Good morning, friends! Today I’d like to share a new series with you. Mackenzie Horan started this idea of creating a list of 101 things to do in 1001 days (roughly 2.75 years). It fits a happy medium between the shorter-term to-do list and the longer-term bucket list. Most recently my friend, Hannah, started her own variation of 51 things in 501 days. Since 1001 days is a little over halfway through my PhD program, I thought it was the perfect amount of time to set goals for myself. And so I decided to start a list of my own!
There has actually been quite a lot on my mind since finishing my M.S. degree (#24) this past year. Most of these thoughts revolve around my changing opinions toward what is most important in life, and more specifically what I want to prioritize in my life moving forward. And while I have lots of new insights on the subject, I’m not quite ready to share them just yet. (Mostly because they aren’t completely formed in my own head, and partly because I’m not sure how best to share them.) At any rate, this list is a nod in the right direction for me, and I couldn’t be more excited to share it with you today!! I feel like moving to Colorado this fall has reinvigorated me and given me the fresh start I so badly craved. In my list you’ll find educational/professional goals (like #30) and personal goals (like #17), as well as goals for my blog (like #2) and goals for the way I spend my time in Colorado (like #82). There’s also some just for fun goals too! (like #86) And then there are some goals in particular (like #35) that are very near and dear to my heart.
Writing my goals down here and sharing my updates along the way with you will help to keep me accountable. If all goes well, I’ll have lots of updates at the beginning of each month. Let me know if you decide to start one of your own too, and we can be each other’s encouragement.
Without further ado…my 101 Things in 1001 Days.
START: late-Summer 2015
FINISH: late-Spring 2018
BLOG (1/7)
1. Start a blog. (September 2015)
2. Join a blog society.
3. Post three times per week.
4. Learn blog photography.
5. Learn Photoshop.
6. Attend my first blogging event.
7. Connect with 10 blogging friends in person.
FITNESS/HEALTH (0/16)
8. Move 10,000 steps per day for one month.
9. Train for and complete a half-marathon.
10. Train for and complete a sprint triathalon.
11. Work out in the morning for two weeks.
12. Drink eight glasses of water per day for at least two weeks.
13. Take REC classes three times per week for three weeks.
14. Eat the recommended serving of vegetables each day for one week.
15. Schedule appointments with doctor, dentist, etc. and go at least once per year.
16. Go gluten free for two weeks.
17. Find and maintain my ideal weight.
18. Find a practical daily routine.
19. Stretch and foam-roll each day for two weeks.
20. No back-to-back exercises for two weeks.
21. Try an out of my comfort zone workout class.
22. Strength train for two weeks.
23. Run one 5k per month for one year.
EDUCATION/BRAIN (2/16)
24. Complete my M.S. Degree (and thesis). (defended June 2015, graduated August 2015)
25. Begin a Ph.D. Program. (August 2015)
26. Read 10 books.
27. Start homework the day it is assigned for one month.
28. Finish the Harry Potter, Ender, Maze Runner, Divergent Series (the last books!).
29. Present at my first technical conference.
30. Publish my first journal paper.
31. Make an informed vote.
32. Learn the major constellations.
33. Set up and operate a large telescope.
34. Read a classic sci-fi novel.
35. Start a kids science program.
36. Program and use a Kalman filter.
37. Solve a Rubik’s cube.
38. TA an upper level course.
39. Learn astrophotography.
BEAUTY/FASHION (2/9)
40. Incorporate braids more often.
41. Incorporate more accessories into outfits.
42. Find a skincare regimen that works for me.
43. Learn how to do winged eyeliner.
44. Grow my hair out.
45. Find a haircare regiment that works for my frizzy, curly hair. (Fall 2015, products coming soon)
46. Organize my jewelry and other accessories.
47. Try five new trends outside my comfort zone. (Flares)
48. Dress professionally to work for 1 month.
HOME/LIFESTYLE (0/14)
49. Stick to a budget.
50. Keep living spaces clean for one full month.
51. Throw out twenty things and do not replace them.
52. Have fresh flowers in the house for two weeks.
53. Unplug one day per week for one month.
54. Make one new recipe per week for 1 month.
55. Organize my personal email.
56. Compile all my favorite recipes.
57. Try five new foods. (1/5 – Rhubarb)
58. Cook at home more often (one meal out per week for one month).
59. Go one month without shopping.
60. Go through magazine stacks.
61. Go through items at parent’s house.
62. Create a homemade piece to display as home decor.
RELATIONSHIP/SOCIAL (1/8)
63. Send fifty handwritten notes.
64. Say “YES” for two weeks. (August 2015)
65. Improve communication time (respond to texts, emails, comments, etc. within 24 hours).
66. Host a dinner party/game night.
67. Figure out beers.
68. Go on one nice date or event per month.
69. Send flowers to my grandma and mom one day out of the blue.
70. Go to a Red Rocks concert with friends.
TRAVEL/OUTDOORS (2/14)
71. Take one weekend trip per month.
72. Go backpacking.
73. Go backcountry skiing.
74. Go snowshoeing.
75. Travel to Alaska. (August 2015)
76. Visit five National Parks. (1/5 – Kenai Fjords August 2015)
77. Travel to Europe. (June 2015)
78. Consistently land ski jumps.
79. Learn bike mechanics.
80. Visit Seattle.
81. Visit Chicago.
82. Climb ten 14ers. (2/10 – Mt. Bierstadt, Mt. Evans)
83. Learn to mountain bike.
84. Learn car mechanics.
JUST FOR FUN (0/17)
85. Go ice skating.
86. Eat donuts and watch cartoons on a Saturday.
87. Watch a sunset.
88. Watch a sunrise.
89. Build a fort.
90. Go skinny dipping.
91. Learn calligraphy.
92. See ten classic films.
93. Learn to ballroom dance.
94. Buy something at a flea market.
95. Discover fifteen new favorite restaurants. (6/15 – Bob’s Atomic Burgers, Rueben’s Burger Bistro, Cafe Mexicali, Snooze, Swing Thai, Boss Lady’s Pizza)
96. Learn how to tie a tie.
97. Have a picnic.
98. Go to a drive-in movie.
99. Volunteer once a month.
100. Cater an event with cupcakes.
101. Donate blood (and find out my blood type).
4 Comments
Brittany
November 2, 2015 at 7:24 amGreat post- I loved reading this!! I may have to come up with a list like this in the future!
Brittany,
http://www.lawyerlookbook.com
Kristin
November 3, 2015 at 6:08 amHi, Brittany! You totally should! I like that some of the things are serious goals of mine, while others, like watching cartoons and eating donuts on a Sunday, are just silly and fun. It’s things like these that remind us to enjoy the simple moments in life. Thanks for stopping by!
Laura Kathleen
November 2, 2015 at 9:09 amFun idea! I love reading Mackenzie’s posts about this, I should do this for myself to stay motivated to accomplish my goals!
Laura
http://www.lauraaimevous.com
Kristin
November 3, 2015 at 6:10 amHi, Laura! You should! We can keep each other accountable too! 🙂 I’m thinking the monthly updates will really help to keep me focused on what I want to accomplish the next month. Thanks for stopping by!