The beginning...

So I'm going to try this out, in honor of my 25th birthday this week!

I'm all about lists and checking things off, so its perfect for me! Plus, it gives me an opportunity to try new things, be creative, and never be bored - I have plenty to do!

Here are the rules I'm setting for myself:
1. Work on at least one goal every single day.
2. For every goal completed, I get $10 for a shopping spree on the 1002nd day!
3. For every goal left undone, I donate $10 to charity and subtract $10 from my shopping spree.

Starting on June 1, 2009, I will have completed the entire list by February 27, 2012.

So here I go!

Instructions

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.

THE LIST

COMPLETE: 0 of 101
IN PROGRESS: 14 of 101
Mini goal status: 14 of 1174
(includes each breakdown of goals, ie. read 101 nonfiction books)

Not completed
In progress
Completed

PHYSICAL
1. Run a 5 K
2. Run a 10 K
3. Run a half-marathon
4. Bike a metric century
5. Bike a century
6. Lose 15 pounds (0/15)
7. Take a dance class
8. Go for a month without eating out
9. Be a vegetarian for one week
10. Take a pilates class
11. Complete an all-day hike
12. Take a self-defense class

MENTAL/EDUCATIONAL
13. Join toastmasters
14. Become fluent in spanish
15. Read 101 nonfiction books (4/101)
16. Read 50 of the best fiction books ever written on www.best100novels.com (0/50)
17. Perform flute on 3 different occasions (0/3)
18. Learn 101 new recipes (2/101)
19. Make salsa from only things grown in my garden
20. Start a book club
21. Speak in front of at least 100 people
22. Go without TV for a week
23. Learn to change the oil in my car
24. Fix something in the house all by myself
25. Become certified in SCUBA
26. Learn to play a song on guitar
27. Learn to play 20 hymns on piano (0/20)
28. Make bread from scratch including grinding the wheat
29. Get CPR certified
30. Learn to juggle
31. Start a compost bin
32. Watch 101 movies from the IMDB top 250 movies list (1/101)
33. Complete a 10000 piece puzzle
34. Join MENSA

CREATIVE
35. Write my book
36. Paint a picture and hang it in the house
37. Sew a complete outfit
38. Make 10 handmade gifts for people I care about (0/10)
39. Knit an afghan
40. Get a professional camera

SPIRITUAL
41. Go to the temple twice per month (1/66)
42. Read all the standard works (1/224)
43. Visit 16 temples outside Mesa (0/16)
44. Attend General Conference
45. Invite someone to church
46. Give out 5 BOM’s (0/5)
47. Read my patriarchal blessing at least once per month (0/33)

EMOTIONAL
48. Write in my journal once per week (3/143)
49. Leave someone a letter in a library book
50. Leave myself a letter in an obscure library book to find 20 years from now
51. Make a time capsule and bury it in the yard
52. Make a list of 1001 things I’m grateful for

ORGANIZATIONAL
53. Have a garage sale
54. Develop a budget
55. Organize the garage
56. Complete a year’s supply of emergency storage

RECREATIONAL
57. Get my passport
58. Take an art class
59. Visit Europe
60. Go to NYC
61. Go back to Hawaii
62. Take another cruise
63. Go to Costa Rica
64. Spend a day at the spa
65. Try 25 restaurants I’ve never been to before (1/25)
66. Try 10 foods I’ve never had before (0/10)
67. Host a neighborhood block party
68. Visit the Grand Canyon
69. Go to the meteor crater
70. Sing Karaoke
71. Sleep under the stars
72. Attend 5 classical concerts (0/5)
73. Take a spontaneous day trip
74. Go sledding
75. Go horseback riding
76. Play golf
77. Go tandem bike riding
78. Try acupuncture
79. Go to First Fridays
80. Have a picnic at the beach
81. Visit 25 national parks/monuments (0/25)

PROFESSIONAL/FINANCIAL
82. Save $50,000
83. Earn $100,000 in 12 months
84. Launch my website
85. Start my own business
86. Pay off the cars
87. Invest in something and make money!
88. Play the Cash Flow game 5 times (0/5)

SERVICE
89. Organize a service project
90. Donate blood
91. Complete 101 hours of community service (1/101)
92. Compliment 101 strangers (0/101)
93. Sub for Santa 3 times (0/3)
94. Walk/run for charity
95. Make and use reusable grocery bags
96. Write a letter to my congressman

RELATIONAL
97. Start my family
98. Go to a marriage seminar
99. Have a fancy date night all dressed up
100. Start a conversation with 25 random strangers (0/25)
101. Have a girls night sleepover with my best girlfriends