In January of 2011, I wrote a list of 101 things that I wanted to complete in 1001 days in lieu of New Year’s resolutions. Well, that deadline snuck past me at the end of September. Let’s see if I completed all 101 of the tasks, shall we? {spoiler alert: I didn’t}
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.
The Start Date:
1/1/11
The End Date:
9/27/13
Goals in progress are italicized, goals completed are bolded
+ CREATE & LEARN
1. Design a logo for Jessi Makes Things
2. Read five classic novels (0/5)
3. Read 100 books (31/100)
4. Design an album of our wedding photos
5. Make a headboard
6. Complete my t-shirt quilt
7. Reupholster a piece of furniture
8. Read biographies of five people I admire (3/5)
9. Make blog button for Jessi Makes Things
10. Learn how to crochet
11. Make a Year in Pictures album
12. Learn how to play a Beatles song on the guitar
13. Cook 50 recipes from cookbooks I own (5/50)
14. Take an art class
15. Take a photo every day for a month
16. Make bread from scratch (June 2011)
+ FAMILY & RELATIONSHIPS
17. Plan a surprise for Jacob
18. Visit my grandparents (without my parents) (April 2011)
19. Go to 3 nice dinners with just my dad (0/3)
20. Take a Mother-Daughter Trip (March 2011)
21. Write a love letter to my husband
22. Spend a day with just my sister
23. Bring flowers to my paternal grandparents’ graves
24. Have a girls’ weekend retreat (March 2011)
+ ENTERTAINMENT & TRAVEL
25. Swim in an ocean (July 2012)
26. Take a cruise
27. Visit a country I’ve never been to (Switzerland, April 2013)
28. Go camping
29. See the Christmas lights at Silver Dollar City in Branson, MO (December 2011)
30. Visit Randy and Tamara (Switzerland, April 2013)
31. Go to Vegas
32. Go to a football game in another state
33. Visit two states I’ve never been to (1/2 – Ohio)
34. Go on a roadtrip (April 2011)
+ ORGANIZE
35. Buy/make birthday cards and greeting cards to have on-hand and send
36. Change name on credit cards, bank accounts, etc ( February 2011)
37. Convert family home videos to DVD
38. Write a living will / “if something happens to me” letter
39. Put together a portfolio of projects I’ve worked on — both personal and professional
40. Back up all digital images onto external hard drives
41. Mail Christmas Cards out before Christmas (December 2011)
42. Clear out my email inbox
+ FUN
43. Host a fancy dinner party for friends
44. Post my outfit every day for one month (0/30)
45. Don’t swear for a week
46. Go to a BlogHer conference
47. Try 15 new {to me} restaurants in Fayetteville (7/15 : HuHot Mongolian Grill, Sunrise Cafe, Twin Kitchen, Fresco Cafe, Posta Plata, Burger Life, Petra Cafe, Geraldi’s, East Side Grill, Greenhouse Grille, Green Submarine, Apple Blossom Brewing Company, Taziki’s Mediterranean Cafe, Arsaga’s at the Depot, Art’s Place)
48. Try three foods I’ve never had before (3/3: Tofu, Foie Gras, Brussell Sprouts {i know…})
49. Adopt a dog (April 2011!)
50. Get at least one room to a place where I feel it’s fully decorated (Guest bedroom!)
51. Shop at an IKEA (March 2011)
52. Have a housewarming party
53. Finish my family heritage/ancestry scrapbook
54. Acquire a KitchenAid stand mixer
55. Can or pickle some sort of vegetable (August 2011)
56. Blog every day for a month
57. Get a custom embossed stamp made
58. Plant flowers (May 2011)
59. Plant a vegetable garden (March 2011)
60. Watch a sunrise (July 2012)
61. Watch a sunset (July 2012)
+ FOR OTHERS
62. Send flowers anonymously to a friend in need
63. Leave an Operation Beautiful message in a public place
64. Send out ten letters to people, just because (0/10)
65. Donate $200 to charity
66. Make a video about a typical day of my life
67. Buy/make ten gifts for people, just because (5/10)
68. Pay for the person behind me in a drive-thru
+ FOR MYSELF
69. Get a facial
70. Don’t go on Facebook for a week
71. Go to a coffee shop with a book and enjoy the afternoon solo
72. Don’t watch TV for a week
73. Don’t use the internet (for personal use) for a week
74. Don’t complain about anything for a week
75. Don’t speak a single word for a day
76. Get a massage
77. Write a letter to myself to be opened when the 1001 days is over
78. Write a letter to myself to open in 10 years
79. Write a list of 100 things that make me happy
80. Write a list of 101 things I’ve already achieved in this lifetime
81. Submit to a photo contest
+ HEALTH
82. Try Hot Yoga- – Spring 2012 -Loved it!
83. Run a marathon
84. Run a sub 2:15 half marathon
85. Write down everything I eat for one month (Sept 2011)
86. Don’t eat out for one month
87. Be a vegetarian for one month
88. Floss every day for one month
89. Don’t eat sweets for a month (May 2013)
90. Take daily vitamins once a day for at least a month
91. Complete the 100 Pushup Challenge
+ BUSINESS & CAREER & MONEY
92. Pay off all personal credit card debt (February 2012! —ugh. not anymore)
93. Order and design business cards for Jessi Makes Things
94. Create a Facebook page for Jessi Makes Things
95. Open an Etsy shop
96. Sell something on Etsy
97. Monetize Jessi Makes Things blog
98. Do a craft show
99. Create a business/life plan.
100. Track every purchase on mint for 30 days (April 2011)
101. Save $ 6,000 for an emergency fund
Basically, in 1001 days, I started 5 tasks and completed a mere 30 out of 101. When I first pulled up the list to write this post, I’ll be honest, I got a little sad. There’s a lot of meaningful things on that list that I really did intend to do in the last two and a half years that just didn’t happen.
But a lot of wonderful things have also happened since January of 2011. We adopted Lois. We visited our friends in Switzerland. I planted a vegetable garden. Hell, I went to IKEA!
In the end, I’m really glad that I started this project even if I didn’t techinically finish it in time. Now I have a great list of short-term and long-term goals to work on – no matter how long it takes me. Now who wants to teach me how to play a Beatles song on the guitar or take me to Vegas?!
