The 101 Things To Do In 1001 Days Project

After figuring out what a meme is and viewing various ones via a Google search, I came along this meme and thought it would be a good motivator as well as fun. It comes from this website: http://triplux.com/dayzero/default.asp? Being a person who likes to make lists as I seem to remember things better and have a better chance of accomplishing them if I do, this seemed like a good meme for me to do and blog about. Also, it will help me get organized and hopefully accomplish some things I have been procrastinating about as well as some that will help me grow as a person in various dimensions. So here it goes...! P.S. I must say that upon viewing some other lists I am borrowing some others' ideas for grouping the "things" as well as charting my progress with various colors.

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.

Some common 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.

Start Date: November 12, 2007
End Date: August 9, 2010

Purple Bold Text - finished with completion date
Yellow Bold Text - in progress

My 101 in 1001:

HEALTH
1. lose 5 pounds (Feb 4, 2008)
2. lose 10 pounds (June 13, 2008)
3. lose 15 pounds
4. lose 20 pounds
5. do aerobic exercise daily for 3 months (25/90)
6. get a gym membership (July 2008) -I actually had one through work but it is so far away I don't use it very often. I got one at the local YMCA and also am able to take my kids for swimming lessons too.)
7. drink 8 - 8oz. glasses of water a day for 3 months (35/90)
8. visit the gynecologist 2 times (0/2)
9. get my teeth professionally cleaned by a dentist (0/1)
10. never eat after 8pm (225/1001)
11. go to bed by 10:30 (95/500)

SELF IMPROVEMENT/ WELL-BEING
12. stop chewing my fingernails
13. get my Beginner's Driver Licence (Jan. 11, 2008)
14. get my Full Driver Licence (March 27, 2008)
15. pray daily (2/1001)
16. read my Bible everyday (20/1001)
17. attend a new church once a month for a year (9/12)
18. attend a parenting course with hubby to learn & practice better discipline
19. learn to control my anger, don't yell at the kids for 3 months (0/3)
20. take a trip (other than work) w/o hubby or kids (June '08 - New Zealand & Aug'08 - New Brunswick)
21. make a new friend (0/1)
22. say one nice thing to someone else daily (175/1001)
23. get a pedicure for the first time (0/1)
24. get a professional massage (0/1)

FAMILY/ RELATIONSHIPS
25. go on a getaway vacation with hubby (no kids) once a year (0/3)
26. go on a family vacation (with hubby & kids)(0/1)
27. sit down and read to the kids daily (205/1001)
28. have a devotional with the kids weekly (15/143)
29. tell the kids daily I love them (340/1001)
30. kiss Hubby goodnight (330/1001)
31. play 150 games with my kids (56/150)
32. paint Autumn's fingernails once a month (6/33)
33. get kids to school before 8:50am (55/300)
34. take kids the the library once a month (2/33)
35. teach Wynn how to tie his shoe laces
36. teach Autumn how to tie her shoe laces
37. potty train Liam
38. reply to each email received the day it was received for 3 weeks (15/21)
39. write and send one snail mail letter per month, just because (2/33)
40. to send 10 random friends anonymous gifts (0/10)
41. make a will

HOME
42. paint staircase (Dec.17/07 - Thanks B!) & stencil wall (me)
43. paint upstairs hallway (Dec.17/07 - Thanks B!)
44. paint main floor hallway (Dec.17/07 - Thanks B!)
45. organize and file loose recipes into a binder
46. organize and file unfiled documents (Jan.30/08)
47. keep things filed for 2 months (0/2)
48. organize my bedroom closet and get rid of anything we don't wear
49. organize the kitchen and get rid of anything we don't use
50. clean out and organize the coat closet getting rid of things we don't use or need
51. get the upstairs bathroom remodelled
52. grow and maintain a beautiful perennial garden for a whole year/growing season
53. more efficiently use the two compost bins I currently have, one only knows my kids waste enough food!
54. re-stain the deck
55. build a pergola over the deck
56. build a pond garden
57. create and stick to a weekly menu for 8 weeks (1/8)

FINANCIAL
58. keep bankbook balanced for three months (1/3)
59. write down all transactions for three months (1/3)
60. pay off all home-improvement related loans (0/5?)
61. pay off credit cards (0/3)
62. accumulate $1000 in our Savings account and keep it there for emergency fund
63. take a money management course
64. make & maintain a monthly budget
65. keep monthly grocery bill under $450 for a year (3/12)
66. save for & buy a vehicle for Cliff (& I) to commute to work

FUN
67. take a ballroom dancing course with hubby
68. dance (waltz) with hubby at a public function
69. do a fast dance with hubby at a public function
70. learn to skate on my rollerblades
71. finish books I've started including: Geisundtheit
72. ... My Sister's Keeper (March 4, 2008)
73. ... The Strong-Willed Child
74. ... Woman First, Family Always
75. ... Love & Logic Magic For Early Childhood
76. learn to play the piano
77. learn to sew
78. make a scrapbook of Wynn
79. make a scrapbook of Autumn
80. make a scrapbook of Liam
81. learn to swim
82. bike trails near my house yet unventured
83. figure out how to bike from my house to work
84. ride a roller-coaster
85. participate in Gimme Your Stuff: http://gimmeyourstuff.blogspot.com/
86. learn to drive a stick-shift

TRAVEL
87. visit Betty-Jo & Company in New Brunswick ( August 18 - 24 '08 !)
88. to visit New Zealand ( June 22 - July 4, 2008 :D !!!!)
89. to take kids somewhere on a plane trip
90. to travel on a train
91. stay at our timeshare cabin for the first time
92. go to British Columbia and see the West Coast I've yet unseen (June 22, 2008 - 8 hour layover going to NZ)
93. take the kids to DisneyWorld

WORK
94. take the Wound Care Workshop at work (Nov 22, 2007)
95. get my certification in Gerontological Nursing
96. update my CPR and be confident with same

OTHER/BLOGGING
97. blog several times a week for 6 months/24 weeks (7/24)
98. finish, type and post this list (Nov. 14, 2007)
99. blog about each of my 101 tasks as completed
100. get someone else to do this 101 in 1001 with me
101. near the end of the 1001 days, create a new list including those tasks left undone