101 in 1001

I was blog browsing and I saw a post titled 101 in 1001, followed by a list. Now, I love lists. In fact, making lists is almost a compulsion for me. It calms me. It makes me feel accomplished. So I googled this new concept and this is what I came up with:

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.

Joe and I decided we would come up with 26 goals to accomplish individually and 75 joint goals. Here my list, as well as our joint list. I will update this list as I go and write blog entries about accomplishing our goals.
finished goals look like this
in progress goals look like this

101 in 1001 days (May 17, 2009 to February 12, 2012)

Heather’s Personal

1. Take the GREs and apply to graduate school.
2. Learn to be a better photo subject.
3. Open retirement account at work and contribute the maximum.
4. Update phone book.
5. Get the oil changed on my car every 6k miles.
6. Get DVD player fixed.
7. Keep a plant alive for more than a year.
8. Get in touch with 10 friends that I lost touch with over the years. (0/10)

Heather’s Creative

9. Learn to use iPhoto and organize pictures.
10. Complete one scrapbook every 3 months (0/11).
11. Learn to sew well enough to sew a skirt for myself.
12. Knit a scarf.
13. Start drawing again.

Heather’s Health and Fitness

14. Fit into my skinny jeans again.
15. Learn to bake bread and make homemade soy yogurt from scratch. (0/2)
16. Learn how to freeze and can extra vegetables from CSA.
17. Eliminate soda from diet.
18. Keep a food log.
19. Practice roller derby 6 hours a week.
20. Learn to snowboard.
21. Take an exotic dance class (video or in person).

Heather’s Lifestyle and Recreation

22. Organize a monthly poker game. (0/33)

Heather’s Entertainment

23. Compile a list of books to read and read one book a week (or at least 250 pages). (0/143)
24. Get a library card.
25. Go to a movie alone.
26. Learn to play the guitar.


Personal

1. Learn a new language.
2. Perform 100 random acts of kindness. (0/100)
3. Begin to combine our possessions and reduce, reuse, recycle, freecycle, sell duplicates and things we don’t use.
4. Plug all electronics into surge protectors that can be turned off when not in use.
5. Stop taking plastic bags from stores.
6. Purchase cotton bags to use for bulk purchases.
7. Organize filing system.
8. Save enough in a high interest savings account to cover three months expenses.
9. Get new life insurance policies and name each other as beneficiaries.
10. Eliminate toxic debt using the snowball method.
11. Roll over old retirement accounts with new financial advisor.
12. Find and eliminate our “latte factor” and put the savings in an account for vacations and other fun things.
13. Save enough for down payment on a house.
14. Develop a budget that is feasible and stick to it.
15. Put $10 for each goal completed into high-yield savings and $20 for each uncompleted goal at the end of the 1001 days.
16. Enter electronics and other valuables into iOwn.
17. Continue with Hendrix’s training until we are confident letting him off leash.
18. Bathe Hendrix every other week. (0/72)
19. Arrange play dates for Hendrix every three weeks.
20. Start a curse jar and contribute a quarter for every swear, to be used for vacations.
21. Sit down and come up with a 10-year plan for us.
22. Start planning birthday and Christmas gifts for family and friends early, including a budget, so that we can give as many local bought and handmade gifts as possible.
23. Send thank you cards for all gifts received.
24. Get a tattoo.
25. Do an evacuation drill.
26. Make sure we have outfits to wear to a wedding, a funeral, a christening, and a job interview, make sure everything fits, is in good condition and is complete (i.e. shoes, accessories, etc.).
Creative
27. Buy and learn to use a digital SLR camera.
28. Take more pictures of friends and family.
29. Fill all empty frames with pictures of our little family.
30. Research our heritages and compile a family tree, to be framed.
31. Write a short book on our respective genealogies.


Health and Fitness

32. Learn to cook tofu well.
33. Eliminate high-fructose corn syrup completely from diet.
34. Try one new recipe a week using vegetables from CSA delivery. (0/52)
35. Stop eating takeout.
36. Eat as much organic food as is financially and realistically possible.
37. Use meal plans to buy in bulk as much as possible.
38. Eliminate sugar from our diet.
39. Grow a container herb garden.
40. Make weekly meal plans to save money, reduce waste and eat better. (0/143)
41. Drink at least 2 liters of water a day. (0/1001)
42. Find a vitamin regime that works and stick to it. (0/1001)
43. Train for and participate in a triathlon.
44. Train for and run in a 5k.
45. Take a belay class.
46. Get bikes fixed.
47. Exercise at least three and half-hours a week. (0/143)
48. Hike part of the Appalachian Trail.
49. Visit one new place in NJ a month. (0/33)

Lifestyle and Recreation

50. Eat vegan for one week. (0/7)
51. Live plastic free (no new plastic) for one week. (0/7)
52. Go one week without spending unnecessarily (necessary=gas, groceries, bills). (0/7)
53. Eat local for one week. (0/7)
54. Eliminate plastic beverage bottles from our life.
55. Volunteer 5 hours a month (first aid doesn’t count). (0/33)
56. Have date night once a week, with no blackberries or iphones for two hours. (0/143)
57. Kiss in the rain.
58. Watch the sun rise over the ocean.
59. Watch the moon rise over the ocean.
60. Sleep under the stars with each other.
61. Make plans for two weekends away. (0/2)
62. Have a picnic in Central Park.
63. Plan to attend a cultural event monthly.
64. Plan a special day/weekend every month to travel somewhere in the Northeast and see one of the 1001 places to see before you die. (0/33)
65. Participate in an A-Z travel challenge, in which the letters can stand for any destination: town, building, body of water, park, etc. (0/26)
66. See a double feature at the drive-in movie theater after eating at the drive-in restaurant.
67. Learn how to dance well.
68. Ride Vespas.
69. Go to Sonic and order cheese fries and cherry limeade.

Entertainment

70. Download and listen to 1001 albums I must hear before I die. (0/1001)
71. Organize and backup the music on our iTunes (i.e. delete duplicates and converge libraries)
72. Join Netflix and watch one movie a week (starting with AFI’s 100 best American movies). (0/100)
73. Compile a list of TV series to watch and download and watch one a month. (0/33)
74. Limit TV to an hour a day.
75. Learn how to play chess well