101 things in 1001 days @souanasum - Tumblr Blog

101 things in 1001 days

**DETAILS TO COME**

I want to finally start this challenge and felt I needed to post it and keep it updated somewhere... since this is supposed to be a bucket list blog for Sage & I, this seemed to be an appropriate place.

First, a little bit about myself. I love doing things and I love the idea of pushing myself. Therefore, I love trying out different challenges: photo challenges, writing, 30 days, 365 days, whatever. I’ve tried a bunch. And I fail every.single.time. Why? I have severe perfectionism. If I don’t complete something perfectly, anxiety of failure takes over. My thoughts are, “Well if it’s not perfect then I might as well just stop here.” Whether I messed something up, or I missed a day and can’t catch up, whatever it is. I cannot recall one single challenge I’ve ever completed. Just recently I discovered this challenge and it spoke to me. I am confident that I will be able to complete it not only because I plan to overcome my perfectionism, but because of the loose time constraint. While I do have a deadline, I don’t feel the need to complete these tasks in order or do them at a specific rate. On average it would be one task every 10-ish days to completion. However, I can skip whole months if I need to, or complete 10 tasks in one afternoon. The relaxed time constraint on this challenge really puts my always-active mind at ease.

Before I get to the challenge, here”s a quote that was recently shared to me. I hope this helps any other perfectionists out there.

Here’s the mission & criteria:

“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.

Goal Setting Tips

1. Be decisive. Know exactly what you want, why you want it, and how you plan to achieve it. 2. Stay focussed. Any goal requires sustained focus from beginning to end. Constantly evaluate your progress. 3. Welcome failure. Frequently, very little is learned from a venture that did not experience failure in some form. Failure presents the opportunity to learn and makes the success more worthy. 4. Write down your goals. It clarifies your thinking and reinforces your commitment. 5. Keep your goals in sight. Review them frequently, and ensure that they are always at the forefront of your thinking.”

❌ ❌ ❌ ❌ ❌ ❌ ❌❌ ❌ ❌ ❌ ❌ ❌ ❌❌ ❌ ❌ ❌ ❌ ❌ ❌

Okay! Here we go!

1 ▴ Donate to an important charity or cause. This means actually going out of my way to donate money, not just adding a dollar at the cash register. I always say I’ll donate to something but I can never decide what organization to donate through, and then never get around to it.

2 ▴ Donate blood. Another thing I always say I’ll do but never get around to. I haven’t donated since High School. My blood is O+ so I could be helping a lot of people. With my chronic low BP, I’m always afraid donating blood could create an issue for me so I’ll have to make the proper preparations.

3 ▴ Donate or sell 101 things I no longer need. I have successfully rid myself of so many unneeded things, but still have a long way to go. Might as well donate my things so they can go to someone who actually needs them.

4 ▴ Do something good for someone anonymously. Random acts of kindness inspire me to be a better person. Now it’s my turn.

5 ▴ Send a care package to someone for no reason. I’m so backed up on sending out care packages that I’ve been planning and putting together for ages. Not only will I send those, but I’ll also plan AND send one or two more.

6 ▴ Learn how to change a tire. I mean, I get the gist of it, but I’d actually like to *learn.* What better way than hands on, right?

7 ▴ Complete a short course, online course, or a class. It can be on anything! Maybe learn something new? Brush up on an old skill?

8 ▴ Save a solid emergency fund. $1K+.

9 ▴ For one month, buy nothing new. Should be easy enough... right? Necessary groceries and...toilet paper excluded!

10 ▴ Visit 3 new states. Visiting constitutes going to at least one sight or attraction, or touring a downtown area. Bonus points if it’s Maryland, California, and/or Washington!

11 ▴ Visit a famous landmark for the first time. [Completed July 12th, 2016] Because I’m the most touristy tourist that ever toured.

12 ▴ Take an unplanned roadtrip. Or a reallyreallyreally planned roadtrip.

13 ▴ Write an unofficial memoir. Seriously I have so many memories in my head starting at age 2+. I hate the idea of losing them as I age and my mind isn’t as young.

14 ▴ Stay at a cozy bed and breakfast. Why haven’t I done this before?

15 ▴ Volunteer somewhere--anywhere. Can you believe I’ve never volunteered anywhere before?

16 ▴ Complete a 5k or fun run. Preferably a cool one like Halloween or holiday-themed.

17 ▴ Lose 5 pounds.

18 ▴ Complete 5 video games. Perfectionist here that can’t find it in her to get less than a perfect in every game. So then I just stop playing because, anxiety.

19 ▴ For 1 month - Walk or run daily.

20 ▴ For 1 month - Go to the gym 3+ days a week.

21 ▴ For 1 month - Go meatless. This will be more difficult because I’m sure Sage won’t be going meatless, so I’ll have to make vegetarian meals that mean can easily be added to.

22 ▴ For 1 month - Go breadless.

23 ▴ For 1 month - Make a lunch to bring to work every day.

24 ▴ For 1 month - Spend lunch away from work space.

25 ▴ Hike a trail. Or two. Really really hoping to make it to Starved Rock!

26 ▴ Make a daisy chain.

27 ▴ Watch the sunrise.

28 ▴ Watch the sunset.

29 ▴ Get a massage and/or facial.

30 ▴ Get a manicure and/or pedicure.

31 ▴ Attend a baseball game.

32 ▴ See a 4D movie. [Completed July 14th, 2016]

33 ▴ Go to the drive-in.

34 ▴ See 10 classic films I’ve never seen.

35 ▴ Fly a kite.

36 ▴ Build a snowman.

37 ▴ Build a sandcastle. With Florida plans in the month this challenge starts, this should be an easy one to check off.

38 ▴ Build a gingerbread house.

39 ▴ Get new prescription glasses.

40 ▴ Hide a note in a book inside a library or book shop.

41 ▴ Read 10 classic novels.

42 ▴ Finish Fruits Basket manga.

43 ▴ Bake a rainbow cake.

44 ▴ Tech-free weekend.

45 ▴ See 2+ theater productions.

46 ▴ Cook something new from a cookbook. (0/10)

47 ▴ Go out and draw in a public space.

48 ▴ Complete an old, unfinished project. God knows (AND EVERYONE ELSE IN MY LIFE) I have a billion unfinished projects. Just finish one already!

49 ▴ Go bowling. An enjoyable activity that I never go out and do.

50 ▴ Make a book.

51 ▴ Take 101 film photos. I’ve never used a film camera. (Besides one time at a wedding and not including if I was ever allowed to use one as a young child.) It’ll probably be the disposable kind because I’ve always wanted to experiment with those.

52 ▴ Take 101 instant photos. Finally bought a Fujifilm Instax (25) so it’s time to make some memories with it.

53 ▴ Photograph a street scene or landscape in all 4 seasons.

54 ▴ Complete 2 cosplay pairs. (4 altogether) I’m thinking 1) Claude C. Kenny and Rena Lanford from Star Ocean 2 and 2) Reid Hershel and Farah Oersted from Tales of Eternia.

55 ▴ Make my first quilt.

56 ▴ Crochet something other than a scarf or potholder. If all else fails, I will resort to a scarf or something similar... it’s not like I’m good at them anyway.

57 ▴ Get on the the next level. ♥

58 ▴ Make a book of pressed flowers and leaves.

59 ▴ “Complete” my Wreck This Journal “Complete” in quotes because Keri Smith has commanded me to never stop adding to it. However, I can fill every single page.

60 ▴ Draw/Paint 25 Figures

61 ▴ Draw/Paint 25 Faces

62 ▴ Draw/Paint 25 Hands

63 ▴ Draw/Paint 25 Still lifes

64 ▴ Draw/Paint 25 Trees/Plants

65 ▴ Complete a drawing from my imagination.

66 ▴ Try oil painting. I have the equipment but fear is holding me back. Fear of trying a new medium, fear of failing.

67 ▴ Sell an art piece (or two). I’ve done it before, I can do it again.

68 ▴ Alter a book and fill with drawings

69 ▴ Make an art timelapse.

70 ▴ Make a mix CD for someone.

71 ▴ Monthly photo self portrait. It will be fun to see if I’ve changed much over the course of (almost) two and a half years.

72 ▴ Monthly drawn self portrait. I art myself hella ugly but it’s fun enough to do.

73 ▴ Run a mile in 10 minutes. My quickest mile in High School was around 11 something. 5+ years later and I will try to beat it.

74 ▴ Learn a kendama trick. (26/100 catches) I hope I can accomplish this one! First I’d like to be able to catch the kendama 100 times, and then I’d like to successfully pull off one trick. I’m really awful at it so even pulling it off once and never being able to do it again would be good enough for me.

75 ▴ Visit a flower farm.

76 ▴ Have an extravagant picnic.

77 ▴ Make the trip to see a faraway friend. Definitely a problem if I have friends with kids!!that I haven’t met yet!!and aren’t babies anymore!!

78 ▴ Go snowboarding or skiing.

79 ▴ Get a passport. Why not? I’ve never had one before.

80 ▴ Visit Chicago and avoid the tourist traps. I’ve been to the Chicago area on several occasions. Sometimes it was for a convention, other times we visited the heavily tourist-oriented areas with family members. I haven’t even been to the museums up there! I would love to just have a day jam-packed full of things to do in the Windy City.

81 ▴ Take a 1 month break from TV. Netflix, Hulu, YouTube included! I don’t actually watch cable but I often turn on Netflix on as soon as I get home. This leads to low productivity levels.

82 ▴ Document our favorite recipes. While Sage and I enjoy trying out new recipes, we have our go-to’s. I’d like to make a little binder full of them and possibly other family recipes. Whether it’s just kept for us, or our future children decide to cook out of it, it would just be nice to make.

83 ▴ Visit 5+ art galleries. For an art-aholic, I do not visit enough art galleries.

84 ▴ Read 45+ books. I originally had this number lower (15) but I decided I really need to challenge myself. I consider myself an avid book lover, but not so much an avid book reader. I used to be as a child but... ADHD and 3000 other interests happened.

85 ▴ Get professional (or semi-professional) photos done. Bonus points if they’re glamour shots!

86 ▴ Build my credit score. Boring but needs to be done.

87 ▴ Visit the Grand Canyon.

88 ▴ Travel west of Iowa/Missouri.

89 ▴ 1 month - Meditate 20+ minutes daily.

90 ▴ Receive my Associate’s degree. It’s about damn time.

91 ▴ Have a really cool 25th birthday. What? I am trying to elaborate on most of these and set specifics, but I really can’t on this one. As of now I don’t have anything in particular I want to happen, I just want to make it memorable.

92 ▴ Take my sister to a Twenty One Pilots concert. A few weeks after I initially made this list, my sister was incoherently spamming me with messages because they’ll tour in the next state over just around her birthday, January 29th 2017. So hopefully that will work out.

93 ▴ Save up a moving fund and/or house deposit. Ideally upwards of $2k.

94 ▴ Move across the country. This is a sad one because my mom and sister live here in Illinois, but I have many other family members in New York and Sage has ALL of his family dotted along the east coast. I never planned on living in Illinois all of my life so a change will be made.

95 ▴ Start and finish a smash journal. Smash journals are like scrapbooks, but with everything just smashed together. Since I’m too much of a perfectionist to normal scrapbook, maybe this was made for me.

96 ▴ Learn to tap dance and learn a routine. I would most like to take an actual beginner’s class, but I fear I’ll have trouble finding one for adults. If that fails, learning from a friend or from a video will be an acceptable alternative.

97 ▴ Become relatively fluent in another language. Relatively fluent = Being able to hold a casual conversation. Most of my foreign vocabulary is Japanese, but Spanish and French are on my “to-learn” list as well.

98 ▴ Successfully play a difficult song on the flute. I played flute from 2nd grade through 12th grade. 10 years! I haven’t picked up in a while but I’m sure I still know it. It’s like riding a bike to me. I’ll need to practice and get a song down pat, and then I’ll take a video for proof.

99 ▴ Master a difficult yoga pose. I love yoga but I’m not so good at it because I don’t put in the time or effort. I haven’t decided what pose I’d like to master yet.

100 ▴ Get a tattoo. This one is iffy because I haven’t even 100% decided if I WANT a tattoo. I guess we’ll find out by the end of this challenge!

101 ▴ Save $10 a month during this challenge and reward myself at the end of it. I wonder what I’ll spend it on?