It’s the new year, and for about a week or so everyone is filled with the spirit of self-improvement. Well, usually. If people aren’t making actual resolutions to exercise more, smoke less and so on, then people are making resolutions not to make resolutions, and carrying on with their lives after the fun of an ironic joke
The problem with resolutions is how they can be difficult to keep up as well as difficult to keep track of. A good New Years resolution will become more of a lifestyle change, or a habit rather than something strictly adhered to for a week and a half and then abandoned. In the spirit of self improvement, if you want to make a resolution with a bit of a difference, and have a good chance of keeping it up, then you could take on a more long-term challenge.
Day Zero is the home of the 101 things in 1001 days project. It is rather self-explanatory: make a list of 101 things to do and complete them in 1001 days. This gives you just under three years to do things you might not ordinarily do, to commit to a lifestyle change or to cross things through and write dates next to them, if you’re that kind of person.
Where this idea works is how you can construct the list as you please, but 1001 days gives you a fair time limit to write realistic goals that you can achieve. Tasks can range from the ordinary (watch the evening news every day for a week) to the healthy (exercise every week for a few months) to the long term (maintain a job for 6 months) and even the adventurous (do a charity parachute jump). Whatever the goals are, they must be specific in their wording with a result that can be measured or defined so that it is easy to cross them off. Tasks must be realistic since there’s no point in putting down the impossible but at the same time, you are encouraged to stretch yourself. After all, there’s no reward without effort.
Being partway through my own list, I can testify that it’s not an easy thing, but it is somewhat satisfying to do. So if you fancy a challenge this New Year, then why not see if there are 101 things you want to do in 1001 days? Make a list, share it if you want and then work steadily through it, crossing things off with a sense of achievement every time.
Alternatively, if you want a quick-fix, or some inspiration for your list, why not try this fun little New Year’s Resolution Generator? Personally, I’m pleased with my randomly generated resolution: ‘Drink hot cocoa’.
