30day/12month
For the past few months I have been wanting to do one of those trendy, 30-day challenges. The problem was, though, that I wasn't sure what challenge I wanted to do. My brother in Seattle is currently doing 30 days of yoga, no coffee, and no alcohol mostly to recover from being ill, but that didn't seem right for me, mainly because I enjoy my coffee IV drip every morning too much. So, now the summer has gone by, and I've finally found the challenge I want to do. I kind of like that it's fall - I'm going to call it Fall Focus.
Now, I wish I could say I thought of this idea myself, but I have to admit that I just got it from another blogger this weekend. But I suppose that's the point of blogging - sharing ideas! Anyway, this blogger is doing 12 Months of Lent - she picks a challenge to do each month, switching it up every month. Some examples of her challenges were to pick up every piece of litter she saw, do more yoga, not make any trash, and wear the same 6 pieces of clothing for a month.... anyway, you get the point. And she's been doing this for 4 years! Here is a link to the lulu post about her blog - http://www.lululemon.com/community/blog/a-30-day-challenge-a-month-challenge/?sli=1
So, first of all, why am I doing this? I believe in making goals for ourselves, in order to grow and change. I do NOT believe in making a laundry list of New Year's Resolutions that last about a week and expect you to turn into a completely new person each year. For this reason, I like to try new things throughout the year and constantly analyze ways to shape my life to become more of the person I envision being. This is why this particular challenge idea is perfect for me.
This will be a great way to try different lifestyles, different activities, different priorities - knowing that it's only for 30 days. That makes it completely doable and much more approachable, right? Instead of saying, I am now a vegetarian forever and ever, I can now say, I'm a vegetarian for a month, and then will see how I feel about it. Obviously I had this option before, but this makes it easier to wrap my head around and I won't feel like a failure if I eat meat after a month. Thirty days is long enough to get past the 'honeymoon stage', and to really get in the habit of doing these different challenges (or not doing them). It also will draw my attention to that certain aspect of my lifestyle, so that even if I miss a day, I will still be focusing on that activity or change, and therefore become more present in making decisions that relate to that. So even if I try to do 30 days of eating more fruits and vegetables, and I miss a few servings one day, it still brings my focus on learning ways to increase those foods in my diet. Then, after each one, I can decide how much or how little I want to incorporate that challenge in my every day life.
I will announce each month's goals in my blog, as well as post progress updates throughout the month. It is said that writing down goals helps to achieve them, and I'm guessing that by announcing to the world that I'm doing this, there will be some social pressure to complete my goals as well. Since September had already started when I decided to do this, I had to pick challenges for this month that I'd already done September 1-2.
So, first of all, why am I doing this? I believe in making goals for ourselves, in order to grow and change. I do NOT believe in making a laundry list of New Year's Resolutions that last about a week and expect you to turn into a completely new person each year. For this reason, I like to try new things throughout the year and constantly analyze ways to shape my life to become more of the person I envision being. This is why this particular challenge idea is perfect for me.
This will be a great way to try different lifestyles, different activities, different priorities - knowing that it's only for 30 days. That makes it completely doable and much more approachable, right? Instead of saying, I am now a vegetarian forever and ever, I can now say, I'm a vegetarian for a month, and then will see how I feel about it. Obviously I had this option before, but this makes it easier to wrap my head around and I won't feel like a failure if I eat meat after a month. Thirty days is long enough to get past the 'honeymoon stage', and to really get in the habit of doing these different challenges (or not doing them). It also will draw my attention to that certain aspect of my lifestyle, so that even if I miss a day, I will still be focusing on that activity or change, and therefore become more present in making decisions that relate to that. So even if I try to do 30 days of eating more fruits and vegetables, and I miss a few servings one day, it still brings my focus on learning ways to increase those foods in my diet. Then, after each one, I can decide how much or how little I want to incorporate that challenge in my every day life.
I will announce each month's goals in my blog, as well as post progress updates throughout the month. It is said that writing down goals helps to achieve them, and I'm guessing that by announcing to the world that I'm doing this, there will be some social pressure to complete my goals as well. Since September had already started when I decided to do this, I had to pick challenges for this month that I'd already done September 1-2.
Now, on to
My Rules:
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OK, the challenge for
September:
1. Physical - September is National Yoga Month, so in honor of that, I am going to do 1 hour (or more) of physical activity each day. It can be anything from yoga, running or cross-training to cycling, volleyball, or swimming, but I am anticipating to do a lot of yoga. I even just ordered a new mat, since mine is falling apart.
To start the month off, I did a yoga bootcamp at TruHarmony on Saturday and then I did the community yoga class at lululemon yesterday, each an hour long. Today I biked for 45 minutes and did 15 minutes of pushups and ab work.
2. Mental - I am going to read at least 10 pages of a novel each day, hopefully finishing my book by the end of the month (although it's 782 pages, so that might take 2 months... but we'll try). I am currently reading "The Rise of Theodore Roosevelt." I just finished the prologue (about 28 pages) and will read some more before going to bed tonight. This challenge will also theoretically reduce the time I watch Friends reruns every night, by making me read instead :)
3. Goal - My goal is to get and start a part-time job by the end of September. I work full-time, but am looking for some extra hours on weekends and some evenings.
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Well, here we go! I wonder what I will have tried by this time next year! We shall seeeeee.
Here are some of my ideas for possible future challenges:
- Pick up at least 5 pieces of litter each day (yes, got from the other blog)
- Compliment someone every day
- Write a certain amount of postcards/letters to friends and family
- Be vegetarian or vegan
- Go a month without chocolate milk... AH! That might be the hardest one!
- Perhaps even a month with no chocolate at all...
- Veg/fruit juice every day/a certain amount of fruits and vegetables
- No processed foods
- Sign up for a dating site
- Join a club or choir or dance class... a community group or activity
- Ride my bike to work every day (easy now, but going to do later in the fall or early spring)
- Don't buy anything new/budget finances...
- Get rid of 30 things from my apartment
That's a start, but will add/adapt these as I decide each month's challenges! If anyone else is interested in doing this, feel free to tell me your own challenge!
All righty, off to read by book, before Friends comes on :)
carpe diem, hakuna matata, no day but today... redhead OUT.
