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 organising and timing some tasks such as overseas trips or outdoor activities.
Here it is, my completed list of 101 things to do in 1001 days. Below the list is a brief explanation of why each thing has made it onto the list. I will be writing a post about each thing as I complete it or if I have something to say about the progress I am making with it. I will then make the entry on the list a link to those posts so you can see how I’m doing with each one. Goals in italics are in progress, goals in bold are completed.
- Write 101 list (14.01.11)
- Get organised
- Write a CV
- Learn basic car stuff
- Learn first aid
- Complete 3 courses at Surestart
- Learn to use sewing machine
- Learn to crochet
- Learn to read tea leaves
- Learn a magic trick
- Learn contact juggling
- Teach someone something
- Play at least one instrument once a week
- Learn 10 new tunes
- Join a band
- Play at an open mic night
- Go to a concert by a band I’ve never seen live before
- See 3 local bands
- Take more photos
- Get a photo printed in a newspaper
- Get a photo shown on TV
- Submit photo’s to those websites dad told me about
- Print favourite photo’s, frame and hang
- Make a photobook
- Have a picture taken of me and my son that I actually like
- Build a rocking horse
- Knit something I can wear
- Finish rug or tapestry for Miss E
- Crochet something from that book B bought me
- Make a pair of trousers
- Make my own paper
- Write a tutorial for a craft and link to Red Ted Art
- Write a children’s book
- Sell at least 5 things I have made
- Read 10 classic novels that I haven’t read yet
- Read 5 books recommended by friends
- Read 5 books recommended by strangers
- Read 5 books I own but haven’t read yet
- Write a different task to go in the advent calendar each day
- Make sure all birthday and Christmas cards are sent on time
- Make and decorate cakes for birthdays and Christmas
- Celebrate a festival from another culture
- Host at least one party and make it outstanding
- Bake a loaf of bread
- Grow and eat 3 different vegetables or fruit
- Cook 10 new meals
- Bake cakes or biscuits once a month
- Make pancakes for breakfast
- Visit an A-Z of new places
- Travel on a steam train
- Go camping
- Day trip to the continent
- See the Northern Lights
- Visit Ireland
- Build a sandcastle on 10 different beaches
- Go for tea and cake at Betty’s
- Explore local area in a new way
- Throw a message in a bottle into the sea
- Take son to a football match
- Take son to an agricultural show
- Send 101 postcards through Post Crossing (8/101)
- Release 10 books through Book Crossing
- Go to an outdoor movie screening
- Do a ghost walk locally and one in another area
- Go berry picking
- Invent something
- See a ‘fortune teller’
- Light up my staff
- Go ice skating
- Organise a big picnic in the park
- Transfer old videos onto dvd
- Build a snowman taller than me
- Make a wish in a wishing well
- Skim pebbles and get more than 6 bounces
- Set off our sky lanterns
- Praise or compliment 101 strangers
- Pay for a stranger’s drink 3 times
- Donate 1,000,000 grains of rice through Freerice.com (85,000)
- Leave 101 Operation Beautiful messages (4/101)
- Do a walk for charity
- Send 5 ‘I saw this and thought of you’ gifts
- Send a random stranger an item off their Amazon wish list (29.01.2011)
- Buy a tin of food for animal shelter each time I visit supermarket
- Go for a walk and offer chocolates to everyone I pass
- Make 5 new friends
- Reconnect with old friends
- Move to my own house
- Make a will
- Blog regularly
- Start each day with a glass of water
- Go on a date
- Research my family tree
- Have a proper bath
- Swim 100 metres
- Go to dental checkups and go back for any work that needs doing
- Go to doctors for those things I always put off
- Pay off 1 credit card
- Sell / donate / bin 101 items
- Save £5 for each completed goal to be used to treat myself
- Save £5 to give to charity for each uncompleted goal
- Write a new 101 list for when this one ends
After writing that list out and seeing it published, I don’t think this is the best place to put another list, this time with explanations. Most things don’t really need a reason to be on the list anyway so if there is anything I want to add I will just pop it in with the post about how I completed the goal.
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Wow you are going to be busy, that is and amazing list. I especially like the build a rocking horse. Very positive start to the year, I look forward to reading your blog and seeing the pics of your journey. Good luck and enjoy 😀
Rocking horse is one of my favourites too, but probably also the most difficult. Hope I don’t muck it up too much!
If you want a book recommendation, I’d go for “The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night Time” by Mark Haddon. It’s quite short and readable so it’s really easy to get one of your five done. And it’s a good read too. I loved it.
Thank you 🙂
I have a copy of that somewhere but never got around to reading it. Is it cheating to use it as my 38 as well?
Great list.
#2 is not specific enough. Make it something concrete that you can say, I have done this. As organized as you get, you will think you can be more.
#40 Forever? Why not start with just this coming year or two years?
#41 which birthdays? Like are you doing one for mine?? 🙂
#66 is it enough to just think it up or does it have to go into production
#68 What is that?
#86 How many
#89 How many times is regularly? Set a number.
#97 You may want to check out http://www.daveramsey.com
#99 Are you talking about goals on this list or others?
Hope you don’t mind my comments. Your list is very achievable. Go to it. 🙂
Thank you for the comments, I really appreciate the time you’ve taken to look at my list 🙂
I was going to write a brief explanation with each goal to explain a bit more clearly what it was, but then decided to just write that when I blog about it so I don’t keep repeating myself. I realise now that because I haven’t posted the explanations, some of the goals will need rewording to be more specific. I will add that to my to-do list 😉
#66 I thought if I could make a working model of whatever it is, then I would class it as complete. Hadn’t thought about production, maybe that could go on the next list!
#68 http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hxW4TlIP5y4
Oh and book recommendations by strangers
“The Evolution Angel” By Dr. Todd Michael
“Conversations With God” Books 1-3 by Neale Donald Walsch
Thank you! Conversations With God I have already read but I will put The Evolution Angel on my list to read 🙂
wow fab list, i see we have a few things the same 🙂
i didnt write an explanation to my list either, i also will blog about each thing as i go along.
if you would like to be part of my sending postcards , drop me an email with your details and i’d be very happy to send you one 🙂
nikki xoxo
Hi,
I saw you’ve joined our link on Emma’s blog.
We also have a blogroll on my page, I’ll add you to it too and tell the others on my next update. Some of them will for sure pop by and give you there support!!
I can recommend the book: Howard’s end by E.M. Forster.
I did the growing food one this summer. I really enjoyed it. Great being able to eat something you’ve grown yourself.
If you’re interested, we also have a badge on my ‘Take part’ page. Feel free to use that too!!
Thanks for adding me, I will (slowly) work my way through all the others too, just don’t seem to have a minute these days! Thanks for the book too, it’s one that I haven’t read so will pop it on my list. I am going to have a major blog makeover so will keep your badge in mind for then. 🙂
Thanks for linking up, sorry it took me so long to pop by! It’s a great list, I especially like the send an item to a random stranger from their Amazon wish list, that’s such a cook idea.
Hi! Good luck with your challenges. I am a new 101er 🙂