Douglas
Emotion, made visible ✨
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