OK, you know I've definitely got a New Year's Resolutions posts coming. I mean, if anything at all you can tell from my blog, I hope it's that I LOVE lists and goals. I am a VERY goal-oriented person. But before I get into 2013, I wanted to talk about my 101 Things to do in 1001 Days list!
Many, many moons ago (at least nine year's worth), SOMEONE started this idea of 101 Things to do in 1001 Days. The original idea (as well as a social networking site) is hosted here. (I swear I have an account, I just keep forgetting my password...meaning, I never go there.) The "about" will tell you exactly about the original idea. You can sign up and have a nice little account for tracking your list. You can connect with others, and find people who have the same or similar items on their lists too!
The Challenge: 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 your part). Why 1001 Days? Many people have created lists in the past - frequently simple challenges such as New Year's resolutions or a 'Bucket List'. 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 organising and timing some tasks such as overseas trips, study semesters, or outdoor activities.
I break the rules a little. I give myself a few ambiguous tasks. (I've never been a big rule-follower.) But I keep it the same. I always go with the 2.75 years. I always keep the same number of tasks. For my first two tries, I accomplished about %50 of my goals. This time, I'm trying for 75%.
I'm re-writing all of this, because I just encouraged a friend to make one. I really, really believe everyone should do this, even if just once! So, I wanted to recap what it was. Plus, my list ends in the beginning of 2014, so this is really my PUSH year!
Need more inspiration than my list? OK : here, here, here, here, here!!!
Here is what's left of my list :
002 Step on the shores of all Great Lakes
003 Save for CELTA classes
004 Gain CELTA certification
005 Reapply for Antartica
006 Take a job abroad
007 Apply for nanny positions abroad
008 Create a series of prints from wood carved plates
009 Figure out how to make a printing press at home that works
010 Read the Entire Bible
011 Create a specific, themed set of selfies that require props and is related to literature, theatre, or music
013 Design a t-shirt for Threadless
014 Buy pointe shoes
015 Begin a ballet program
016 Create digital scrapbooks with your images
017 Ride a horse
018 Learn how to sew your own jacket (with button holes!)
019 Learn how to sew your own pants (with a fly!)
020 Visit the remaining states you have yet to see
021 Visit a new country
022 Go to Burning Man
023 Go to Bonnaroo
024 Road trip to some national parks with mom
025 Go to Paris or Bring Neil to America
026 See the Northern Lights
027 Learn a third language
028 Finish and give away my personal library
029 Save one thousand dollars
030 Design and sell my own t-shirts
031 Go to a Renaissance Faire
032 Go to a Tattoo Convention
033 Go to a Comic Convention
035 Buy a sleeping bag suitable for winter
037 Buy a portable hammock
038 Camp more
039 Visit five new National Parks
040 Visit Prince Edward Island
042 Hike and camp for four days in a row (3 nights)
043 Go fishing
044 Learn how to clean a fish
045 Install a composting toilet
046 Grow vegetables
047 Keep chickens
049 Make a quilt
051 Go rock climbing
052 Buy a bike
053 Go on a bike tour (biking and camping)
054 Go kayaking
055 Go white water rafting
056 Road trip to Mexico
057 Road trip the UK
058 Road trip Norway
059 Pay mom 50% of what you owe her
060 Plan a travel book
061 Start a Kickstarter for your travel book
064 Create and maintain nanny website
066 Volunteer
067 Buy new Olympus p&s
071 Get initials tattoo
072 Save for desert sleeve/completion of chest piece
073 Do some figure drawing
074 Build something
075 Change your own oil
077 Donate your hair
078 Write actual, paper letters to your friends
079 Organize all of your photos (and back up EVERYTHING)
080 Put together your swing show (including artist statement)
081 Print and frame your swing show
082 Show your swing show
083 Write something and submit it for publication
084 Go to Dr. Sketchy's
085 Take a figure drawing class
086 Find a portfolio review
087 Begin rebuilding your Naked States
088 Apply to Cooper Union
089 Apply to SVA
090 Apply to CIA
095 Look into larger shows in bigger cities
098 Give up meat (for at least one full year)
099 Give up HFCS (forever!)
100 Sell desktop, replace with laptop
101 Save for Transatlantic-Paris-Venice trip
OK, it's time to admit some things on this list AREN'T going to happen. I always put a lot of travel plans down...because I LOVE to travel. I often accomplish my travel plans but not usually all of them. Because I'm dedicated to paying off 99% of my debt this year and building a more stable life, I'm going to get rid of the expensive travel plans that won't happen. I'm also going to take off applying for various jobs and schools. All of that was written when I was still very free-spirited and my lifestyle hadn't yet give me problems with anxiety. My new goals, my most important goals, are about building a more stable life for myself and conquering my anxiety issues.
So, here are the things I'm removing, because I know, they aren't going to happen:
005 Reapply for Antartica
006 Take a job abroad
007 Apply for nanny positions abroad
020 Visit the remaining states you have yet to see
021 Visit a new country
022 Go to Burning Man
023 Go to Bonnaroo
025 Go to Paris or Bring Neil to America
056 Road trip to Mexico
057 Road trip the UK
058 Road trip Norway
067 Buy new Olympus p&s
087 Begin rebuilding your Naked States
088 Apply to Cooper Union
089 Apply to SVA
090 Apply to CIA
I know, that's quite a lot to knock off of a list. But when I wrote the list, I thought maybe I'd go back to college or start to travel the world permanently. I didn't have the anxiety issues I do now, or they weren't so big as they are now. I didn't have the same goals as I do now, and I didn't have direction. I'm not particularly full of direction now...but I've got a tiny bit of it, and I'm HOLDING ON! I think a good part of this list is paying attention to who I am, how I change, and learning to let go when I need to.
Here is what I want to work on in the first three months of 2013:
010 Read the Entire Bible
011 Create a specific, themed set of selfies that require props and is related to literature, theatre, or music
013 Design a t-shirt for Threadless
014 Buy pointe shoes
028 Finish and give away my personal library
029 Save one thousand dollars
049 Make a quilt
064 Create and maintain nanny website
072 Save for desert sleeve/completion of chest piece
079 Organize all of your photos (and back up EVERYTHING)
095 Look into larger shows in bigger cities
099 Give up HFCS (forever!)
101 Save for Transatlantic-Paris-Venice trip
I know this might seem like a lot, but some of it has been in the works for a while. Plus, some of these are very long term. I've been working toward changing my diet and am making a BIG push in January. I have also decided 2013 is the year to focus on changing my finances. I have never been a big saver, but it's time to start saving. I can save even as little as $10 toward any of these larger goals, and it still counts. This is not something I've always embraced, saving little to get to big, but I'm going to change in 2014. Some of the smaller items might take a few weeks to do or maybe just a day to sit down and GET THEM DONE! In three months, I can do this.
In three months, I will do this!
I love the new layout!!
ReplyDelete@tk Thanks! I'll have a post about it soon!
ReplyDelete