Wednesday, December 31, 2008

101 Things in 1001 Days

Happy 2009, everyone! I hope you all had a wonderful New Year's Eve and recovered quickly from all the *ahem* celebration. I had a quiet night myself and am looking forward to an exciting year filled with new accomplishments, lots of love and laughter, and amazing experiences. Which brings me to this year's goals.

I heard about 100 Things in 1001 Days a while ago and thought it might be something I wanted to participate in. When I was reminded of it a few weeks ago, I decided that I'd make my list and get started on January 1st. The list of challenging goals that are both specific and measurable and can be attained over the next 1001 days (that's about 2.75 years) was not as easy to create as I thought it would be. It took me several days and a lot of creative thinking and brainstorming. The list I finally came up with is below, and my one resolution for 2009 is to actively pursue my 101 Things Project and track my progress at the end of each month.

My 101 Things Project (January 1, 2009 to September 28, 2011)

The Mission:
Complete 101 preset tasks in a period of 1001 days.

The Criteria:
Tasks must be specific and measurable. Tasks must also be realistic and stretching (they should take some effort).

The Key:
In Progress
Completed (Date)
Not Started

The List:

Health & Fitness

  1. Lose 25 pounds. (0/25)
  2. Participate in the CSA each year. (0/3)
  3. Go skiing. (0/1)
  4. Complete the Couch to 5K program. (0/1)
  5. Practice yoga 3 times per week for 8 weeks in a row. (If I miss a week, the 8 weeks starts again.) (0/8)
  6. Meditate 10 minutes every morning for 30 days. (If I miss a day, the 30 days starts again.) (0/30)
  7. Participate in a 30 day fast from refined sugar. (0/30)
  8. Give up caffeine. (0/1)
  9. Take my vitamins every day for 45 days. (If I miss a day, the 45 days starts again.) (0/45)
  10. Eat a vegetarian diet for 30 days. (If I miss a day, the 30 days starts again.) (0/30)
  11. Pick 10 slow-cooker recipes and try them all. (0/10)
  12. Do my monthly self-breast exams every month. (0/33)
  13. Eat locally for one month. (0/30)
  14. Participate in One Local Summer. (0/3)
  15. Can my own preserves, fruit and/or vegetables. (0/1)
  16. Give blood five times. (0/5)

Writing & Career

  1. Take a writing course. (0/1)
  2. Go to three writing conferences or retreats. (0/3)
  3. Review and update my website at least once every 3 months. (0/11)

  1. Finish the 1st draft of my novel. (0/1)
  2. Complete two rounds of edits on my novel. (0/2)
  3. Prepare a proposal for novel submission. (0/1)

  1. Submit FK essay to 10 more markets or until published. (0/10)
  2. Submit FILWB essay to 10 markets or until published. (0/10)
  3. Write book proposal for essay collection. (0/1)
  4. Submit book proposal for essay collection to 20 agents or until accepted. (0/20)

  1. Write and submit 10 separate queries for health and fitness articles. (0/10)
  2. Write a short story. (0/1)
  3. Submit an essay for “This I Believe”. (0/1)

  1. Finish and submit C8ANY book proposal. (0/1)

  1. Spend a weekend at a hotel (anywhere) writing. (0/1)
  2. Set a writing schedule for one month and stick with it. (0/1)
  3. Write and publish an e-book. (0/2)

General Self Improvement

  1. Read 30 books. (0/30)
  2. Buy a new digital camera. (0/1)
  3. Take a photography class. (0/1)
  4. Volunteer as a writing tutor or mentor.
  5. Take knitting lessons. (0/1)
  6. Knit a scarf. (0/1)
  7. Knit a hat. (0/1)
  8. Knit a blanket. (0/1)
  9. Learn a new language (Italian) and carry on a conversation in it. (0/2)
  10. Brush up on my Spanish and find a conversation partner to practice with. (0/2)
  11. Turn off the TV at least one evening a week. (0/142)
  12. Take swimming lessons. (0/1)

Household

  1. Paint my dining room. (0/1)
  2. Buy a dining set. (0/1)
  3. Get 3 to 5 quotes for getting my roof replaced. (0/3)
  4. Schedule the sump pump installation. (0/1)
  5. Put up shelves in my office. (0/1)
  6. Hang the mirror in my living room. (0/1)
  7. Refinish the bookcase in my basement and move it to my office. (0/2)
  8. Install the programmable thermostat. (0/1)
  9. Get 3 – 5 quotes for central air conditioning installation. (0/3)
  10. Finish landscaping the edge of my backyard. (0/1)
  11. Clear out my “wild patch” and plant herbs there instead. (0/1)
  12. Make my bed everyday for 45 days. (If I miss a day, the 45 days starts again.) (0/45)
  13. Paint the kitchen. (0/1)
  14. Paint the bathroom. (0/1)
  15. Get my sewing machine fixed. (0/1)
  16. Make curtains for my bedroom. (0/1)

Financial

  1. Save monthly in a long-term emergency fund (for back-up when I go freelance full-time). (0/33)
  2. Pay off my car. (0/1)
  3. Reallocate my 401K funds. (0/1)
  4. Pay off my credit card every month. (0/33)
  5. Refrain from buying any magazines for 90 days. (0/90)

Travel

  1. Travel to Italy and take a walking tour of Tuscany. (0/2)
  2. Travel to Arizona to visit my sister. (0/1)
  3. See the Grand Canyon. (0/1)
  4. Travel to an island for a relaxing vacation. (0/1)
  5. Visit my friend in New Orleans. (0/1)
  6. Visit my friends in NC. (0/1)
  7. Go to BlogHer. (0/1)

For Fun

  1. Participate in NaNoWriMo. (0/1)
  2. Get at least three massages. (0/3)
  3. Plan a “me” day at least once a month. (0/33)
  4. Participate in and successfully complete Project 365. (0/365)
  5. Take a self-portrait every week. (0/142)
  6. See three plays and/or musicals. (0/3)
  7. Send 33 cards or letters. (0/33)
  8. Write a secret and send it into Post Secret. (0/1)
  9. Go to a concert and sing along to all the songs I know. (0/1)
  10. Send a surprise care package to three friends or family members. (0/3)
  11. Turn on a CD and dance in my underwear. (0/1)
  12. Ask a stranger to tell me his/her story and just listen. (0/1)
  13. Get a tattoo. (0/1)
  14. Buy myself a gift/flowers on the 5th of every month. (0/33)
  15. Have a dinner party. (0/1)
  16. Host a girls’ night. (0/1)
  17. Compliment a stranger 33 times. (0/33)
  18. Create 15 scrapbook pages. (0/15)
  19. Create a vision board. (0/1)
  20. Go to an NBA game. (0/1)
  21. Sit in the stands for a Ravens (or Cowboys) game. (0/1)
  22. Create 5 new playlists for my iPod with the following themes: Mellow Music; Dance in Your Underwear; Just Like High School; Summer Fun; Road Trippin’ (0/5)
  23. Watch a sunset. (0/1)
  24. Watch a sunrise. (0/1)
  25. Go to the movies by myself. (0/1)
  26. Meet a blog-friend in person. (0/1)
  27. Track my 101 in 1001 progress monthly. (0/33)
  28. Make a new list of 101 things. (0/1)
**Update: For more on my 101 Things list and my progress, visit my 101 Things in 1001 Days blog.**

13 comments:

Anonymous said...

What a great list! I'm still working up mine, even though I technically started yesterday. How long did it take you to make your list?

Sarah said...

Love your list! You can find mine at:

the101list.wordpress.com

:) @SarahInMI

Ami said...

coffeecolouredworld - It took me a few days to come up with a final list, but I'd been thinking about things I'd like to add for a month or so before I started writing it, so I had about 60 or so floating around in my head. The last 41 were a little harder to come up with. :)

Sarah - I'm so glad you decided to do this, too. We'll have to hold each other accountable! I checked out your list and left you a comment. Good luck!

Anonymous said...

Great list! Interesting concept...

Give up caffeine? (ack!)
I wanted to go to blogher this year, but it's not looking likely right now... Oh well, maybe next year.

Good luck with your list!

Ami said...

Reluctant - You're welcome to join in anytime! :) I really like my coffee, but I think the caffeine is having adverse effects on my heart rate. This little experiment should help me figure out what the deal is. I was hoping BlogHer would be in Philly this year (driving distance) but it's not...I'm still hoping to make it, but I'm not sure I can justify the cost.

Anonymous said...

Yeah, so I realize that my 101 in 1001 is ending this year. That's worrisome considering I've only done about 1/3 of it. So this will be a busy year. :) Good luck and can't wait to see how you do!

Angie Ledbetter said...

There's a complete list if I've ever seen one!

KingdomWriter said...

Hm, this is an interesting concept... I made five bigger goals and a few small ones and I thought that was a lot... All the best to you on your journey. Have you put the goals up on your wall so you can torture yourself with it at all times?
It is a great feeling crossing things off ones list, I always think I have to do them all at once and then get stressed out after a week! : ) But then, thats just me...

Ami said...

Erin - That's what I'm afraid will happen to me. That's why I committed to doing monthly updates. If I keep looking at the list, I think that will keep me motivated to completing the tasks. I hope...

Angie - Tell me about it! It took some time to come up with.

Kingdom Writer - Thankfully I have almost three years to complete all these tasks. Some of them are things I want to do monthly or daily for the entire time, but a lot of them are shorter goals I can do anytime. That makes it a little less stressful. :)

Louise said...

Can I draw one of your self portraits. or do you have to do it all yourself?

Ami said...

Louise - Well, it's supposed to be a photographed self-portrait, but I can't see why one or two of them can't be drawn by someone else. I'd love to let you draw me!

katy said...

I want to do this! I'll start working on my list.

You're such a good influence on me Ami! Love you :-)

Ami said...

Katy - Yay! I can't wait to see your list. It's totally fun. Making the list wasn't easy, but I'm enjoying trying to complete it. The hardest part is reminding myself that I have almost 3 years to complete it and I don't have to do it all right now.

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