101 Things in 1001 Days

Most people know how much I love making lists. Lists and I are best friends. I enjoy being able to cross things off my list as I accomplish them. I like seeing what I need/want to do on paper. I'm fully aware that everything I just listed means I'm not only anally retentive but also a big ole dork.


So a couple months ago while I was bored at work, I started creating a list of things I want to accomplish in the near future. Some items were things I wanted to finish before the baby was born, some were things to make me a better mom, some were things just to make me a better more fulfilled person. As my list grew, I remembered reading about people making lists of 101 Things in 1001 Days. The premise is quite easy and straight forward. It's 101 Things you want to do in 1001. Here is an explanation from another site.

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.

Seems easy enough, huh? Well I'm stuck. Pathetic but true. I can only think of like 70 things so far for my list. I really want to come up with 101 Things but I'm having a difficult time. I'm going to give myself one more week and if I can't come up with the rest, I'm going to post it with however many I can come up with or I'm going to add easy things (ie: finally putting up Colin's blinds).

So keep your eyes open for my list. I may end up making a new blog specifically for my lists.