101 Things in 1001 Days

Edited: Since constantly updating this would keep refreshing it for people’s RSS feeds, click the 101 Things tab above to see my progress, or check the 101 Things category for any post where I get to cross-off a task!

So. I’ve been pondering this for awhile now. I’ve seen the 101 Things in 1001 Days going around, and I decided that it might be a good thing for me to do. The following gives a description of the project straight from the source, and my list follows. I had a hard time coming up with 101 reasonable, yet challenging goals. Some on the list are easier than others, but if I work, they could all be done. We’ll see! I’d love to hear your thoughts and comments, and I’ll try to keep you updated on my progress.

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: 18 July 2008
End Date: 15 April 2011

Here goes nothing – in pseudo-categorized form:

Professional:
1. Publish at least 2 papers
2. Be first author on at least one
3. Give a talk at a conference
4. Write my thesis
5. Graduate with my Ph.D. in physics
6. Find a job after completing #5
7. Move after completing #6

Photographical:

8. Have a photo in a coffee-shop or other exhibition
9. Take studio-quality self-portraits
10. Complete the 100 strangers challenge (8/100)
11. Get negatives from Spain scanned/organized
12. Take portraits of at least 10 people in my “studio”
13. Complete 100 consecutive photos of the day
14. Complete a 26 things project.
15. Change photos on the wall every 2 months
16. Make a gel holder for my flash
17. Complete two different months of the Monthly Scavenger Hunt

Physical:

18. Bike the entire length of the Border to Border trail
19. Go on an AABTS bike ride
20. Bike 50 miles in a day
21. Bike 75 miles in a day
22. Go on a multi-day bike trip
23. See 125 on the scale
24. Take the 100 pushups challenge. If this seems unreasonable, complete at least 6 weeks of it
25. Run/Walk a 5k
26. Walk a 10k
27. Take at least one exercise class
28. Stay within the 120-130 range for 6 months
29. Get a massage as a reward for reaching 130 and 125
30. Try downhill skiing

Volunteering:

31. Donate a gallon of blood (0/8)
32. Donate at least $50/year to a charity
33. Enter at least 33 counties of data in Markeroni (0/33)
34. Grow out and donate my hair
35. Volunteer for something – the Ark?
36. Donate $5 for every uncompleted thing at the end of the 1001 days

Food:

37. Make and document (blog) 1 recipe each month (0/33)
38. Try 3 vegetables/fruits I’ve never tried before (0/3)
39. Be vegetarian for a month
40. No caffeine (from coffee or soda) for 6 separate two-week periods (0/6)
41. 1 soda-free month
42. Renew food diary diligence – record everything I eat to the best of my ability for a month
43. Grow at least two vegetables each summer, and use their produce (1/6)
44. Eat once at Blimpy Burger
45. Don’t buy anything from a coffee-shop for two weeks
46. Try 5 new local restaurants (0/5)
47. Have a dinner party

Travel:

48. Go to the cottage
49. Renew Passport
50. Visit somewhere in the Pacific Northwest (Oregon, Washington, British Columbia)
51. Visit 2 new countries (0/2)
52. Visit the Grand Canyon or Washington, D.C.
53. Make 6 trips to nearby places for snarfaris, preferably by bike (0/6)
54. Go to a Markeroni gathering
55. Go camping 3 times (1/3)
56. Go to the Henry Ford Museum

Random:

57. Get a new laptop
58. Plan file system of new laptop
59. Get software to organize paper database
60. Get photo software to help me organize and tag my photos
61. Get a good biking outfit
62. Get rid of 50 books through paperbackswap, bookcrossing, etc. (0/50)
63. Read the Master and the Margarita
64. Read Mists of Avalon
65. Read something by Dostoyevsky
66. Read something by Tolstoy
67. Read Last Watch when it comes out
68. Find a geocache
69. Write 33 handwritten letters (0/33)
70. Knit something useful
71. Get a manicure
72. Get a pedicure
73. Remember to get my teeth cleaned twice a year
74. Get my ring checked out every 6 months
75. Make a quilt or something useful out of t-shirts I don’t want to get rid of
76. Get prescription sunglasses or transition glasses
77. Watch all the movies that won “Best Picture” since I’ve been alive (12/28)
78. Earn green check marks in my Nutrition and Exercise Manager every day for a week (3 times) (0/3)
79. Use my gift certificate for a massage
80. Go to a Cubs game
81. Go to a Tigers game
82. Go to a Michigan football game – once
83. Log every state historical marker in the county (26?/53)
84. Spend an afternoon at the Wave field
85. Visit the botanical gardens
86. See Avenue Q
87. Go on a tour of the local fairy doors
88. Renew library card, and use it
89. Figure out what to do with my old suit, and do it
90. Go to the doctor for a mole check
91. Learn more about a particular historical marker/event and blog about it for Markeroni
92. Visit the Museum on Main
93. Visit the Kempf House
94. Thoroughly clean the toaster oven
95. Catch up with my pictures of the day on the blog, and stay on top of posting daily photos for a week (3 times) (0/3)
96. Have a full month of Thursday Thirteens
97. Have a full month of Wordless Wednesdays
98. Go through everything in my closet/drawers and donate or otherwise take care of anything that doesn’t fit
99. Get a solo in the Glee Club or make it into Midnight Blue
100. Mow the lawn
101. Blog about each of these things when I complete it (0/100)