The 21 Day Challenge

Posted on 08.27.07 in Blogging and there are 30 comments.

I’ve been thinking a lot lately about change, being challenged, constantly wanting to grow and never being content with who I am (in a good way).

The 21 Day Challenge

So I’m proposing something I’m calling The 21 Day Challenge.

I know. I know.

You: Another campaign-y thing, Kat? Gee Whiz, The 40 Day Fast, Get A Goat and now this? What gives?

Me: Some women dig shoes, I dig blog campaigns and cheap software.

You: Ok. Fine. So what’s this all about?

Me: I’m glad you asked! Here’s the deal:

The Deal

Who: You and me...possibly just me.

What: They say it takes 21 days to form a habit, so the idea is that I want to try to develop a new habit each month and I’d love for you all to join me.

How: Each day for the first 21 days of September, I’ll write a brief post about my progress regarding the habit I’m attempting to develop. You pick your own habit that you want to develop and track your progress in the comments of that post.

Why: Personal growth AND everyone who sticks with their commitment for the whole 21 days will recieve all the fame, fortune and reknown that is associated with being featured in one of my blog posts.

Yeah, um...hopefully, you have plenty of internal motivation.

When: The 21 Day Challenge will start on September 1.

Where: Here.

Are You In?

So be thinking about the habit you want to develop. It can be anything - a Bible study habit, an eating habit, an exercising habit, a character development habit...whatever.

Let me know if you have any questions, comments or suggestions.

I hope you’ll join me on this journey. Anyone in?

The Comments:

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I am SO in!  Sounds great.  My goal is to make it a point to say something encouraging to each person in my family EVERY day.  To either tell them why I appreciate them or love them.  Not that I don’t ever do this, but I have been trying to make a point lately to make sure my husband and kids all know how much I really love and appreciate them, which can sometimes get lost in the day to day.  Yes, we always say “I love you”, but that can become more of just a habit and have less and less meaning.  I want it to hit their heart EVERY time I say that I love/appreciate them.  YEAH!!!  I’m excited…

Oooooh...that’s a good one, Becca. I might have to add that to my list.

I’ll be in for this one! I enjoyed reading (and being challenged by) the 40 Day Fast posts. So for me, it’ll be something to do with my prayer life. Details t.b.d.

Sweet. Sounds like fun. I’ll have to think about what I want to do…

I’m in.

I’ll be the first guy to say…

I’m in.

I accept the challenge.  Nothing too deep, though:  I want to develop the habit of going to bed with a clean kitchen every night (i.e., no dirty dishes in the sink or on the counters).  This really would make my life easier if I can stick to it!  And, since I’ll be in a new home, starting on September 1, it’s a perfect time to start!

Hello Kat,

I’m a pretty new reader… I’ve been lurking around here for a little bit and I’m finally saying hello. 

Count me in!  The habit I would like to develop is getting up and taking a jog first thing in the morning.

Me, too.  I need to stop drinking soda.  Too much sugar.  I heard the following regarding sugar: Sinful Urges Gaining Against Righteousness.  For me it is a strong craving that interferes with my life as a christian wife and mommy.  Prayers welcome.

Kat, I’m in.  Nothing big, but I want to get BACK into the habit of walking my dog each evening.  I’ve gotten out of the habit with the 90+ temps we’ve had!  I’ve noticed I don’t sleep as well, and my dog has been a little more mischievious...too much energy.  It will be good for both of us! 

(I can’t start until Sept. 3rd though since we will be out of town this weekend and my brother is taking care of our dog...does it count if I make my brother walk the dog?)

Oh girl, you know Im in. And Im goin’ deep.

My husband and I are actually already starting to implement something new in our home, we’ve done this before but never stayed consistent. Im glad to be able to mention this to everyone out there, and have some accountability. (I also plan to share this entire process on our family blog)

We want to follow out with this scripture in Deuteronomy 6:6-7 “These Commandments I give you today are to be upon your hearts. Impress them on your children. Talk about them when you sit at home, and when you walk along the road, when you lie down and when you get up.”

Our church recently put together a family devotional kit for families to go through at home during an 11 week teaching series on the Ten Commandments for our entire church (adults, youth, preschool, and in all weekly lifegroups). It all starts Sept.2nd.

SO...Joel and I are starting in on that scripture mentioned above. (With the help of this family devotional kit)
“When we sit at home” have devotional times (individually and as a family)
“When we walk along the road” litsen to worship music and cds.
“when we lie down” Focus on bedtime stories that are revelant to what we have been learning during this 11 weeks.
“when we get up” starting our day with quiet times, and encouragement cards.

It all sounds great, and Im very excited about the depths we as a family are about to explore, but my biggest fear is it will wean off, and we will be back to square one! THANK you for the opportunity to share this and have a way to keep us on track! We just want to make family devotions a HABIT!!

YES!! I found your blog completely by accident, but this is EXACTLY what I want to do!!!  I’m going to be giving up blogging for 21 days.  (Just kidding)Really, I want to work on not procrastinating. So my new habit will be ACTION.  Not sure how to measure this.  My procrastination interferes with everything. ANy suggestions on where to start would be great.  I’ll be thinking about this, too.  THank you, thank you

Oh dear, Kat. What ARE you trying to do to us? Inspire us to be better people? Trying to make the world a better place? I mean, really. CHALLENGING us? Surely not.

Well, if I must…

There are plenty of deep things I need to form into a habit, but for fear exposing myself greatly, I must confess my need to exercise. I have made this pledge several times in my life, but perhaps your accountability will help inspire me to make it stick. My head, my mind and even my brain tell me that exercising is good for me. But my body rejects the thought completely, especially in the morning when it needs to happen.

So...this is good.  Thanks for the challenge, friend!

***Becky, Bekah and Steven,
Yeah! I’m glad you’re going to be a part!

***Annie,
That’s a good one. My kitchen countertops look pretty clean at night - mainly because I stick everything in the sink… Maybe I should work on that one too!

Congrats on the new house.

***Serenity,
Hi!! I’m so glad you’ve de-lurked. Don’t forget to Introduce Yourself (click on the link in the sidebar) as well. I’d love to get to know you better.

Jogging - good one. I always feel like I’ve really accomplished something if I start my day off with a run.

***Carol,
I don’t drink soda much, but I do love sugar. I won’t talk about the stash of chocolate morsels in my pantry…

***Cristy,
Well, that’s what the other 9+ days of the month are for. If we miss a day or we can’t start until later we can just go over until we hit 21. Yeah, I’m a schoolmaster about this…

***the6stricklands,
I’m very excited about those devotional kits!

***Julie,
I’m so glad you’re jumping in! You might be interested to know that a few of us are working on a site called inspiredtoaction.com that’s all about ...inspiring people to take action. Stay tuned for that.

I love your sense of humor, by the way. For a second I thought you were serious about the blogging.

Welcome!

***psalm8410,
It’s actually all selfishly motivated. I just don’t want to do this alone. Misery loves company, right?

I think you’re the one who got me started on this with the whole thing half marathon thing…

Um, excuse me...aren’t you the one who started this half marathon thing?  12/20 post?  How to train for a half marathon when you can’t run around the block?  Sound familiar?

Hi, Kat,
I’ve never joined a blog before.  ( So I guess it IS a good thing I’m not giving up blogging.) But I was wondering how exactly to use this. Can we respond to other members’ posts here if we feel so inclined?  Of course, nothing hurtful or snide!! Is there a seperate message board or something to use? I had a brief suggestion, not advice, for someone but I don’t want to offer it unless they are open to it. 
Do tell me!  I am open to it.
Julie
PS the other blog you are working on about taking action sounds great!

Hey Kat,
I’ve been enjoying your blog since the 40 day fast.  My pal Annie has spurred me take up your challenge.  I hope to re-establish my habit of consistent excercise.  I let it go when I had knee surgery in 2004 and it must become a priority again. I’ve been too big for too long and obesity is not God’s best for me.  I will MOVE someway-somehow E.V.E.R.Y.D.A.Y!  Thank you for the encouragement!
-Stephanie

psalm8410,
Well...if you’re gonna take me literally…

Julie,
I don’t have a message board, but I highly encourage responding to other people’s comments here. I love it when readers interact with each other. Offer advice, ask questions, share stories..whatever you like.

Rowan,
You know a friend gave me a pedometer a few weeks ago and that’s a great motivator to move. It’s fun to see the numbers go up.

Here’s a word to psalm8410: I didn’t exercise for years and I’ve said EXACTLY what you said so many times.  I still need major motivation to exercise, but what has helped me is that I got a mini-trampoline and I just use it for 10 minutes or so.  It’s not too jarring, not too scary or intimidating and it helps me have more energy. They say to only use it 10 mins at a time, just small bounces do the trick. 
I love to put great music on and just bounce!! THere’s lots of info on the web about the benifits of using a mini-tramp. It only cost me about $40 at Sears to get one. The only exercise-related thing I do more consistently is pay the monthly gym fee. (without ever going!)Maybe I can improve on that soon.
Just thought I’d pass this along. I fought the exercise thing for soooo long. But bounce, I can do!
Julie

I’m in!  I’ll think about what I am going to do.

OK. I’m in. I’m going to exercise daily. I’m just getting back into working out, so I’m concentrating on walking and weightlifting. I have some chronic pain issues, so there may be days I might not do any hard exercise, but I will at least stretch on those days.

Okay...I’m in.  I frequently sit at my computer reading and writing and think to myself, “Hmmmm...I really should get up and get on that treadmill over in the corner!” So, I’ll be exercising again.  I’m not going to get too specific for the 21 days - just some form of exercise (and typing does not count) every day.

Kristin and Lori,
Glad you’re joining us!

Marianne,
Typing doesn’t count as exercise? Bummer.

Hey Julie,
Thanks so much for the tip about the mini-trampoline.  I had one of those in our house growing up and I loved it!  My husband and I also used to pay our monthly fee to our local gym and never went.  We finally gave up our membership and bought a treadmill.  The money we threw to our gym without any physical benefits probably could have paid for 10 treadmills.  Oh well.  Needless to say, I’ll be walking or running in place in the mornings (hopefully) for the next 21 days.  Glad to know I’m not the only one needing to get back into the habit!

for sure i will do it, I have lots of habits that need to be formed.  I have a triathlon in 21 days so I will form the habit of training… which I have not been so great in keeping.  Does that count?

DianaDrexler,
Yes, training for a triathalon counts.

Are you and John doing a triathalon together? Fun. I’d love to do one with you someday. You’d have to do a lot of training, though. I’m not sure you’d be capable of going that slow.

I’m thinking about this, but I’m stoned on Nyquil right now, so I’m probably not in the best position to be making important decisions like this.  Check with me in a few days.

I’m sorry you’re not feeling well RIck. Enjoy your Nyquil and get a good night’s sleep.

Hi - just came across your site...was looking for some information on the “40 Day/Goat challenge” I had heard about thru Andrew Osenaga’s website. When I saw the “21 Day Challenge” it made me think about what we decided to do, October 1st. Hopefully, this will fall in with your “21-day challenge” for October!!

We gave up t.v. for 1yr. Got rid of cable, and just today, sold our t.v.!

It’s been awesome so far...we’re looking for what else God will show us thru this, and how He is working (John 15) within us.

Would love to be part of one of your blog posts! Am sincerely enjoying reading your blog.

-Brandon
The Woodlands, TX

You know, I didn’t do a challenge for October.

Bad Kat. The month started off with a crazy trip to LA with my daughter so I haven’t been very blog focused this month.

November...I’ll start it again in November.

Wow. You sold your tv? That’s awesome. Was it tough? What are some things that you do now that you didn’t do last month - now that you don’t watch tv?

You know, I’m about to launch a new site called Inspired to Action that you might like. Several folks who were involved in The 40 Day Fast have jumped on board and we plan to launch the site on the week of the 22nd. The purpose of the site is “to inspire people to take action on behalf of those in need.”

Be watching for an official announcement.

I have some programs I started some time ago and I never got to finishing them. In my 21 days program I’ll try to finish at least one/day. I’ll keep you posted on my progress if you do the same. Good luck!

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