101 in 1001
Here’s how it works:
The challenge, straight from the geniuses at the Day Zero Project, is to “complete 101 preset tasks in a period of 1001 days.”
It’s that simple.
The rules? Each task must be specific, with clearly defined or measurable results. Tasks must also be realistic — something I believe I can accomplish within 1001 days — and stretching; I can’t add things I already do or which don’t require any effort.
Why 1001 days? Day Zero says, “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…because it allows you several seasons to complete the tasks, which is better for organizing and timing some tasks.”
So, without further ado, here is my list!
Official Start Date: November 11, 2009
1001 Days Later: August 8, 2012 (my third wedding anniversary!)
Key:
Not started
In Progress
Completed
FYI: If a goal has a specific measure or count to reach, I will note the progress like this: (#completed/total goal)
So, an example would be: Watch the sun rise ten times. (2/10)
Here we go!
SIMPLIFYING & DECLUTTERING
001. Watch the sun rise ten times. (2/10)
11/28/09 in Woodland Hills, CA
08/21/10 in Goleta, CA
002. Go through my closet every 6 months (at least four times) and get rid of clothes that haven’t been worn. (2/4)
01/09/10 — {related post}
07/20-ish/10 — Gave away about 30 items!
003. Get ALL of my stuff out of my parents’ house and organized/thrown away!
06/04/10 — Went through everything in the back room; left only two small boxes and took the rest back or threw it away. Now I just have to do the stuff in the garage!
004. Take a walk on the beach at least four times in one year (as long as we are living in SB). (0/4)
005. Spend an entire day away from the computer at least once every three months for a year. (3/4)
12/25/09 and a couple more days in the week that followed — {related post}
04/05/10 — Didn’t get on the computer once on my lovely birthday!
07/10/10 — My cousin’s wedding in Riverside.
006. Organize photos both on my hard drive and via Flickr or some online storage tool.
007. Look through my collection of books and get rid of at least 20 that I know I’ll never read again. (~30/20)
01/09/10 — {related post}
008. Keep my desk at work tidy and uncluttered for two consecutive weeks. (0/2)
MEDIA & ENTERTAINMENT
009. Go to a musical.
010. Go to a concert.
08/26/10 — Joe’s Uncle Steve and his country band at a local park (Lyons, CO)
09/04/10 — Todd Carey at SOHO (Santa Barbara, CA)
011. Watch a silent film.
012. Read a book by an author whose last name begins with A, B, C… (one for each letter of the alphabet). (12/26)
A — The Summer We Fell Apart, by Robin Antalek (6)
B — The Sweetness at the Bottom of the Pie, by Alan Bradley (7)
C — Little Bee, by Chris Cleave (11)
D — Sarah’s Key, by Tatiana de Rosnay (8)
E –
F — Surely You’re Joking, Mr. Feynman!, by Richard Feynman (4)
G –
H — Between Sisters, by Kristin Hannah (3)
I –
J –
K –
L — Grace [Eventually]: Thoughts on Faith, by Anne Lamott (5)
M — The Forgotten Garden, by Kate Morton (12)
N –
O — Before I Fall, by Lauren Oliver (9)
P — Keeping Faith, by Jodi Picoult (2)
Q –
R — Packing for Mars, by Mary Roach (in progress)
S — The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society, by Mary Ann Shaffer (1)
T —
U —
V —
W — I Am Not a Serial Killer, by Dan Wells (10)
X —
Y —
Z —
013. Go to a taping of a talk show or other live-audience TV show.
014. Write (and send) a letter to a favorite author.
015. Read an entire book (minimum of 200 pages) in one day.
07/11/10 — I read Pretty Little Liars (the first book) straight through, only stopping for a little nap and some food in between! {related post to come}
08/16/10 — I read The Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants from cover to cover on the drive home from Vegas!
016. Read three autobiographies. (1/3)
1. Surely You’re Joking, Mr. Feynman! (by Richard Feynman)
017. Go to an opera (and try to like it).
11/28/09 — San Francisco Opera {related post}
DOMESTICATION
018. Try 15 healthy recipes from SparkPeople. (7/15)
(Note: I was originally going to try recipes from Tasty Kitchen, but I decided to change it to SparkPeople, because their recipe database is focused on more healthy options, and each recipe provides nutrition information.)
04/29/10 — Oregano Lemon Chicken
04/30/10 — Flat Out Pepperoni Pizza (I used whole wheat tortillas and added garlic and onions – yum!)
05/15/10 — Roasted Broccoli and Feta Turkey Burgers (original recipe was for chicken…also? Kind of a fail. I put it on the Foreman and it was dryyy…)
05/25/10 — White Bean Dip and Pumpkin Chocolate Chip Cookies
06/14/10 — Lemon Bread
019. Set a cleaning schedule and stick to it for six consecutive weeks. (0/6)
020. Go one month (30 days) without leaving dishes in the sink before bed. (1/30)
Attempting for the month of September 2010!
021. Crochet a blanket (using an actual pattern).
022. Learn to make stuffed bell peppers.
02/09/10 — I did it! {related post}
023. Make our home look more “homey” by putting up photos/art and other pretty things.
January to June ’10 — Done-ish. {related post}
024. Get a Maltese puppy (assuming we live in a place that’ll allow pets before 08/08/12).
025. Make one dish out of every cookbook I own. (0/10?)
026. Successfully cook one Thanksgiving turkey.
COMMUNICATION & RELATIONSHIPS
027. Write and send at least two snail mail letters per month; at least 12 months total. (1/12)
August 2010 — Started my project and sent a whole mess of letters!
028. Create a calendar to keep track of family and friends’ birthdays and send a card for each birthday; keep it up for a year.
029. Leave Joe little love notes all over the place, every day for two consecutive weeks. (0/14)
030. Call someone I haven’t talked to in ages.
031. Start a monthly game night; keep it up for at least six months.
032. Host a themed party (‘50s, famous couples, etc.) for a holiday or special event, or just because.
033. Cook ten romantic meals for Joe. (1/10)
02/09/10 — Six-month-iversary Stuffed Bell Peppers {related post}
034. Bake a loaf of bread from scratch.
12/08/09 — Pumpkin bread. Mostly a success.
12/24/09 — Pumpkin bread, round 2. Complete success!
06/14/10 — Lemon bread {related post}
035. Host a potluck.
036. Visit my grandmother once a month for six months. (6/6)
12/22/09 — Visited with Joe
01/01/10 — Visited with my mom {related post for Dec and Jan visits}
02/23/10 — Visited with Joe, helped Grandma with computer stuff
03/12/10 — Visited with Joe and my parents, had a “garage sale” with Grandma
04/22/10 — Visited at the hospital with Joe (she had pneumonia)
05/20/10 — Visited with my mom
037. Send and receive a total of 100 postcards through Postcrossing (28 sent, 26 received = 54/100)
FAITH, SPIRITUAL LIFE & SELF-DISCOVERY
038. Keep a prayer journal; write in it at least once every week for a year. (0/52)
039. Memorize one scripture verse every month for a year. (0/12)
040. Take a class at the community college just for fun (I’m thinking cooking or maybe art?).
041. Write a letter to myself, to be opened on my 30th birthday.
042. Read through three of Catherine Martin’s 30-day devotional books (in three separate months). (0/3)
HEALTH & WELL-BEING
043. Get down to 145 lbs. and stay there!
Starting weight: 167.8 lbs…
Check out Weigh-In Wednesdays to find out my current weight!
044. Get braces.
045. Drink eight glasses of water daily for three weeks. (3/3)
04/28/10 to 05/18/10 {related post}
046. Work out three times a week for 12 weeks. (12/12)
Week 1: 4/20, 4/21, 4/22
Week 2: 4/27, 4/28, 4/30
Week 3: 5/3, 5/4, 5/5, 5/6 (four times!)
Week 4: 5/10, 5/11, 5/13
Week 5: 5/17, 5/18, 5/19
Week 6: 5/24, 5/25, 5/26, 5/27, 5/28 (HOLLA!)
Week 7: 5/31, 6/1, 6/2, 6/4
Week 8: 6/7, 6/8, 6/9, 6/12
Week 9: 6/14, 6/15, 6/16
Week 10: 6/21, 6/22, 6/23, 6/25
Week 11: 6/28, 6/29, 6/30, 7/1, 7/2 (HOLLA!)
Week 12: 7/5, 7/6, 7/7, 7/9
047. Meet with a nutritionist/dietitian to sort out my food allergies and how to proceed with a smart diet.
048. Wear my hair down (ie. NOT in a ponytail) every day for a week. (0/7)
049. Run a full mile without stopping to walk (first on a treadmill, then outside).
03/04/10 — Skipped right over the treadmill and ran a full mile on the track in 11 and a half minutes! {related post}
03/13/10 — Participated in my first 5K! I ran almost 2 full miles without stopping to walk… {related post}
050. Run three full miles without stopping to walk (treadmill is okay).
06/25/10 — I’m getting close! I ran 2.5 miles at 5 mph on the treadmill!
051. Run/walk a 10K (about 6 miles).
052. Go one week without hitting the snooze button. (0/7)
053. Floss my teeth every day for a month. (0/30)
EDUCATION, WORK & PERSONAL IMPROVEMENT
054. Get Wearable Joy running with at least two posts per week.
055. Stock up my Etsy shop and promote it at bead shows.
056. Sell ten items on Etsy. (1/10)
02/10/10 — Sold to Katie! {related tweet}
057. Take two writing and/or editing courses at a local university or community college. (0/2)
058. Take two courses I wouldn’t normally have thought to take (such as an engineering class, business, or computer science). (1/2)
July 2010 — Completed an online Tech Writing course
059. Complete a crossword puzzle in its entirety without cheating (consulting a friend is okay).
December ’09 — Almost finished a People Magazine crossword! {related post}
060. Learn how to drive stick shift.
061. Learn how to mix three really tasty cocktail drinks. (0/3)
062. Get a job I love and LOVE it.
TRAVEL & ADVENTURE
063. Travel to Scotland with Joe.
064. Visit three local wineries. (0/3)
065. Take a completely impulsive, spur of the moment road trip.
066. Meet two out-of-state bloggers. (I’m thinking of you Nora, Cari, Kyla…) (1/2)
08/29/10 — Met Ashalah in Boulder, CO (with a cameo from ChelseaTalksSmack!)
067. Go to a drive-in movie.
068. Try ten local restaurants. (8/10)
01/03/10 — Your Choice Thai Restaurant {related post}
01/07/10 — Brummis German Restaurant {related post}
02/14/10 — Pacific Crepes {related post}
03/15/10 — Hollister Brewing Co.
03/17/10 — Palace Grill
04/09/10 — The Natural Cafe
04/22/10 — Holdren’s
06/28/10 — Cody’s Cafe
069. Visit four of the major tourist attractions in Santa Barbara. (2/4)
02/14/10 — The Courthouse and the Sunken Gardens (2) {related post}
070. Make five picnics and go to a new spot each time. (1/5)
07/15/10 — Concert at Chase Palm Park; I made egg salad sandwiches!
071. Do something death-defying or “extreme” (ie: bungee jumping, skydiving, etc.).
072. Go on a cruise.
073. Go on a weekend road trip with Megan.
11/28/09 – 11/29/09 — from Los Angeles to San Francisco {related post}
FINANCIAL
074. Eliminate my school loans.
08/31/10 – Grand total of $16,949.00 remaining
075. Pay off credit card.
11/16/09 – $3,842.81 remaining
12/04/09 - $3,000.00 remaining
02/10/10 – $2,000.00 remaining
03/04/10 - $1,300.00 remaining
04/12/10 – IT’S DONE! {related post}
076. Save money by not going out for fast food (or buying junk from work vending machines) for one month. (0/30)
077. Save $1,000 exclusively for our (future) children’s college funds.
JUST FOR ME / TRYING NEW THINGS
078. Get a full-body massage.
05/15/10 — At “The Massage Place” in Santa Barbara: Gloooorious! {related post}
079. Sing Karaoke.
05/01/10 — With Helly at Zodo’s! {related post}
080. Go ice skating.
081. Finish a 1,000-piece (or more) jigsaw puzzle.
082. Color every page in a coloring book.
083. Ride a hot air balloon.
084. Go to “Color Me Mine” and make something neat.
085. Go to the Dickens Christmas Fair in full Victorian costume.
02/08/10 — Got my corset!
086. Sing backup vocals with a band for a real performance (can be low-key, local, etc.).
GIVING TO OTHERS
087. Send someone a care package.
088. Give a gift “just because.”
089. Volunteer for an event or organization.
04/20/10 — Recording for the Blind and Dyslexic Record-a-Thon {related post}
090. Donate blood four times. (1/4)
07/21/10 — First time donating under my married name!
091. Write a sympathy card to someone on the church prayer list.
12/04/09 — To RL in Arcadia {related post}
092. Bake a cake from scratch for a friend’s (non-relative’s) birthday.
093. Tip 100% to an exceptional server at a restaurant.
08/21/10 — At Domingo’s Cafe in Goleta, CA {related post}
094. Send flowers to someone anonymously, just because.
WRITING & BLOGGING
095. Document every goal completed. (18/101)
{Link to all posts documenting completed goals}
096. Blog every day in November each year (NaBloPoMo). (1/3)
11/30/09 – {Link to all NaBlo posts}
097. Comment on at least five blog posts (by different people) per week for a month (four weeks). (0/4)
098. Attend two blogger meet-ups. (1/2)
08/22/10 — VEDA Southern California Meetup!
099. Write one post which receives comments from 50 different people.
100. Post ten video blogs. (10/10)
01/21/10 – {Awkward Vlog Day!}
02/04/10 – {Blogoversary Winners!}
05/17/10 – {Q&A Vlog – Parts 1 and 2} (2 vlogs)
05/18/10 – {Q&A Vlog – Parts 3 and 4} (2 vlogs)
05/20/10 – {Q&A Vlog – Part 5}
05/21/10 – {Q&A Vlog – Part 6}
08/23/10 – {VEDA Meetup!}
09/02/10 – {Colorado Recap}
101. Write a final recap post about the 101 in 1001 experience (whether I succeeded or not).
LOVE the list.
I will join you in the get down to 145 pounds and stay there task as that is my very best goal weight. 150 is ideal, 145 is super goal. We can do it, I know we can =)
I’m a huge fan of you visiting me at some point too.
Great list; can’t wait to see the progress!
To tag onto that note, 145 is my goal weight too! I’m almost there, and I say that not to brag but to tell you what’s working for me. I started the Couch to 5K program (which takes you slow from walking to running 3 miles). I’ve never been able to dip below 150, and when I started the program it worked. So it will help you with #43, #49 and #50. Just an idea.
#2 hint: One easy way to tell if you’ve worn your clothes, is to start with all of the hangers turned the wrong direction. When it’s time to clean out your closet, you can easily tell which ones should go (although sometimes there are exceptions because there are things you’ll want to keep even though you haven’t worn them in that amount of time). Then, of course, you have to turn them all back around to start over again. Hope that makes sense.
#7 is not measurable, is it? Or will that be a whole separate list that will be measurable?
I love #10…write AND SEND…That’s great!
I love #35, too!
Great beginning on your list. Are you going to add anything adventurous/dangerous like skydiving? It’ll be fun to watch your progress.
#7′s measurable…get rid of 20 books… the rest is just description of the books
Oh cool! I think one of those was a suggestion I made.
Good Luck with it. I’ll keep watching how you are doing.
Yay Tabs!! Hey you can send me a care package
its always nice to get one while in college ha ha.
this is cool, and props to your dedication!
I especially like 36 and 41! You have lots of great ideas.
Won’t you only have one Thanksgiving to accomplish 26? You won’t be cooking the turkey this year, will you? Maybe you should make it just a turkey. Or…I guess you could have a Thanksgiving turkey any day, if you make it a day of giving thanks.
Gotta admit that a lot of these were stolen/modified from other people’s 101 lists.
And I’ll have two Thanksgivings to make #26 happen — 2010 and 2011, since the 1,001 days are up in August 2012. But, I figure if I make a Thanksgiving-STYLE turkey, it doesn’t necessarily have to be on Thanksgiving day.
I think you can only donate blood every 90 days, anyway, soo… yeah. Good luck! Very inspiring
At the Community Blood Bank, you can donate red blood every 8 weeks. The requirements are longer for plasma though.
I like your goal about having time away from the computer. I have a similar goal “no computer or internet for 48 hours”… I haven’t done it yet though
But as a self-confessed internet addict, it’s a great idea.
This 101 thing is a great idea, and I’m glad I’ve come across it. Of course, my first item might have to be gettig around to making a list, but worth it.
I also like your list. Lots of really good ideas that I _will_ pinch. I like the little counters at the end of items too.
You’re doing great on paying down your loans. Keep up the great work!
I think we could/should make Christmas Eve a computer free day. Do you think the men in the family would cooperate?
041. Write a letter to myself, to be opened on my 30th birthday.
check out futureme.com
Good luck!!
Looks like you’re making some good progress on your list. We haven’t talked in ages…you could wipe out #30 with a call to your Mom.
Miss you. Love you!
I love your list – it’s really organised. Dickens Christmas Fair sounds fun!
Regarding #32- We have 2 annual theme parties a year. The first is in the early fall. We have a hoedown. The rules are you have to come dressed as something “country” (ie-hillbilly, cowboy, redneck…) and the second rule is that we will provide a keg of beer for all those that bring canned goods to donate to our local food bank.
Our 2nd annual party is a “Tacky Christmas Sweater Party” – prizes for the best sweaters in 2 catagories. Tackiest MADE sweater and tackiet BOUGHT sweater.