August Challenge

[Iff]

Thanks, seeker, I will definitely try this.

[Tuumble]

Originally Posted by seeker5

Here is something that may help you. It certainly helped me when I did this two years ago or so. What I did was get a notepad and track all the promises I made to myself. The promises would be small stuff like take the trash out, clean the dishes, put gas in the car, clean my clothes, clean the car, etc. Once I finished a promise, I would write down another one promise. The goal was to do 100 promise. I had to do at least one promise a day, or I'd have to restart back at 1. After I kept 100 promises in a row, I'd win whatever prize I had selected to award myself. That helped make it fun to do several chores at once as my number would quickly move up. It also helped build some self-reliability as I saw myself as being more proactive.

That's a really good idea and one I shall endeavour to impliment in our household.

[ahimel]

Originally Posted by jwz

Thanks for your feedback, Albert.

1. Study/apply PD.......
--I've read MUCH about PD, escpecially on the internet (here mostly). Yet I've only applied a very small part of what I've read so far. My goal is to try to apply more of the theory/ideas I read about that I like. And yes, also to read on, searching for ideas that suits me.

Sure. Applying it is a great goal - it's the place where most people fail in PD. The objection wasn't to the goal, it was to the specificity of the goal. How will you know, at the end of the month, whether or not you applied it? Come September, what will you brag about to all of us? "Apply PD" as a goal leaves you way too much room to say, "Well, I tried keeping a journal and it didn't help" or "It's not my fault I didn't get more disciplined; I recited my affirmation once." or "I tried to be optimistic, but I couldn't help that it was a bad month." Any of those could be twisted around to pretend that they qualify as meeting the goal of "Applying PD."

Whereas a goal like, "Write one journal entry every day" or "Spend from 8:00 to 8:05AM reviewing my affirmations every Monday-Saturday" or "Write down bad things that happen to me, and then spend half an hour each night writing down the 'silver lining' for each of them" is measurable. If I decided to get in your face about it, you could mail me your journal or your bad-things notebook, and prove to me that you had done it. Contrariwise, if you don't do it, there's no weaseling out of it - the proof that it didn't happen is sitting right in front of you.

2. Yes, I WILL NOT smoke in August. Thanks for the correction. I've actually quit already, but "accidentally" smoked one yesterday. I really regret that.
August shall be a smoke-free month.

3. Save up money. I actually don't know how much I will be able to save up.
It really depends on both my job and my future unexpected expenses.
I aim for saving up at least 25% of every paycheck if possible. If not, I will use what is nescessary and save the rest.

8. Losing 8 kgs should not be a big problem for me. I'm 1.93m tall and my normal weight is approximately 90 kgs. I've gaines some weight lately which I should be able to loose by eating less and healthier food. And excercising of course.

See, those are good goals. At the end of the month you can post # of cigarettes smoked, % of income saved, and your current weight, and everyone can easily agree on whether or not you'd succeeded. More importantly, you'll be able to tell whether or not you succeeded, and that will make continuing much easier.

[fieldsofgold]

Some great ideas in this thread and it's encouraging to see everyone so fired up and positive.

For myself I like the idea of meeting new people and then making sure I spend more time listening to them rather than me talking. I know enough about me already and nothing about friends I haven't met yet (also known as strangers)

John

[NotesMaeve]

Picking my goals apart -

1) Make new friends. I'm moving to a new town and I need to make new buddies. No excuses.

- My landlady and I hit it off better than I could have ever expected. What a cool, generous, nice lady! All the organic eggs I can eat? Wow. How cool!

- A guy who transferred to the branch office where I work in our company and I are becoming friends. It's kind of fun to have someone to pal around with sans expectations.

- Next week I'm taking Jennifer (new girl) out to lunch since my boss is away Wed. - Fri. What the hell? She's new and needs to feel welcome.

2) Lose those last five lbs.

- That sort of randomly is almost done. .5 lbs. to go, then maintain it. Wow.

3) Exercise four days a week for at least 30 minutes.

- Oddly, done it.

4) Get more protein/vegetables in my diet.

- Oh, drag. Doing okay there. Veggies easier than protein. Tomorrow, getting groceries for the new place, and I'm focusing on MORE protein. Getting beans, carrots, peas, and some brown rice, then a few fixings like tortillas, tomatoes, hot sauce, fruit, and pasta. (Need cat treats too. That's not really relevant to the goal.

5) Try something new every day, whether it's a new drink or a new exercise or going to a new place.

Aug. 1: Tried iced tea lemonade at Starbucks. So refreshing.

Aug. 2: Asserted myself with the ex when he tried publicly putting me down again. Told him it was unacceptable to say in front of the office lady I was a bitch, asked her where I needed to sign, and walked out.

Aug. 3: Got a side salad and threw it on top of my sub for lunch. Delicious and much better than baked chips; no need for dressing.

Aug. 4: Moved MYSELF, even the heavy items, without the help of a man. All 110.5 lbs. of me.

[Iff]

Originally Posted by Iff

[...] Come here every Saturday and report my progress on keeping to the before-mentioned principles. [...]

Now I was supposed to report my progress on Saturday, but it really slipped my mind last night. So here I am, early Sunday morning, looking back at the first three days (2nd through 4th) and admitting that really did not go as well as planned. I did go running on Friday and got around to some cleaning on Saturday but that leaves a bit to be wished for. However I feel like I am getting started and will move on with a little more pace.

Here's an idea: I am changing this thing from an August challenge to a 30 day challenge, meaning I will not stop until I get acceptable results for 30 days in a row. So look out.

Oh, and by the way, something I wanted to say earlier but forgot to type out: I wish all of you the best of luck this month and I am sure you all will achieve your goals one hundred percent!

[dennis08]

Umm not really.

[clazzimoo]

Hi this is great.. I have never done a monthly challenge and I always like to plan a lot of stuff to do and never do them. but I guess this is a good start.

Personal Development:
1.Read an article form this web everyday, memorize the points and start applying them. (August= 31 articles). Maybe I can read 2 artciles on Sunday.
2.Read 4 books on personal development that I have decided .

School:
1. finish online training videos for Adobe Illustrator, Photoshop and InDesign
2. Read minimal 2 books each week on Typography and graphic design, and hopefully 3
3. read a book each week on design principles and color theories.
4. Make 5 evaluations on bad and good examples and keep them in folder.
5. Finish reading History of Graphic Design book

Design Projects
1. Design 2 books on type, 3 posters, a timeline of type, etc (have not really thought about it)
2. make two mockup books/boxes for practice each week.

Health
1. stop emotional eating habit
2. have a regular exercise routine.
3. Lose 10 lbs at a healthy pace, this month

Relationships
1. call a different person each day ?
2. fix my relationship with my parents. call them at least 3 times/week

Purpose
1. continually search and refine my purpose.

Whew! That's a lot. I think I need to trim them down. Just wondering if anybody is willing to be a accountability partner. So I guess the way it works is that we share each other's challenge and we keep track of each other's progress. Drop me an email if you do and I live in San Francisco, CA if you guys just need to know this... I'm excited to read other people's challenge for this month.

[MadHyeNa]

Okay, let's see. My list of goals for this month, August. (not in this order)

1. Continue to keep myself constantly buried with datasheets, conference papers, white papers. Absorb a whole amount of information and data that's related with microprocessors architectures and electronic engineering.

2. Keep up my pace and finish my university material prior the year actually starts. At least skimming and photoreading most of the 1st semester material. Grasping on the hardest concepts so the parts of the puzzle fit easier during seminars and conferences.

3. Listen those 4 audio books that I've filled my MP3 Player with.

4. Write 5+ technical articles because I want to maintain my overall productivity.

5. Starting from 19th August since I am going for a vacation all I want to do is just be in those moments, fully experience everything and make the best vacation ever 'til now. Also, obviously, make the best possible vacation that my loved one have had part of 'til now.

6. Help and do my best to contribute here on this Forum.

7. Take care of my diversified assets, maintain my business relationships, expand my social circles with top-entrepreneurs and key people, doing these the odds will be in my favor being at the right time knowing the right people. Save up money and invest!

[seeker5]

Originally Posted by MadHyeNa

expand my social circles with top-entrepreneurs and key people, doing these the odds will be in my favor being at the right time knowing the right people.

How do you plan to do that? I'm curious because I am seeking to make friends in this new city I moved to so I'm looking for advice on how to do this.

[jwz]

Amanda, thanks for your reply.
Regarding goal #1, I do not wish to seek proof for the goals that I've accomplished. I consider this forum as a great tool for PD.

Maybe I should make my goal more clear. I intend to study/apply PD much more than I do now. Whether it's done by not procrastinating anymore or by learning to fully believe and trust in the LoA, I will consider this goal accomplished. As long as I've shown myself that I've applied a great deal of what I've read.

Please feel free to reply if you've got any questions.

-Jan

[MadHyeNa]

Originally Posted by seeker5

How do you plan to do that? I'm curious because I am seeking to make friends in this new city I moved to so I'm looking for advice on how to do this.

Depends on location. And you know that.

Since you just moved I'd advice first that you get familiar with that place. Find out actually who are those kind of potential key people that you would like to be friends or at least get to know them. What are they running, what is their position, etc. Ultimately, depending on what kind of people they are (profession other than being an entrepreneur, etc.) you may find some of them giving seminars, talking on conferences, specific "open to public" meetings or public gatherings for marketing reasons or whatnot, then you can stand "out of the crowd" by asking key questions, doing something that exudes genuine interest in their business. Ask for information, aim to learn and grow.

Furthermore, you may find situations where you can change cards. Also, especially if you are a professional or specialist in one field or another, he might be interested also to keep a professional relationship with you.

Anyway, I haven't changed cities yet, so I pretty much grown up in this area, and even if people changed, I tend to find myself with somebody that knows somebody and you name it. All in all, remember, the best way to stand out of the crows is excelling at something. Regardless what is it, be the very best you can be, and even better, ultimately you will be the one that people want to change cards.

PS: Also, it depends who do you want to befriend. CEOs, mediocre entrepreneurs, risk-taking investors, teachers, professionals, authors, politicians, etc. Knowing the specifics, you can come up with ingenious ways.

[seeker5]

Thanks for the advice MadHyeNa

[Dilman]

I'm joining in a little late, but I want to get in on this.

1) Play less than 5 hours of videogames a week.

This'll be an easy goal this week, seeing as I'm going camping in Tahoe, but otherwise, I feel like I should be playing videogames less over the summer. Me and my friends usually only play them when we can't think of anything else to do, but that is becoming more and more frequent because there has been absolutely no waves this summer, and we're going through a very hot spell.

2) Stop nailbiting.

I had completely stopped a month ago, and I didn't even have an urge to bite them, but then I cut them for the first time, and suddenly the urge came back.

3) Finish the two books I'm required to read for Intensive English by August 22nd(School orientation)/Read for atleast 5 hours a week.

4) Read one PD book by the time school starts on September 29th.

[geekchic9]

Goals to reach by October 7:

1) Pass the A+ certification exam the first time
2) Complete a massive overhaul of my web site

Both of these have a lot of subgoals, so I'm going to stay busy.

[DailyGrowing]

learning mathmatics is really a hard thing to me now.
i plan to make a big breakthrough in august.
that's all.

[Abuela]

I have just joined (this is my first post!) but I'm hoping that something like this is a regular part of this forum - I need a place to publicly discuss/post my goals, get support and feedback, and report back.

There's not much left of August, so I'll put forth some goals for the next two weeks that are left:

1. Cut back on late night eating. Purpose: Better health, breaking a bad habit/addiction, practicing self-control. Current realistic measurable goal (RMG): no more than 6 days of the next 12 left in August.

2. Do more work on the house. Purpose: Reduce stress from having the house in such chaos with so much cleaning and remodeling that need to be done. RMG: An average of 30 minutes a day over the next two weeks on tasks related either to cleaning, organizing, or renovation.

3. Reduce clutter. Purpose: Reduce clutter, less to clean, less to work around, less packratting. RMG: Freecycle the following items before the end of the month - kids clothes, baby clothes, extra free weights, pedestal sink.

4. Get ready for classes to start. Purpose: I'm a teacher, and classes start next week and I have to be ready!! RMG: Before Friday 8/24, post schedule, weekly checklists and valuable links for 253; post info on data normalization for 201.

If this "monthly goals" thing isn't a regular feature, is there a place where it's appropriate to put up individual goals lists in order to get feedback and support and try and increase accountibility?

[albertlee25]

Hi Abuela,

This is a regular thing in this forum, they call it a monthly challenge. Each month is started in a new thread.

I like the way you write your goals, clear and measurable. With such good goals, I'm sure you will achieve all of them come end of month!


Albert Lee

[NotesMaeve]

Now that it's more than 2/3's over -

1) Make new friends. I'm moving to a new town and I need to make new buddies. No excuses.

I've really grown closer to the people at work. I know people in town now and am getting to actually KNOW my new neighbors. Yay! My landlady invested enough trust in me to watch her pets (who are like her children).


2) Lose those last five lbs.

Now I'm at 108, which actually means I've lost an additional two lbs. Cool!

3) Exercise four days a week for at least 30 minutes.

Got it. My arms are oddly enough what's thinning up from this, and I'm LAZY about upper body stuff.

4) Get more protein/vegetables in my diet.

For whatever reason, I've been on a vegetable and bean and egg white kick. I started my 30 day trial of vegetarianism and have not wavered. 21 days in, I really can't foresee returning to eating animal flesh.

5) Try something new every day, whether it's a new drink or a new exercise or going to a new place.

Almost every day. More like 5 out 7 days a week. It's really given me the energy to do the mundane stuff, oddly.

[jwz]

Originally Posted by jwz

Yeah. Not being very successful in July, I feel like implementing an important #1 goal.

1. Study/apply PD much much more to gain self-esteem, willpower and discipline enough to accomplish most of my monthly goals. (especially APPLYING the PD stuff I read about) xx

2. Now I REALLY need to quit smoking. Perhaps I will be a non-smoker by the end of July. If so, I will NOT smoke in August. I quit smoking yesterday, 28th of July

3. Save up money. It's about time that I begin saving up for all the great things I dream about in my future. xx

4. Taking Intention/manifestation to the next level. I've proven to myself that this works, now I need to use it more. xx

5. Continue renewing my wardrobe. xx

6. Buy and read some books. Preferably 5 books or more. xx

7. Improve on fitness and health. xx

8. Lose weight. I aim for losing 8kgs. (99>92) oops, I'm at 100kgs now

A lot of goals in one month despite my low success level in July.
This time I INTEND to accomplish them.

It's been a "bad" month for me. I think that I will have to transfer some of my August goals to September.
I've been travelling alot (work), and some unexpected things came up.

Here's my progress so far:
1. I've read a book on non-violent communication AND done some deep thinking regarding myself and my life.

2. I've started smoking again.

3. Not very much saved, but not bad either (considering that I've been travelling).

4. Not much I/M done yet.

5. I've bought shoes, clothes etc.

6. I haven't taken the time to look after books yet (travelling).

7. My health is much better now. I've begun running and weight-lifting. I might start playing pingpong also.

8. My weight is slightly above 92. 94 kgs I think. If I continue excersicing yet don't reach 92 kgs, I will consider this goal accomplished due to the increased amount of muscle-mass.

--Still a couple of days left. I can still manage to get a couple of my goals accomplished I think. After I begun excercising, I haven't been craving that much for cigarettes. Maybe I'm able to quit now and resist them for the rest of the month.

[Andrew Brunelle]

1. Restarting college after one-and-a-half years off. I had some dark times up in college and now I finally feel ready to go back.
2. Working on my purpose, my mission, to help bring us closer to enlightenment, as the one consciousness we are. I can feel us moving in that direction more and more every day. Let's keep it up, collectively.
3. Taking care of my health and mind for my temporary stay on this Earth. If I am going to impact lives, I might as well stay around awhile with good energy to do so.
4. Work more on service and serve those who truly want help. Those who truly deserve help. Those who are open to new ideas and will think crticially. Become the person I've always wanted to be.

[Iff]

Originally Posted by Iff

[...]

1. Stop being reactive and start being proactive
   Currently I am going through life following whatever event hits me on the head; time to turn that around and live my life the way I want it to be!
2. Forget the past and the future and live in the present
   I want every minute of every day to be worth everything; no more sitting around doing nothing, time to use every second to its fullest!
3. Remove procrastination
   Stop stalling on little tasks like doing dishes or taking out the trash!
4. Everything else
   Just make a to-do list of all the things I have wanted to do for the last five years, prioritise them and then commit to doing them no matter what!
5. Accountability
   Come here every Saturday and report my progress on keeping to the before-mentioned principles.

[...]

OK, as there are only a few days of August left I am going to review my success so far and start planning for September.

As far as proactive lifestyle goes, I have to say I made some definite progress. I have been finding ways to boost my income. I have made plans to be more socially active in the upcoming months. I finally made a decision to stop "getting by" on my current sub-par computer hardware and ordered a new and improved system that I can actually use for more than four months before it becomes obsolete (of course it got delayed on the assembly line, but that's a whole other story ). It's the little things but I've got to start somewhere.

Living in the present is a bit of a challenge. I have been able to worry less about upcoming issues and future inconveniences, and I think I am finally starting to overcome some past mistakes I was used to reliving in my head, but some work is still needed.

Procrastination is the funny thing here. I seem to be delaying the simplest and easiest things while doing the big and important things upfront. Well, that's the half I am going to be very happy about. I also set in the accountability notebook seeker5 recommended, I am expecting great results there.

I have not gotten to an actual to-do list as of just yet, but some things definitely progress. Although the "everything else" part will take some time anyway, getting started is the most important thing.

Accountability now is the part that lacked, as I failed to get in my report in time for the last two weeks. Didn't get near a computer as much as I had expected this month. Not that much of a problem though.

September, now, will have some more (and very) definite goals. What will help, is that starting from a few days from now I will have someone to be accountable to on an almost daily basis. Plus as the summer ends there will be more people up and about to keep me from slacking. Outside influence has always been good for me, so I sense a busy fall coming up. Read all about it in the September goals thread.

[NotesMaeve]

1) Make new friends. I'm moving to a new town and I need to make new buddies. No excuses.

Just gonna declare this one done-zo. I argue this is the environment. Hard not to make friends here. Everyone is super friendly.

2) Lose those last five lbs.

Really, not sure WHY I got so motivated about this. Have actually lost almost 10 lbs. this month. Crazy, man. It so wasn't hard. More active lifestyle I guess? Switching over to vegetarianism? Not sure what did it.

3) Exercise four days a week for at least 30 minutes.

I realized when I put my ankles together now, my thighs don't touch unless I force them together. Freaky.

4) Get more protein/vegetables in my diet.

Have slipped up and eaten meat by mistake twice. Getting more protein and veg. Started going to farmers' market. If what's in the fridge is proof of a better lifestyle: Right now I have spinach, ice cream, mushrooms, tomato, peppers, a kiwi, tortillas, Ortega medium, fat free refried beans, Kashi GoLean, whole wheat bagels, cholesterol reducing margarine, cooking spray, an eggplant, low sugar oatmeal, and Diet Dr. Pepper

5) Try something new every day, whether it's a new drink or a new exercise or going to a new place.

Not nailing this everyday. 5 out of 7 I guess. Life's an adventure.

[Abuela]

Wanted to update:

Originally Posted by Abuela

1. Cut back on late night eating. Purpose: Better health, breaking a bad habit/addiction, practicing self-control. Current realistic measurable goal (RMG): no more than 6 days of the next 12 left in August.

Weekly Progress: Only two times of late night eating, and both were just a couple of bites (historically I sometimes eat so much it would be considered a full meal)

2. Do more work on the house. Purpose: Reduce stress from having the house in such chaos with so much cleaning and remodeling that need to be done. RMG: An average of 30 minutes a day over the next two weeks on tasks related either to cleaning, organizing, or renovation.

Weekly progress: Spent most of Sunday working on the house, including serious deep cleaning, throwing a lot of stuff out, lots of organizing, emptying boxes (moved in over a year ago!), hanging up shelves, and cutting six dog-blanket comforters in half and sewing the edges to make them easier to change and clean. So I've already met this goal 100%

3. Reduce clutter. Purpose: Reduce clutter, less to clean, less to work around, less packratting. RMG: Freecycle the following items before the end of the month - kids clothes, baby clothes, extra free weights, pedestal sink.

Progress: Freeweights gone, baby clothes pick up tomorrow, kids clothes pick up this next weekend, no taker yet for pedestal sink. Additionally - extra partly-broken weight bench put to curb with "free or trash" sign the day before trash day.

4. Get ready for classes to start. Purpose: I'm a teacher, and classes start next week and I have to be ready!! RMG: Before Friday 8/24, post schedule, weekly checklists and valuable links for 253; post info on data normalization for 201.

Progress: did the first thing, didn't get to the 2nd. Hope to get to it by Thursday 8/30.

This goal setting is a good thing for me!

[Addict]

I was rereading the faq and the thread rules and I couldn't really find anything about stickies. Is there a process you have to go through to get a sticky thread or do you request it from a moderator?

[aabukar]

At the end of August ... I accomplished all my goals ... which is easy because they are all fun to do

Originally Posted by aabukar

I am just too excited about August that I could not wait before I set my challenge for this month. So here we goes

This is my one month vacation so i better plan it well

1. Take care of my health (my teeth and my skin)

2. Take care of my relationships (I am traveling to my home country which means i will see my friends and my family ... so relationships is a priority .. I will be planning trips ... hanging out with friends and more )

3. Take care of my inside (continue reading and applying the seven habits whenever i find time)

4. Forget work ... forget .Net , sharepoint and everything related to programming just have fuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuun

So what about you guys ? any plans for August

[Julia.Ru]

Here are my results:

1) Do somethng about the house every day.
Done. I think doing this reconsiled me with my household duties more or less

2) Smile at least once a day.
Done. Don't know if it made me more optimistic, but I don't regret setting this goal, anyway.

[jwz]

I've been reindeer-hunting (Greenland), so I haven't had time to update this until now.

1. Study/apply PD much much more to gain self-esteem, willpower and discipline enough to accomplish most of my monthly goals. (especially APPLYING the PD stuff I read about) I consider this goal done. I've gained more self-esteem, and I've got better at getting up in the morning.

2. Now I REALLY need to quit smoking. Perhaps I will be a non-smoker by the end of July. If so, I will NOT smoke in August. I havent succeeded quitting.

3. Save up money. It's about time that I begin saving up for all the great things I dream about in my future. I've saved up some money (which I have to use for my sons and my brothers birthdays). Saved up money is saved up money, so I consider this accomplished.

4. Taking Intention/manifestation to the next level. I've proven to myself that this works, now I need to use it more. I've used I/M much more than I normally do. Accomplished

5. Continue renewing my wardrobe. Got a couple more items in my wardrobe now.

6. Buy and read some books. Preferably 5 books or more. Haven't had time.

7. Improve on fitness and health. Much better now

8. Lose weight. I aim for losing 8kgs. (99>92) I'm at 91,5 kgs now. Yay.

Six out of eight goals accomplished are not bad I think.

Thank you whoever made the monthly goals thread in the first place.

-Jan