Once you’ve done a round of 101 Things in 1001 Days it becomes kind of addictive. As I write this post at the end of 2023 (aged 43 with the planet and also my life in shambles) it occurs to me that this is actually the perfect time to be embarking on another list of goals – one that will act as a reminder to keep prioritising the stuff that makes life magic over the next few years.
101 Things in 1001 Days is just a list of stuff you really want to do – with a deadline. I am guilty of being a little bit evangelical about it, having experienced first-hand the impact that it can have on our otherwise serious, adulty lives. With my next challenge starting in about 24 hours, and my new list not quite locked in, I thought it might be a good time to write a bit about the concept and reflect on some of the strategies that have worked for me in the past.
What are you talking about and why should I care?
101 Things in 1001 Days (or The Day Zero Project) was started by a New Zealander named Michael Green maybe 15 years ago, when the internet was a hell of a lot nicer and way less shouty. It was so popular that it became a global movement, and all these years later tragics like me keep coming back for more.
The concept is really simple. 1001 days is about 2.75 years – long enough to achieve some fairly meaty goals, but not so long that you can’t picture the finish line. It’s a really great length of time for achieving something of real significance without being so daunted that you never get started.
Like anything though, there are definitely some tricks to pulling this thing off!
How to become Valedictorian of 101 Things in 1001 Days
There are plenty of people already writing about the psychology of successful goal-setting, and all of them are so much smarter than me. But it’s my blog, so here’s a summary of what I know has worked for me in the past:
1. Take all the time you need to write a list that you actually care about
2.75 years is a long time, but it also flies by when you’re not paying attention. If you don’t care about this list you will abandon it – guaranteed.
2. This is not a time for chores
Your 101 list should ideally exist to inspire and excite you, and the moment you fill it with stuff you’re supposed to do all of the magic disappears. A good place to start is by asking yourself these questions:
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- What’s a skill you wish you had time to learn?
- What’s that place you’re planning to finally visit “someday”?
- Three years from now would you like to be stronger / a better trombonist / capable of knitting a jumper?
As I’ve gotten older I’ve realised that however you spend your life the time will pass anyway. If we can find the time to clean our showers periodically, then we should also actively carve out regular time for the stuff that nurtures our souls. What will you look like three years from now, inside and out? What kind of life will you have? How will you spend your finite cash and hours, and how consciously did you decide on those things?
What if we have more control over the answers to those questions than we realise?
There’s a metaphor that I love that explains why this is so important, and how quickly decisions can be made for you when you don’t actively prioritise the stuff that matters most.
3. Set goals that are S.M.A.R.T.
Goals that are abstract, open to interpretation or overly-ambitious will leave you feeling overwhelmed and directionless. Instead, make sure that you know exactly what every single goal on your list entails, and at what moment you can call it “done”.
Specific – what exactly are you trying to achieve?
Measurable – how will you know when you’ve achieved it?
Attainable – is it genuinely possible with the time and resources available to you?
Relevant – is it genuinely worthwhile to you?
Time-bound – how much time do you need to complete it?
4. Celebrate the milestones
One of my new goals is to run 10km without stopping, but I know that I can’t wake up tomorrow and pull that off. That’s why I’ve also created sub-goals of shorter distances on my list that are equally worthy of my celebration.
Give each kilometre / draft of your novel / savings milestone the attention it deserves, and the motivation will carry you forward when you hit the pointier end of your challenge.
5. Hold space for nonsense
There are plenty of things in this life that we can’t control as adults in a society. But this list? This list is YOURS. Go skinnydipping if you want to! Create a fictional name and backstory and take yourself to a hotel bar for a night. Put your phone in a drawer for an entire weekend and see who is mad at you on Monday morning. Or simply set a date to have breakfast at that cute place you drove past 100 times last year.
There are times when you’ll feel like you’re not making much progress, and when this happens it’s so important to be able to cross something off your list in a single afternoon. Make sure there are plenty of highly nutritious but quick items on your list for when those moments strike.
That’s basically it! Write a list of the stuff you daydream about anyway, break those goals into achievable steps, and GO! Round 4 of my 101 Things in 1001 Days challenge begins on January 1 2024, and will finish on 28 September 2026.