take the Spring Goal Challenge

Yes, I did push myself a little more than I would have otherwise, but I didn’t have much spare time to work with. To complete all of the stuff would have taken focus, drive and determination throughout the challenge, which I did not have.

I hate to make excuses but there were two things that impacted my accomplishments. A friend from my childhood died and I spun for a couple weeks thinking about him and not doing much else. This happened near the start of the challenge and I felt like I was “in the hole” the whole time with a slow start.

I also developed tennis elbow in my right arm. (I have had it in my left for years now. I am right handed, so this is a bigger problem). I tried to refrain from using my arm as much as possible, which cut into a lot of my goals attainment, progress and compliance.

I graded myself, but have put an small e where the goal was impacted by my elbow problem.

1. Stay on Task – I’d give myself a B

2. Stretch my Legs – C

3. Get Down Below 210 pounds – De

4. Learn to Kayak – Fe

5. Clean my Desk – C+

6. Buy New Skates – F

7. Go to the Dentist – A Made an appointment!

8. Clean my Room – B Better not good

9. Show Discipline with My Alcohol Consumption – C-

10. Spend Time Outside – C-

11. Have spare keys made for my vehicle – F

12. Replace the Closet Light Fixture – F

13. Get the window coverings in order – D Did research- I hate everything

14. Paint my flat – Ce got some prepwork done

15. Read more books – F Lost my glasses and haven’t touched one since (although I do have new drug store reading glasses)

16. Swim more often – Fe

17. Make more art – F

18. Read in bed frequently – F

19. Get to bed before 11:15 – C-

20. Have friends over on a regular basis- F

21. Go surfing regularly – Fe

22. Limit internet time – C-

23. Walk or exercise daily- D

24. Perform one home improvement or organization task everyday- C-*
25. Be more like Jack La Lanne – C-e

26. Cut my sons’ hair- Concrete, doable and necessary. A (Done)

Overall I would give myself a C for the period. I am looking forward to the Summer challenge to see if I can attain the focus I am looking for. I am going to completely revamp my list.

Um, uh yeah, slow start. I was thinking the Warriors would not be in the playoffs when making this challenge. So y’all got a head start, but I still plan on finishing strong. I think I may have lost a few of you over the horizon, as in way ahead horizon.

Some drama and developing tennis elbow in my dominant arm (now I have it in both!) took my head out of this, but I am now recommitted to the game.

1. Stay on Task � This is the most important variable in my quest for productivity. The more I stay on task, the more I accomplish. I know this, yet, some days I get an A for staying on task, other days, I completely fail, doing nothing but wasting time. work – YES home – not as much

2. Stretch my Legs � My legs get so tight that I get incapacitating back spasms if I don�t stretch them, yet I often forget to do so. quads -yes hamstrings -not as much

3. Get Down Below 210 pounds � I don�t expect to lose all ten pounds by end of May, but I do want to make some progress, say seven pounds. My scale broke but I am not feeling good about this one

4. Learn to Kayak � I intend to go sea-kayaking before June.nope

5. Clean my Desk � One complete tidy up for once.halfway there

6. Buy New Skates � Just do it.nope

7. Go to the Dentist � I would be happy if I made an appointment before June nope

8. Clean my Room � Spring is for cleaning of this type nope

9. Show Discipline with My Alcohol Consumption � Non-compliance cuts into my productivity immensely. nope, hence many other nopes

10. Spend Time Outside � Looking at perfect weather through a window instead of being in it means something is wrong. I’d give myself a D so far

11. Have spare keys made for my vehicle – I need to avoid a potential disaster. nope

12. Replace the Closet Light Fixture – I have had the new one for months and the goal is even older. nope

13. Get the window coverings in order – This would go a long way to lessen the jankiness of my home. nope

14. Paint my flat – Just getting the bathroom done by June would be a huge victory and same comment as 13. nope

15. Read more books – I have hardly been reading at all so any would be great nope-losing my glasses didn’t help

16. Swim more often – Twice a week would satisfy me here. nope

17. Make more art – Any art is more than what I am making now. nope

18. Read in bed frequently – Twice per week would be good, any more is a bonus. nope

19. Get to bed before 11:15 – I did well when goal was midnight, and then again at 11:30 but 11:15 made it fall apart. I am failing at it this minute. nope

20. Have friends over on a regular basis- Twice before June would be great nope
21. Go surfing regularly � Once would be an improvement, twice would be amazing nope
22. Limit internet time � I need to establish some guidelines and stick to it nope
23. Walk or exercise daily- Lofty goal but doable this morning yes – rest of challenge not even daily

24. Perform one home improvement or organization task everyday- Folding laundry counts almost daily but not quite

25. Be more like Jack La Lanne – starts with 23 and keeps moving, moving moving perhps a bit, but mostly nope

26. Cut my sons’ hair – Concrete, doable and necessary.DONE!

I am very happy that so many people have taken on this challenge.

I was slacking off, and I needed motivation. I am very competitive person and I put out an offer to compete head to head on goal completion with some silly bet to get me off my butt. It was Mary Hawkin’s idea to get a group together. This was a great idea, because if I have to report to you all, I am going to get moving to avoid embarrassment and shame. I call this exterally imposed discipline. I bet I am not the only person in the world that responds to external better than internal variety.

I am adding to my original challenge goals. I was in a hurry to get an example out last week and I was seriously thinking about limiting the challenge to ten goals. But like many of you, I believe that you should put as many challenge goals as you are wanting to work on. So below the original ten I have written out the additions.

1. Stay on Task – This is the most important variable in my quest for productivity. The more I stay on task, the more I accomplish. I know this, yet, some days I get an A for staying on task, other days, I completely fail, doing nothing but wasting time.

2. Stretch my Legs – My legs get so tight that I get incapacitating back spasms if I don’t stretch them, yet I often forget to do so.

3. Get Down Below 210 pounds – I don’t expect to lose all ten pounds by end of May, but I do want to make some progress, say seven pounds.

4. Learn to Kayak – I intend to go sea-kayaking before June.

+5. Clean my Desk – One complete tidy up for once._

6. Buy New Skates – Just do it.

7. Go to the Dentist – I would be happy if I made an appointment before June

8. Clean my Room – Spring is for cleaning of this type

9. Show Discipline with My Alcohol Consumption – Non-compliance cuts into my productivity immensely.

10. Spend Time Outside – Looking at perfect weather through a window instead of being in it means something is wrong.

11. Have spare keys made for my vehicle – I need to avoid a potential disaster.

12. Replace the Closet Light Fixture – I have had the new one for months and the goal is even older.

13. Get the window coverings in order – This would go a long way to lessen the jankiness of my home.

14. Paint my flat – Just getting the bathroom done by June would be a huge victory and same comment as 13.

15. Read more books – I have hardly been reading at all so any would be great

16. Swim more often – Twice a week would satisfy me here.

17. Make more art – Any art is more than what I am making now.

18. Read in bed frequently – Twice per week would be good, any more is a bonus.

19. Get to bed before 11:15 – I did well when goal was midnight, and then again at 11:30 but 11:15 made it fall apart. I am failing at it this minute.

20. Have friends over on a regular basis- Twice before June would be great
21. Go surfing regularly – Once would be an improvement, twice would be amazing
22. Limit internet time – I need to establish some guidelines and stick to it
23. Walk or exercise daily- Lofty goal but doable

24. Perform one home improvement or organization task everyday- Folding laundry counts

25. Be more like Jack La Lanne – starts with 23 and keeps moving, moving moving

26. Cut my sons’ hair- Concrete, doable and necessary.

1. Stay on Task – This is the most important variable in my quest for productivity. The more I stay on task, the more I accomplish. I know this, yet, some days I get an A for staying on task, and other days, I completely fail, doing nothing but wasting time.

2. Stretch my Legs – My legs get so tight that I get incapacitating back spasms if I don’t stretch them, yet I often forget to do so.

3. Get Down Below 210 pounds – I don’t expect to lose all ten pounds by end of May, but I do want to make some progress, say seven pounds.

4. Learn to Kayak – I intend to go sea-kayaking before June.

5. Clean my Desk – One complete tidy up for once.

6. Buy New Skates – Just do it.

7. Go to the Dentist – I would be happy if I made an appointment before June

8. Clean my Room – Spring is for cleaning of this type

9. Show Discipline with My Alcohol Consumption – Non-compliance cuts into my productivity immensely.

10. Spend Time Outside – Looking at perfect weather through a window instead of being in it means something is wrong.

What do you want to accomplish between April 18 and May 31?

Make a list of the goals you are plan to actively work on in the second half of April and May by April 18th.

Forty-three days later, everyone taking the challenge will self assess their efforts by answering the following questions.

Did you accomplish your goal?

Did you make progress toward your future goal?

Did you comply with your ongoing goal?

How hard did you work on your goals?

Are you satisfied with your effort?

The team will decide who was top performer. The winner gets much praise and wonderful prizes yet to be determined…and a lot done.