I am a list maker, goal planner, do-a-monthly-challenge type girl. I love having a short challenge to complete and feeling the competitive advantage of fulfilling that challenge. While it is important to not make a challenge or a goal the sole focus of our days, it can be an incredibly motivating and helpful tool to have.
A couple things to keep in mind:
- Do one challenge at a time. Too often we try to do ALL THE THINGS starting in January, and when we fail one thing, we drop them all. Instead just focus on one challenge at a time!
- Pick realistic and attainable goals. I know that “go on a trip every month” is not our lifestyle nor is it financially or physically attainable for me right now. But “go on three trips this year”- now THAT is far more realistic and attainable.
- Find accountability! Maybe this is someone you can text regularly, maybe it’s your husband or even your kids. Maybe it’s your blog readers! Tell someone about your goal so you aren’t trying to accomplish it in a vacuum. Oh, and find someone to do it WITH you- now that is accountability!
- Make it FUN! Pick a prize at the end, choose challenges that appeal to you.
A Reading Challenge
There are so many reading challenges out there on the internet, but here are a few fun examples:
- 12x12x12: Read 12 books recommended by 12 friends within 12 months
- Do a reading challenge hosted by a blogger or website
- Read one more book than the amount you read last year
A Screen-Free Challenge
Go screen free for a pre-determined amount of time! The whole family needs to be in on this- phones, tablets, TVs. Put it all away for a day, a week, a month, or a whole season.
Blog Post on Our Screen Free Summer
A Spending Freeze Challenge
I know it seems wild, but a spending freeze has been one of the most useful things for our finances. This could last a week, a month, or a season. We pre-determine what can be bought (ei gas, bills and a weekly grocery budget) and then commit to not spending any additional money that month. It’s amazing how much we save, but also how much it shows us that we end up just randomly spending in a month. I always find that the month after a spending freeze is also way down on spending because I am so much more aware of where our money is going!
A Marriage Challenge
Set a week or a month to do some sort of marriage challenge! This could be intentional date nights, praying or working out together daily for a month, having some kind of intimacy or flirting challenge- get creative! Focus on your marriage for one entire month.
A Physical Challenge
Set a step or a mile goal for the month! Work with someone (or compete against them) to walk, run, bike, or even hike the pre-determined amount of miles.
A Local Challenge
Last year, we did our local 51 Parks Challenge, where we had to visit all 51 parks in a local township. It was a BLAST! It took us 9 months, but we did it! I loved that challenge so much that I am thinking of creating our own with another town parks, or local hiking trails. This could also be a fun challenge to visit all the local bookstores or all the local restaurants or coffee shops or farmers markets! Get creative! Make a list and set a time goal and start checking them off.
A Wardrobe Challenge
Work on curating what is in your closet by challenging yourself to wear it all at least once- or get rid of it! I usually do this by turning the hanger backwards after I’ve worn it, and not doubling on an outfit until I’ve worn all the clothes at least once. If I find myself consistently skipping a top or an outfit, it’s gotta go!
A Cleaning or Decluttering Challenge
This one is fairly self-explanatory and we’ve all seen someone do this on social media! Set a week or a month to clean out specific areas or the entire home. Get rid of a certain amount of items each day or go room by room once a day or once a week. Make a master list of deep cleaning that needs to be done and tackle one task at a time.
Deep Cleaning Checklist Blog Post
A Hospitality Challenge
Challenge yourself to have people over to your house! This could look like challenging yourself to hosting one small group a month, or one game night a week, or having someone over for dinner once a quarter. It could mean opening up your guest room whenever a missionary is in town or letting your kids have friends over once a month. Or hosting a park gathering every month in the summer.
A “Let’s Enjoy Our Children” Challenge
Several years ago, I came up with a daily activity for a month that was geared towards flipping my mindset and teaching myself to ENJOY the time I get to spend with my children. It was a game-changer, and I think that I need to do that again! This could be a weekly challenge, a monthly challenge, or honestly- a yearly challenge! Items in the challenge included greeting my child in the morning with a smile everyday, giving them a hug each day, spending some one-on-one time with each kid, etc.
Let’s Enjoy Our Children Challenge
What challenge from this list appeals to you? Or what challenges would you add to this list?
I love your approach and ideas. This is my kind of thing, but none of my family is on board so that’s discouraging to me. I stick with the ones that I can do by myself. Duolingo every day for three months was one I did, to brush up on my bad French. Or I’ve done ones about listening to a podcast consistently or having to do with reading or exercising or tracking my water intake, etc. What do I want more of in my life or what could I do with less of? And then I like to have a plan to focus on one thing. I do think having a small amount of time like a month can be very helpful with actually sticking with it.