I’ve seen this on many blogs lately and my coworker and I were discussing how there’s scientific proof that when you write a goal down you are more apt to complete this goal. And I’m totally all about lists too so this is right up my ally!

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.

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 Focused. 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: October 28, 2009 (age 30)

End date: July 25, 2012 (age 33)

Italics = in progress

Strike = completed

1. Put up curtains in the living room
2. Spend 4 consecutive Sundays unplugged (no computers/TV) (0/4)
3. Have a 0 balance on my credit card
4. Visit 4 wineries I’ve never been to on the CT Wine Trail (0/4)
5. Bake an apple pie from scratch
6. Have a baby
7. Refinish our dining room table
8. Find and purchase a table for our entry-way
9. Visit family in CA
10. Go to 2 local farmer’s market (0/2)
11. Pack my lunch and don’t buy lunch for 2 consecutive weeks (0/2)
12. Convert old VHS tapes of dances and silly things to DVD
13. Organize all seasonal decorations in the basement
14. Get my boater’s license through the Coast Guard’s Safe Boater’s Course
15. Borrow the in-law’s kayak and kayak in CT
16. Watch Arrested Development series
17. Enter a photo in a fair
18. Visit the Otter Creek and Magic Hat breweries in VT
19. Purchase a fancy DSLR
20. Use Wii Fit for 30 days straight (0/30)
21. Visit Niagra Falls
22. Have a spa day – facial, mani/pedi
23. Finish my undergrad degree
24. Make a wedding photo album
25. Kiss in the rain
26. Make one new recipe a month for a year (0/12)
27. Get my passport
28. Replace fixtures in 1 bathroom
29. Get and install a new dining room chandelier
30. Lose 25 lbs (0/25)
31. Plant a veggie garden
32. Stay at a bed & breakfast
33. Go apple picking
34. Tour Yale’s campus
35. See 2 Broadway shows (0/2)
36. Try 5 new restaurants that aren’t a chain (0/5)
37. Throw a tag sale
38. Go to at least 5 tag sales (0/5)
39. Get another tattoo
40. No fast food for at least a month (0/30)
41. Come up with a business plan
42. Have a date night for 4 consecutive Fridays (0/4)
43. Read 100 books (0/100)
44. Have our neighbors over for dinner
45. Host another cookie swap
46. Attend Mickey’s Very Merry Christmas Party
47. Make a family tree
48. Get glass dishes for microwavable leftovers (plastic=bad!)
49. Go on a hay ride with Scott
50. Write/tell 4 friends how much they mean to me (0/4)
51. Take the fall foliage train in Essex
52. Get/design t-shirts for the next family vacation
53. Watch a movie on IMAX
54. Spend a Sunday in bed
55. Buy all the Muppets DVDs
56. See a game at the new Yankee Stadium
57. Learn to knit
58. Take a sparkler photo
59. Get my eyes checked and get new glasses
60. Wear glasses at least 5 days a week!
61. Buy bouquet of fresh flowers once a month for a year (0/12)
62. Purchase something new for the bedroom
63. Make the household paper towel free
64. See 5 classic movies that I’ve never seen (0/5)
65. Buy mom & dad the grill we’ve promised them
66. Write in my paper journal at least 1 time a month (0/36)
67. See DMB 1 more time
68. Have a cookbook made of favorite family recipes
69. Eat no red meat for 1 month
70. Go hiking with Scott somewhere new
71. Host a Pampered Chef party
72. Make a recycling spot for our house
73. Go away with Scott for a weekend somewhere new
74. Relearn to play the guitar
75. Go ice skating with Scott
76. Go to an NHL game
77. Buy all new babies in my life their first ears from Disney (0/3)
78. Go up Mount Washington with Scott
79. Own a nice purse 11.14.09
80. Go on a photography walk
81. Clean out all duplicate photos on my computer
82. Buy a laptop
83. Sell a photo to a stranger
84. Spend a day with Scott doing things he wants to do
85. Spend a day with Scott doing things I want to do
86. Scrapbook our honeymoon started 11.7.09
87. Scrapbook our Vermont vacation
88. Be on time/early for things 5 consecutive days (0/5)
89. Get my hair colored something fun like red! 11.28.09
90. Get a haircut every 3 months
91. Buy one good signature piece every season (0/12)
92. Have a no spend month
93. Volunteeer at one of our town events
94. Own a slanket!
95. Become twitter friends with at least 2 twitters I stalk (2/2) 12.3.09
96. Let my family know about my blog as a way to keep up with us
97. Send a package to Kayla
98. Ask for more $$ than is offered
99. Own Away We Go
100. Donate $1 per item not completed
101. Make a new list!