Give it a 100 (or 20, or 30) Challenge - April 2018

[ejchase]

In August 2017, a few of us were inspired by the video at the link below. It's the story of a woman who went to the gym 100 times to try to get herself out of a rut. I saw it when George Takei posted it on Facebook along with the question, "What would you like to do 100 times?"

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=I5FkshLcNLQ

Her video was part of a larger movement online called "Give it 100" which, as far as I can tell, is now defunct.

I decided what I wanted to do 100 times was work on my fiction writing at least 30 minutes a day. The times do NOT need to be consecutive. Since I knew I would miss a lot of days here and there, I was aiming to complete my 100 days by January 15, but I actually ended up doing 110 times and finished them in mid-March. I'm going to start another 100 times soon ...

Others joined in at various points - nswef has been building up to 100 times of a certain number of steps a day and I think is also counting days doing 15 minutes of decluttering and/or some writing. Chicken Lady got 30 days in her studio in November and has also counted swimming.

Anyway, if anybody else wants to join in for 20, 30, 100 or however many times of something, please do!

[Chicken lady]

Ok, I stopped checking in and tracking in March, but I did get my ditch dug.

APRIL - 20 days of progress on the farm.

progress is anything beyond keeping myself from falling behind:
clearing, planting or obtaining plants/seeds/needed materials, purging or light construction in barn, putting up dairy products, selling farm products including actions in support of such sales, drainage improvements, fencing, long term mulching, fiber use.

so far 2:
April 1 - clearing and dairy
April 3 - dairy

[nswef]

Day 97 of 6000 steps! I was very lax in March and April is not beginning with enthusiasm, but I keep working at it!!I quit keeping track of household but am tracking writing activities and did pretty well in March. I have an attic to straighten, might be a good plan. As usual CL I am impressed with all the activity you do! Ej Have you continued the momentum from your 110 days?

[Chicken lady]

Nswef, don’t quit! Just keep moving! That is a lot of steps.

Today I emptied and defrosted the chest freezer so I can start stocking it back up with ice cream and cheese and milk. There were 4 pints of “lost” milk in there - not too bad. I also picked up our trees from the soil and water conservation district.

[ejchase]

Wow, nswef! Day 97! Keep it up! You're almost there!

Chicken Lady, yay for progress on the farm.

I have done no writing since I completed my 110 days because work has been super-busy. But spring break begins on the 14th, so I'm eyeing that date as the time to begin my next 100. Basically, I feel so happy about what I did that I just want to keep doing 100 times over and over. :) Sounds boring, I know, but I've spent years making everything else my priority, and this is the thing I want to put front and center in this chapter of my life.

[nswef]

I think it is wonderful EJ that you made the time and it was just what you needed!

[Chicken lady]

Keep at it ejchase! It will become a thing that you do and not a thing that you plan.

today I made cheese all day with my students.

[Chicken lady]

Saturday i didn’t do any extra farm work, but Sunday I started some willow branches in water to become trees for bank stabilization. This morning i’m making ice cream. So i’m up to 6, even though most of them are small.

[nswef]

Good work CL.

[nswef]

I made 100 days of 6000 or more steps! Started Sept. 1. New goal, do it a little faster!

[Chicken lady]

Whoo hoo!

this morning I planted six Cyprus trees in a swampy area. 7 days.

[nswef]

Yay! Six treess!

[ejchase]

Congratulations, nswef! That's so fantastic!

And good going, Chicken Lady, on the trees!

I've put off resuming my writing for another week. My dad's arriving today for 8 days, and I just know I need to be present with him, and I know I can do some exercising and grading when he's watching news and sports or reading the newspaper, but won't really be able to focus the way I want to on writing. New target goal to restart: Monday, April 22.

[Chicken lady]

Yesterday I took a few minutes to open up a drainage area a little more. Baby step, but it was great to see the water suddenly start flowing fast. Big payback on that one.

8 days. I don’t think i’m going to make 20, but I will do the best I can.

ejchase, enjoy your dad.

[nswef]

CL, You will make 20- just maybe not all in April.
EJ, Enjoy your dad.
2 days of 6000.
Did some writing in spite of having to spend DAYS on computer trouble.

[Chicken lady]

Well, if I never get to 20, the place will collapse.

one of the things that works for me about the monthly goals is the ability to call them “one and done” I set the goal, I do my best at it, and then a whole new month comes along and I can reassess and refine the goal, build on it, or move on.

[Chicken lady]

Weather was ok, so I skipped swimming and started raking out an old strawberry bed (no strawberries left, but I ordered new ones this year.)

9 days.

[Chicken lady]

Spent most of the day planting trees.
10.

[ejchase]

Good going, Chicken Lady.

Nswef, I think we inspire each other. I got a fitness tracker last week. After a couple of days of only around 3,000 steps, I made it to 7,500 yesterday. Wearing it definitely encourages me to take the stairs instead of the elevator at work.

I have finally returned to my writing. Today was Day #2. I am aiming to have 100 times completed by August 27 when the fall semester starts.