Challenge and Goal Thread - Small challenges and goals to take on throughout the year

[dancingqueen5678]

So a bunch of us were chatting on the dating thread and decided to make a thread about this.

This is a small challenge and goal thread where we, for a certain amount (usually 2-4 weeks) choose (safe!) challenges and goals for ourselves. This thread is to help with motivation, give ideas, and maybe do a challenge together if we feel like it. A bit like a new year's resolution but for small amounts of time and far less pressure!

Some examples include:

• intermitting fasting but with my phone so 8 hours allowed, 16 hours no phone
• no social media
• no fizzy drinks
• no refined sugar
• a daily walk
• daily yoga
• reading before bed
• spending 1 hour doing something you like
• waking up earlier
• not hitting snooze

really can be anything that you feel like you want to do to improve your life or just give yourself a bit of a push. I find them fun and I thought maybe we could have a bit of a community here!

 

[Bloody orange Hell]

How about wearing something that you haven’t worn before/for a year, each week/3days/every day?

I’ve got so much nice stuff I haven’t worn and I stick to the same boring shut all the time. It’s not like it’s inappropriate for my lifestyle. I just stick to tried and tested.

 

[dancingqueen5678]

Ooh. Do you restyle and alter stuff? That’s a fantastic skill to have. I’d like one of those dressmakers mannequins you can change to be your measurements. Then after I’d finished crying about how fat the mannequin looked with my measurements, I could tailor stuff a bit. I got a second hand sewing machine a few years ago. After years of thinking I hated sewing I realised I actually like it.

so not exactly but kind of. I wouldn't say alter/re-style as such but cause of the sensory issues I will wear something to death. And I mean death! I'm talking faded, have holes in it etc so I will cut it up and make something else out of it. So a t-shirt, I will cut and crop it, then sew it so it's tidy. I can make mitten from an old hoodie (don't like mitten material especially when it's wet ). Pencil cases and purses out of old tops, socks out of old tops, shorts out of old jeans, make a hoodie or top with a logo into a cushion cover, use old top as decoration stuff or jewellery (twist to different colours together and make a bracelet) so yeah it's not restyling as such but most can be done with a sewing machine

 

[dancingqueen5678]

I love this idea. Really good thread.


That might be a bit hard with Christmas present buying or is that art of essential spending?

What about trying to do one act of kindness a day? Say helping someone with their bags/complimenting a stranger/offering to babysit so a friend can go out?
Something small - babysitting might be too big.

Christmas would count as a pre-approved purchase so for example, I've got to buy my dad a CD which doesn't come out until November so that will be budgeted in.


I really like the kindness one!

How about we suggest ideas until maybe a week Friday? then I'll do a poll of ideas what we can vote on and then start Monday November 1st?

 

[Sheeeet]

I've done some month long resolutions this year, they've been easier to stick with than New Year ones.

Some require a habit every day and constant vigilance, some are just a thing (or group of related things) that's been on the to do list for ages. It depends on how motivated I'm feeling on the last few days of the preceding month which type I choose.

If it helps anyone, here are some from the last year and some on the to do list -

Dry School Nights (no alcohol Sunday to Thursday)

Less Bread - expanding my lunch menu and not leaning on toast to snack

Less Sugar - pre plan what you are allowing yourself and what you're cutting out.

A walk a night - easier in summer!

Related - a modest/achievable weight loss goal

Less phone time - phone in another room when reading/watching something/after 8pm.

Learning a language- one exercise/chapter a night of a beginner course.

Reading goals.

Declutter a space, take unwanted items to charity or ebay them.

Decorate a room.

Improving posture - the most challenging so far, requires constant vigilance, lots of (small groups of) exercises and reminder alarms.

 

[Bagpuss7]

Suggestion ...watch one episode of a show / series you wouldn't normally even look at ?

Good way to try new genres based on recommendations of others ?

 

[dancingqueen5678]

what about a "no phone/laptop/work after a certain time" goal?
I've been trying to turn my laptop off by 8pm this week. Just watching tv after 8pm and properly watching not just sat scrolling through my phone

 

[Bloody orange Hell]

I love this idea. Really good thread.

I also like to do a "no spend" (besides essentials/pre approved purchases) in November so we could do that?

That might be a bit hard with Christmas present buying or is that part of essential spending?

What about trying to do one act of kindness a day? Say helping someone with their bags/complimenting a stranger/offering to babysit so a friend can go out?
Something small - babysitting might be too big.

 

[dancingqueen5678]

How about wearing something that you haven’t worn before/for a year, each week/3days/every day?

I’ve got so much nice stuff I haven’t worn and I stick to the same boring shut all the time. It’s not like it’s inappropriate for my lifestyle. I just stick to tried and tested.

ooh I like this idea! I once made my own capsule wardrobe, picked enough outfits that I could mix and match for a week and then tied the rest of my clothes up. It was really good and I got rid of a lot of stuff after that as it really showed me the stuff I did and didn't need

 

[grumpy_curry]

We could also do a week of eating down the food that is in the house already?

Omg I would love that. I'm the type of person that will shop for five meals,only make three of them and then the rest just accumulates in my pantry.

 

[boomska]

ooh I like this idea! I once made my own capsule wardrobe, picked enough outfits that I could mix and match for a week and then tied the rest of my clothes up. It was really good and I got rid of a lot of stuff after that as it really showed me the stuff I did and didn't need

I will have to skip this one because of my wardrobe in my clothes don’t fit me anymore so I stick to the same clothes because it fits xx

 

[boomska]

Christmas would count as a pre-approved purchase so for example, I've got to buy my dad a CD which doesn't come out until November so that will be budgeted in.


I really like the kindness one!

How about we suggest ideas until maybe a week Friday? then I'll do a poll of ideas what we can vote on and then start Monday November 1st?

Yes that’s a brill idea and then it falls in nicely with new month = fresh start!

 

[Sheabutter]

okay so like make the last week of November going into December a no spend week?

Yeah I can see not spending for one week a month being something I adopt long term. Also, maybe instead of binning outfits we don’t wear challenging ourselves to come up with novel ways to style an article or bringing ourselves to sell it second hand? I hate selling online - this is an opportunity for me to change! - but it could dovetail nicely with your goal of saving money

 

[peppermintmartini]

Ooooh I love this idea! Definitely want to be involved, I don't have any of my own ideas but look forward to hearing everyone elses suggestions!

 

[Bloody orange Hell]

Yeah I can see not spending for one week a month being something I adopt long term. Also, maybe instead of binning outfits we don’t wear challenging ourselves to come up with novel ways to style an article or bringing ourselves to sell it second hand? I hate selling online - this is an opportunity for me to change! - but it could dovetail nicely with your goal of saving money

I don’t advocate binning outfits at all. I give clothes to charity or pass the decent stuff onto family. And I definitely need a push to wear some new things that are already in my wardrobe.
I hate selling online too. But it’s worth doing if you gave re-sellable brands. Maybe I should force myself to do it more. Not worth it for primark or Tesco type clothes tho.

 

[dancingqueen5678]

I don’t advocate binning outfits at all. I give clothes to charity or pass the decent stuff onto family. And I definitely need a push to wear some new things that are already in my wardrobe.
I hate selling online too. But it’s worth doing if you gave re-sellable brands. Maybe I should force myself to do it more. Not worth it for primark or Tesco type clothes tho.

I don't bin anything unless it's unfixable and can't be repurposed (my favourite thing to do!). I sort clothes out and give them to charity if needed. I don't have much clothes though tbf because I am very fussy with textures due to sensory issues so I wouldn't even fill a black bag.

 

[Bloody orange Hell]

I don't bin anything unless it's unfixable and can't be repurposed (my favourite thing to do!). I sort clothes out and give them to charity if needed. I don't have much clothes though tbf because I am very fussy with textures due to sensory issues so I wouldn't even fill a black bag.

Ooh. Do you restyle and alter stuff? That’s a fantastic skill to have. I’d like one of those dressmakers mannequins you can change to be your measurements. Then after I’d finished crying about how fat the mannequin looked with my measurements, I could tailor stuff a bit. I got a second hand sewing machine a few years ago. After years of thinking I hated sewing I realised I actually like it.

 

[dancingqueen5678]

I already have a list of things I want to purchase in November during the week of Sephora’s sale and on Black Friday. Can we do this on the last week of November?

okay so like make the last week of November going into December a no spend week? or do the first 3 weeks of November and then the last week we spend?

A challenge actually could be making a list of things you need to buy for Christmas (presents/food/new decs if needed) and trying to stick to it? Or setting a budget? maybe seeing if we can reduce the cost in anyway?

Would anyone be up for that?

I make lists in my daily life cause of ADHD to this one is a home from home for me

I read a blog from a woman who posts every week with a list of 5 things she's done that week to save money. That could be a good one if anyone is interested?

 

[dancingqueen5678]

Defo need to join the not hitting snooze one!!

Iv put that bedtime thing on my phone which defo helps with screen time and Iv started trying to read again (although I managed to read a full book last night lol) so still went to bed dead late! But felt better than watching shit on tv / Instagram!

Defo keen to join in the challenges!

Steps might be a good one but hard to do now it’s dark on a night xx

Yeah that is one that I can't do. They say put the alarm so you have to get out of bed but I will fully turn it off and get back into bed and if I put it in another room then I wont hear it!

I'm up for any suggestions what to do first? I really like the genre one that @Bagpuss7 has suggested especially as it's colder now so can't do much in the way of walking.

My suggestion which might be a bit ambitious from 1st of November - December 1st no *whatever it is you consume a lot of at Christmas* so I do sugar/chocolate cause I will funnel that shit into my mouth in December like it's no one's business but if it's alcohol you could do that or crisps, Chips, fast food. Whatever your fancy! I enjoy it cause it's more enjoyable for me come December when I'm scoffing my face.

I also like to do a "no spend" (besides essentials/pre approved purchases) in November so we could do that?

 

[Bloody orange Hell]

ooh I like this idea! I once made my own capsule wardrobe, picked enough outfits that I could mix and match for a week and then tied the rest of my clothes up. It was really good and I got rid of a lot of stuff after that as it really showed me the stuff I did and didn't need

That’s a fantastic idea. Its a bigger challenge but maybe we could have small weekly ones and a big monthly one?