Feeling burnt out or stagnant? I might have just the Challenge that can work for you!
Every year in January, popular resolutions seem to crop up, like: Join a Gym or Start a new Diet program. I have tried many of those over the years, and for a variety of reasons, I was not able to keep consistent enough to feel accomplished and satisfied. Therefore, when I want to change something in my life, I would prefer to start when I am inspired, verses Following a Societal Fad at the beginning of a new chronological year.
In an attempt to improve my current Quality of Life without pressure, guilt, or tipping our bank account, I was inspired by a friend to try the “20 x 20 in 2020” challenge. Have you heard of it yet?
You create a board with 20 Lists of 20 Goals to Achieve in the year 2020! Some people use a Presentation Board, or Tri-Fold Board. But since I work at home, and home-school our daughter, I opted to create my ‘board’ on my door that I walk past quite frequently.
Here are my personal rules for the 20 x 20 in 2020:
- Intentional activities. Especially those I have pushed aside over the years, as life became busy
- Affordable
- Have fun creating my list
- Activities can be completed throughout the year. No pressure to complete over 20 consecutive days.
- Actions are focused on me
- Plan realistically to be able to complete before 2020
- Include all activities in January 2020 as well
- Crooked pages or imperfect formatting is fine for this creative activity
This ingenious concept can capture anything personal to each individual’s interpretation. This is such a fun and creative opportunity to do all those things I’ve been wanting to do over the years! For example, I can totally accomplish “20 New Date Destinations with my Husband” and “Read 20 Books”! Those first few Tasks flew right off the top of my head. I am so excited to finally hold myself accountable for activities I have been pushing aside for years.
Some of my friends included specific classes they want to take for professional growth or physical strengthening. As I worked on my list, I was surprised to discover how much I struggled to create the rest of my Tasks… I did not want to add anything random, or too easy that I already do. My Activities need to be smart, measurable, attainable, realistic, and timely.
But as my ideas ran thin, and my incomplete numbered list continued to stare back at me, I sought out ideas from my friend’s list and searched Pinterest boards of ‘Goals’, ‘Things to do before __ age’, ‘Bucket Lists’, ‘Vision Boards etc.
Finally, I was able to settle on 20 Very Specific Action Items that I am excited to attempt and hold myself accountable for. What Lists would be on your board? Here are the items on my list:
Scroll down for a closer look at my pages, which includes: Recipes, Classes, Time with my Daughter, Time with my family, Time with my husband, Non-screen Time, Books, Fun with Friends, Physical and Mental enrichment and healing.
Mail 20 Cards: as an alternative to texting or responding on Facebook, I would like to mail cards throughout the year. Whenever I am near a card rack, I want to spend a few minutes to grab a card for whoever I feel inspired to.
Read 20 Books: I used to read all the time. Like one book a week! Then I allowed marriage and motherhood to derail me for too long… Now, I am excited to get back into a healthy reading routine again.
Massages: 20 massages this year? Yes please. Creating the time and head-space to fully appreciate massages has been challenging.
Stay-cation: I can’t wait to have 20 intentional ‘home vacations’ that we design as a couple or family. There will be fun, food, entertainment and whatever we can imagine.
Dudley Dates/New: My husband, Dudley, will be taking me out to 20 new locations.
20 Blog Posts: I miss writing on my blog more regularly. My lists of topics can finally have their space.
20 Hours of De-clutter: My de-cluttering over the years has been gradual. I’d like to spend solid blocks of dedicated time to re-homing more of the unused items sitting around my house.
20 Self-Care Activities: I have spent most of the last 15 years focused on my daughter’s Individualized Educational Plan for her overall development. Now, that she can manage more of her time independently, I am severely overdue on my time. This challenge will help me focus more on recouping myself.
20 Dudley Dates: My husband, Dudley, and I will block out time to spend together at our regular places throughout the year.
20 Days without Screen [blue]: Most of my day is spent working and playing on my computer and phone. I would like to take intentional breaks from my screens this year.
20 Motivational Podcasts: I am excited to add to my current motivational podcasts.
20 Days of Apple Watch Activity Completion [brown]: I would like to complete 20 days in my Apple Watch app, which consists of moving, exercising and standing.
20 Adventures with Vera Ann: My daughter has been home-schooled for the past 7 years and I work at home. I am excited to see what we map out for activities away from home!
20 Classes: I miss taking classes… So, this year, I have decided to take 20 classes, as opposed to teach them!
20 Unburdening Actions: I want to finally release the pain and anger that I have carried from traumatic situations or people who could not or would not hear me. Those experiences and/or names will be written on the doves as I focus on forgiving and letting go.
Meanwhile, 20 Fun Things with Friends: In addition to dinner, I want to spend more fun and intentional time with friends.
20 New Games: We are a gaming household, but recently, we have moved more towards games on our computers. This year, I would like to discover more non-electronic games.
20 New Recipes: We enjoy food, and I want to make some of those recipes that I have collected over the years. We have already tried a few new recipes this month. My husband and I had fun cooking together, and I want more of that quality time and yummy food.
20 Weeks of Daily H20: I have been severely neglecting my hydration. This year, I want to make a better effort at drinking water. Hopefully, drinking every day will become a habit!
20 Devotional Series: I am looking forward to reading or listening to 20 different series for my peace of mind and spiritual strengthening.