Finishing the Year Strong: What Our December Habits Challenge Taught Us

December is often the hardest month to stay consistent, and that’s exactly why EverProven launched the December Habits Challenge. This year, two athletes rose to the very top. Gabbie and Gillian completed the challenge with perfect scores, hitting all four daily habits every single day throughout December.

Between holiday travel, demanding work schedules, family commitments, and end-of-year stress, their consistency was no small feat. Their reflections offer a powerful look at what’s possible when intention, adaptability, and support come together, and why this challenge was about far more than just checking boxes.

Why Take on a Challenge in December?

For Gabbie, the challenge was a natural extension of a year already focused on growth. After joining EverProven in January and working intentionally on both training and nutrition, the Holiday Habit Challenge felt like a way to finish the year strong and reinforce habits she was already building.

For Gillian, motivation initially came from the external reward at the end of the challenge, but also from a desire to fix one glaring habit: hydration. December was her busiest month of the year professionally, filled with long workdays, travel, and family obligations. The challenge became a way to stay grounded when everything else felt chaotic.

Despite very different starting points, both athletes committed fully and that commitment made all the difference.

The Power of Simple Habits

Both athletes found that daily movement was the most familiar habit, but still required creativity. Whether it was early-morning bike rides on Christmas Day, Spartan classes, Peloton sessions, drop-ins at old gyms, lifting in cold garages, or even dusting off a Nintendo Wii for a full hour of Just Dance, movement became adaptable rather than rigid.

The takeaway? Fitness doesn’t require perfect conditions—just intention.

A Wake-Up Call on Hydration

Hydration was the biggest surprise for both athletes. Tracking water intake revealed just how under-hydrated they had been. What initially felt overwhelming quickly became eye-opening. By the end of the challenge, drinking water was no longer an afterthought – it was a priority.

Even after the challenge ended, both athletes continued to drink more water daily, proving how quickly awareness can turn into lasting change.

Replacing Screens With Stories

Reading fiction and eliminating screens before bed turned out to be the most unexpectedly impactful habits.

For Gabbie, replacing pre-bed scrolling with reading helped quiet a constantly busy mind and dramatically improved sleep. For Gillian, the challenge rekindled a love of fiction she hadn’t felt since childhood. Reading became an escape, a way to unwind, and a healthier alternative to doomscrolling during an emotionally and mentally demanding month.

Both athletes discovered that winding down intentionally, without screens, helped them fall asleep faster and feel more restored.

Lessons Beyond the Challenge

One of the most important takeaways was learning personal limits. While the challenge proved that consistency is possible even during chaos, it also highlighted the importance of rest, recovery, and support systems.

Family, partners, and flexibility played a huge role in success. From shared meals and borrowed gym equipment to emotional encouragement and accountability, neither athlete did this alone, and that mirrors the EverProven community as a whole.

Carrying These Habits Into the New Year

Perhaps the biggest win of the December Habits Challenge wasn’t just finishing, it was what happened after. Many of these habits stuck. More water. More movement. Less screen time. More intentional rest. More reading for enjoyment.

The challenge wasn’t about perfection or punishment. It was about proving that small, daily actions, done consistently, can create meaningful change, even during the busiest season of the year.

Habits don’t have to be extreme to be effective. They just have to be practiced.

Here’s to building habits that last—one day at a time.

You don’t need a perfect month, just a commitment to show up. Start building your habits with support from EverProven. Book your Free Intro today!