A unique challenge that inspires you to set and achieve your personal goals in life.

The Mission:

Complete 101 preset tasks in a period of 1001 days.

The Criteria:

Tasks must be specific (ie. no ambiguity in the wording) with a result that is either measurable or clearly defined. Tasks must also be realistic and stretching (ie. represent some amount of work on my part).

Why 1001 Days?

Many people have created lists in the past - frequently simple goals such as New Year's resolutions. The key to beating procrastination is to set a deadline that is realistic. 1001 Days (about 2.75 years) is a better period of time than a year, because it allows you several seasons to complete the tasks, which is better for organizing and timing some tasks such as overseas trips or outdoor activities. Why 1001 Days for Me? I’m tired of creating the same old New Year’s Resolutions each year, that simply get pushed to the wayside come February or March of the New Year. I wanted to try something just a little bit different. I wanted to do something fun and challenging at the same time too. I decided to create a separate blog to track my goals on a regular basis. Talk about putting it all out there! I’m nervous and excited to start this project. Making this list made me stop, think, and evaluate who I am and how I can make “me” a better person. Some of these goals just might not be attainable, but it’s all good. For every goal not reached, I will donate at least $2 (or more depending on finances) to a charity of my choice (Alzheimer's Assocation). Maybe I can inspire at least one other person to start his/her own list as well.

Inspiration:

The 101 Things To Do in 1001 Days project was created by New Zealander, Michael Green. I was inspired to get my butt in gear and give this a go by my neighbor Brooke@babblingbrooketrout. I did borrow many "things" from the lists of other bloggers and the 101 things in 1001 days web Site http://dayzeroproject.com/user/swedishfish7. My Timeline February 1, 2012 through October 28, 2014.

The Key:

Not Started
In Progress
Accomplished (with date)

My 101 Things to do in 1001 Days:

Be a Better Me
1. Identify 5 bad habits and work on getting rid of them
2. Identify 20 things I like about myself
3. Identify 100 things that make me happy
4. Make a list of 25 reasons I love my husband
5. Make one new real friend
6. One week each month, do not look at Facebook
7. One day of each week, do not watch TV
8. One day of each week, no Internet, except as necessary for work
9. Wear my wedding band

Be Knowledgeable
10. Once a month, read the Sunday newspaper
11. Read 2 non-fiction books
12. Take a beginner sewing class
13. Learn the Canadian providences and their capitals
14. Attend a blogging conference
15. Attend a technical writing class
16. Attend a creative writing class
17. Expand my vocabulary by 1 new word a month

Be a Family
18. Buy a bicycle
19. Buy a bicycle trailer for my children and go on a bike ride
20. Fly a kite in the park with my children
21. Teach my daughter the ABC’s
22. Teach my son how to ride a bike
23. Have at least two family picnics each year
24. Dress up for Halloween with a theme for the family
25. Once a week, eat dinner at the kitchen table at the same time
26. Take children fishing
27. Build a sand castle with my children
28. Camp with children on May two-four weekend
29. Take children to Lake Michigan
30. Sleep in a tent with the children at the cottage
31. Sleep under the starts with the children
32. Visit my grandparents twice a month
33. Visit my parents at least once every two months
34. Take my children to a hockey game at Joe Louis Area
35. Take my grandmother to an evening Tiger’s game
36. Take a road trip with the children every summer
37. Take a walk with the children once a week during the summer

Be Adventurous

38. Visit 3 new states or 1 new country
39. Date night with husband at least once a month
40. Attend a dinner/wine-tasting event
41. Host a party
42. Learn to sew with a sewing machine
43. Twice a year, have a pedicure with my sisters
44. Send a postcard to PostSecret
45. Participate in 20 Postcrossings
46. Watch 10 movies on IMDB's Top 250
list
47. Take a cooking class with my husband
48. Try one new recipe each month
49. Take pictures in a photo booth

Be an Organizing Junkie
50. Organize my “Contacts” List and sync with my phone
51. Re-vamp the household filing system for efficiency
52. Organize children vaccination/medical file
53. Setup weekly payments for the gas and electric bills
54. Clean out my area of the basement
55. Clean out my car once a month
56. Clean out my closets/dressers each season
57. Clean out the children’s closet twice a year

Be a Finisher (not just a starter)
58. Create a will
59. Save to purchase a cottage
60. Complete the 100 snapshot challenge
61. Finish the needle work baby blanket that I already started

Be Frugal
62. No internet purchases for one entire month
63. No kid clothing purchases for two entire months
64. Organize bills through Quicken
65. Start a 6-month emergency fund
66. Start savings accounts for each child
67. Start a second stream of income

Be Healthy
68. Drink nothing but water for 1 month
69. No eating after 8:00 p.m. for one month
70. Start running so i can run in the detroit turkey trot
71. Fit back into my favorite slacks/dresses
72. Start one new organic food item each month
73. Five days a month, do not eat any processed food items
74. Make Abbie's baby food using organic fruits and veggies
75. Take a multi-vitamin every day
76. Do a full body detox
77. Start yoga classes
78. Drink less alcohol
79. Go to the dentist for a check-up
80. Go one month without eating fast food

Be Giving
81. Pay for someone behind me in the drive thru
82. Participate in 2 volunteer opportunities
83. Send a handwritten letter to a family or friend once a month
84. Offer to babysit for a friend or family at least 5 times
85. Give up a parking space in a crowded lot to the person behind me
86. Let someone in front of me at the grocery store five times
87. Put change in someone’s expired meter
88. Compliment ten complete strangers
89. Make a list of all family/friend birthdays and send them a card
90. Leave 100% tip at a restaurant for exceptional service
91. Put flowers on someone's grave who I don't know
92. Give away baby items to someone who needs them

Be a Memory Keeper
93. Take a picture of the children every month
94. Take a family picture twice a year
95. Start a T-Shirt quilt from mine and hubbies concert days
96. Complete my nieces’ scrapbook
97. Start my children’s scrapbook
98. Complete our wedding scrapbook
99. Organize my digital pictures
100. Create a wall of photos for one room in the house
101. Keep a journal of my 101 completed tasks (blog)