100 Day Challenge
100 Day Challenge
There are just about 100 days left to the year and I decided to bring back the 100-day challenge. If you have been with me for a while, you know I started this during the start of the pandemic when we were all at home. My personal 100-day challenge was to move my body every day and practice French. I started Duolingo at this time and so many of you joined me. While we were all at home, this was a way for us to feel connected.
Read below to find out what exactly is the 100-day challenge, what I plan to do for the next 100 days, why I already started, and ideas to spark your 100-day challenge focus.
The 100-Day Challenge
So what exactly is the 100-day challenge? It is a way to motivate your body and or your mind to do something for 100 days. Most importantly, if you do something for 100 days you should see some sort of growth or change. As a society, we put a lot of pressure on ourselves, especially at the start of the year. This challenge begins at the end of the year. How do you want to change? How do you want to get better? These are all important questions to ask yourself as you choose your focus.
The last 100 days of the year begin on the first day of fall, September 22. If you are unsure of what you want to do for the challenge. You can see some ideas below. Feel free to comment below and share what you will be doing for your challenge so I can cheer you along!
My 100-Day Challenge
As some of you know, I have an upcoming wedding. On our wedding registry, there is now a countdown on the top of the registry which tells you how many days until the big day. We are officially under 100 days which has me refocused on my health and stressing about all the details that need to get done before the wedding.
I have made some shifts in my diet to make it healthier. I am eating oatmeal for breakfast with a cup of hot tea. It is great for the next few months as the days get colder. I started my challenge a few days ago to match up with the wedding date. Melissa Wood Health is an online workout I have heard about for the past couple of years. Her workouts are shorter, between 10-30 minutes and they focus on different parts of the body. I tried her 7-day trial and now I am committed to moving with her for the rest of the 100 days.
She is a supermodel so take that with a grain of salt. I will never look like her or have her exact body and I am ok with that, I signed up for movement and strength training. I purchased these Bala bands that were sold out just about everywhere in 2020 and now they are on sale. There is a new video each day to get you focused on a different part of your body or a change of movement between yoga and pilates. I am currently still doing my dance classes as cardio so this is an addition and change to my usual routine.
Ideas for the 100 Day Challenge
Save money and eat at home for the next 100 days. Or only eat out on weekends.
Try a new language or pick up an old one. Duolingo and Babbel are great and affordable options.
Organize a different part of your home every day. A little at a time will make a huge difference at the end of the year!
Walk a mile every day. Add a friend to the challenge to have an accountability buddy and walk with them. Pets count 😉
Practice gratitude and write in a journal either in the morning or at the end of the day. I love this journal and have gifted it a few times.
Drink 8 glasses of water per day. How does your body feel? I make spa water at home with cucumber and lemon and it helps me drink more water.
Start reading again. Read a little before bed each night for the next 100 days. See how many books you make it through.
Spend less time on your phone. I set up a time limit for Instagram which gives me a daily reminder to turn off my phone. I have to be very careful how I use my time because it goes quickly!
Learn a new skill. Are you trying to improve your resumé for your dream job? Try Masterclass or watch Youtube videos to learn something new. At the end of 100 days, you will show improvement and be out of the beginner stages.
I can’t wait to hear how you use the 100-day challenge in your own life.
This is so motivating Rebecca that I am nearly paralyzed with fear. LOL! I do indeed workout nearly everyday. What I need more of is peace. I need to write more. So I think I am going to journal daily and practice meditation. I am committing to only writing in my early pre workout mornings. I love all these other ideas too my fellow EDP followers have….mostly a way to shift the focus back on myself. I needed a reason and encouragement – thank you. xo
Thank you for suggesting and encouraging the 100-Day Challenge. Planning the activities I want to work on, writing them down and planning the time to accomplish them, actually motivates me to get started. Stay tuned to see how I do!
I’m doing the 100 Day Challenge this year!! Yay!! I signed up for Melissa Wood Health and will be doing the daily workouts and meditations. Love this combination. I’ve been wanting to get back into moving my body and this Challenge is the perfect time to do it. I’m always making excuses as to why I can’t do this…..not anymore. The excuses stop today!! Thanks for doing the 100 Day Challenge Rebecca.
I am going to copy Laura and practice French for 30 minutes a day or maybe longer; I am going to a writers retreat in Paris next October (2023) and although it will be in English, I want to be able to get myself from the airport to my hotel 🙂 Thank you and I have to add that I love your blog; I have some of your B&W photographs and they add a very French touch to my little studio.
Olivia
Karen – Congratulations on your retirement. I retired in Spring of 2019 & I immediately decided to make a list of all the things I wanted to do & then I took a deeper dive to try to figure out why I wanted to accomplish those things, and then tried to id some actionable small steps that could take to get those things done. Decluttering the house & donating unwanted items to Salvation Army; going through my work wardrobe & donating items to a charity that helps women with job training & interview outfits/skills; gardening for food (easy grow beans, greens, tomatoes and herbs) and beauty (wildflowers for pollinators); doing a home inventory & going through all my documents/files/papers (what a shred pile I had!)- basically, getting rid of baggage to open my life to all the good things that life has in store while helping others along the way – even in small ways. Despite Covid and all that came with it (including here in Texas a horrible freeze that plunged us into cold darkness for days), I found myself a happier, healthier and more grateful human despite the onset of hot flashes (lol – but seriously, what a freaky experience menopause is!). Anyway, you are in for an exciting and very freeing period of your life and I hope you make the very most of it.
Thank you for this excellent motivator! This came at the perfect time because I just retired from my job last Friday and now have plenty of time for ME! A great reminder of things I have put off for so long
Congrats on your upcoming nuptials 💕
Congratulations on your retirement. That has to feel so nice! I hope you enjoy your ME time and can focus on your hobbies and interests you have put off. keep me posted on how the challenge changes you. Please sleep in for me! xo
I need a challenge and this sounds great! Having a active dog keeps me walking at least 45 minutes/1.5 miles or do each day but since my daughter is now in Paris at college I’d love to learn French so when I go back I can say more than hello, thank you, check please and goodbye.
I love it, Laura! Can you imagine the look on her face when you speak French in her with Paris? Please keep me posted on your progress. xo
I love this idea so much. It’s hard to pick one challenge. I think 100 days of 30 minutes of movement a day – walking, cycling, stretching, etc. I can get pretty sedentary.
I love the movement idea. We are in for some colder days ahead so when you can’t get out, stretch at home. Try some online videos if you need inspiration. Good luck and keep me posted. xo
I love this idea – thanks for sharing! I want to re-establish a running habit, so I’m going to run one mile each day between Thursday and the end of the year. I might go longer than that on days that I feel like it, but I’ll do at least that each day.
I admire you so much for running. It is one skill I have never mastered. Enjoy the process and keep me posted how the progress goes!
I love the 100 day challenge idea Rebecca! I have been feeling so stuck lately. I am going to work on my photography and take one photo a day (from camera to edit) and work on improving my skills.
Allison, that sounds like a great idea. Try posting to a blog or Instagram and documenting the changes. I am sure you will show progress after 100 days. I can’t wait to see the comparison between day 1 and 100, please share. xo
I’m going to cut out obvious sugar. I’ve been thinking about it for a while now and this is the perfect motivator. I am seriously addicted to sugar and need to cut it out.
Jennifer, great idea! Start slowly and work your way off it so you don’t crash. I think you will notice a change in your body and your skin. I can’t wait to hear about your progress.