
I’ve tried several time since 2018 in doing a 101 goals in 1001-day challenge. I’ve even tried to expand it to 100+ goals in 2002-days. My problem has always been the same: I make the list, and then I only occasionally look at it again to see how I’m doing in terms of the goals—and some of the goals never seemed to feel like ‘mine’. They felt like goals I should put down because they’re ones that ‘society’ deems acceptable.
Last year I also tried to a ’43 things to do before turning 43’ list of goals. The problem: I made that list/goal idea during a really rough time—my mother was still in the hospital, and I thought making a ‘smaller’ list of goals and a ‘tighter’ window would result in the goals being accomplished.
I did manage to accomplish about 44% of the goals that I set last year—as I counted even semi-accomplished (or started) goals in the ‘check’ category. Ones I did start or attempt were considered ‘not done’.
So, I’m three weeks and a few days late in posting this particular post—it is a combination of a new 101 goals in 1001 days list, and a ’44 things to do before turning 44’ goal list.
What’s the difference: I’ve actually picked a handful of 101 goals to try to get accomplished (or at least a good head start on) by my birthday next year. In addition, there are several additional goals at the end of the list that are on my ‘44 things to do’ list that aren’t on (or fit with) the 101 goals in 1001 days.
So what is what? The long list is basically the 101 goals that I’m aiming to accomplish in 1001 days. Items that are bolded are from the 44 things to do before turning 44 list. I’ve determined that I’m going to be having ‘scheduled’ updates—every two months for the 44 things before 44 list, and every 100 days for the 101-goals (plus yearly updates around my birthday).
The areas that I’m focusing on for both lists: career/professional growth; personal growth (including areas of health/wellness, spirituality, and personal finances); and crafts/hobbies (tied with career). Why these areas? Because, they’re the ones that if I focus on will also have the most impact in other areas of life (such as social life, friends/family, contributions/donations and physical environment).
So what are the goals? They include:
- Start my freelance science/health/medical communications business
- Transition to a remote science/health/medical communications position
- Monetize blogs and set up an Etsy store for the crafts and so-forth
- Launch a YouTube channel
- Launch a podcast
- Increase blog/website(s) traffic (aim for 500+ views/day)
- Social media following of 500+ across different channels
- Launch at least one online course
- Hit 10K (and then 12.5K, 15K, 20+K) followers on LinkedIn
- Go to at least one scientific conference
- Present at least one scientific conference
- Renew professional memberships (ASBMB, ASCB; at least once)
- More interaction on LinkedIn
- Go to at least two professional networking events
- Attend at least one blogging conference
- Attend at least one author-reader conference
- Develop a passive income stream
- Complete at least 18 different e-courses
- Finish at least two CSA advanced programs
- Finish at least four Udemy courses
- Finish at least six Skillshare courses
- Read at leaet 100 different nonfiction/historical fiction books
- Read at least 44 nonfiction/historical books before Sept 20, 2024
- Become fluent in Spanish
- Become fluent in German
- Become proficient in French, Norwegian, or Swedish
- Learn to say hello and thank you in ten different languages
- Complete at least one 365-day photography challenge
- Editorial calendars, to-be accomplished lists for both blogs and various social media accounts
- Learn python coding
- Create a physical vision board and update it regularly
- Based on my vision/definition of success
- Learn basic sign language
- Get out of debt
- Increase my savings account 500x
- Increase my retirement account 500x
- No spend challenges
- Finish at least one personal finance book and e-course
- Get into the best shape of my life
- Learn about body confidence
- Create a happiness plan
- Daily mediation (work up to twice a day)
- Stretch daily
- Hold a 90-second plank
- Develop (and stick with) a consistent exercise schedule
- Make a candle (or two, or three, or more)
- Make some mosaic art & resin art
- Make some soap
- Make some tie-dye clothes/accessories
- Draw/doodle, color, and frame a original drawing
- Draw/doodle, paint, and frame a original piece of art
- Sew something I’d wear
- Start my own jewelry line
- Make a memorial quilt
- Start another afghan (or make some scarfs to donate)
- Upload/update photography pages (namely bird pages) on creative/hobby blog
- Complete at least another six cross-stitch projects
- Create my own coffee-table photography book
- Create my own calendar using my nature photographs
- Create at least one piece of wood-burnt art
- Monthly new & full moon goals
- Daily oracle card drawings
- Create my own Wicca/pagan altar & update throughout the seasons
- See a coral reef
- Tour a vineyard
- See the Northern Lights
- Go to a Renaissance Festival
- Visit at least three countries
- Visit at least one ‘new’ national and/or state park
- Visit at least one ‘new’ national and/or state monument
- Visit at least one ‘new’ zoo
- Visit at least one ‘new’ aquarium
- Visit at least one ‘new’ state
- Visit at least one ‘new’ city
- Fly out and/or land at three ‘new’ airports
- Make fresh pasta
- Learn to make sushi
- Learn glass etching
- Get a haircut and highlights (light purple, blue, and/or green)
- Various top ten author/book series lists (creative blog)
- Keep at least three plants alive
- Start a succulent garden in a pot
- Design a science-based board game
- Declutter and downsize
- Create a minimal wardrobe
- Swim with whale sharks
- Put in at least one flower garden around the house
- Become better informed in regards to politics
- Become better informed in regards to economics
- Pick a non-science topic and develop ‘niche’ knowledge on it
- Research 30 prominent women throughout history
- Write a minimum of 101 mini-book reviews
- Write a minimum of 100 blurbs/reviews on different research papers/topics
- Start a junk journal
- Listen to a different podcast everyday (30-120 day challenge)
- Yoga for a minimum of 30 days
- 30+ days of iPhone photography
- 30+ days of doodling
- Create a coloring book from various (uncolored) doodles/drawings
- 30-days of coloring in coloring books
- Solo dance parties (minimum of four to five songs)
- 30-days of making rubbings of interesting surfaces and textures (leaves, flowers, tree bark, so forth)
- Film progress of one (or more) 30-day challenge
- Learn a new country (or fact) a day
- Do a Sudoku or crossword puzzle daily
- Jumping jack/squat challenge
- Watch a different TedTalk each day (30-120 day challenge); plus a 100-200 word summary
- Create my own cookbook
- Ten minutes on the exercise bike (work up to a 5+ mile bike ride)
- 30+ days of mind-maps
The last few things from the 44 things to do before turning 44 list:
Complete at least five 30-day challenges (some of which are listed above)
Read at least two ‘new’ banned books
Read at least two ‘new’ classic books
Read at least one ‘new’ trilogy (or longer) series
Finish creating a inspiring work/craft area
Write a letter to my future self (again)
So that is my combined 101 goals and 44 things list…technically could call it a 107 goals in 1001 days…but splitting things up may help me actually complete more of the goals. In terms of updating the lists: I’ll be updating my progress on the bolded items every 60 days (basically the 20th of every other month) and the first update will be Nov 20 2023. In terms of the 101 goals–updates will be every 100 days, with yearly updates on my birthday (so there will a 365 day and 730 day update in addition to all the other updates). The first update for the 101 goals will be Dec 30 2023.