I’ve mentioned this list on several previous occasions, most often in progress updates when setting goals for the month to come. For those who were curious, here’s the post you’ve waited for: an explanation of how it works, what’s currently on my list, and of course the status of those tasks. I first tried a 101 tasks list way back in 2008, when it seemed everyone was doing it. You can read more about it at the Day Zero Project.

The first time around, I felt very stuck in the job I had. I tried out the 101 tasks list as a way to make realistic progress towards a future that was more fulfilling. I don’t recall everything that was on that old list and sadly haven’t been able to locate a copy anywhere. But I do remember that there were a few tasks related to starting grad school–micro steps like taking the admissions test and completing applications. Writing those goals down and giving myself ample time to work on them worked. Faced with somewhat similar feelings of stagnation in 2017, I decided to make another 101 tasks list. It has become one of my favorite ways to check off big goals and to make forward progress across several seasons. So much better for me than New Years’ resolutions! I’ve also discovered that the list doesn’t need to be fully complete–sometimes partially completing items is enough. Sometimes my priorities change over the 1001 days and I don’t care if certain tasks aren’t completed.

For the voyeurs among you, here is my current list, which began on September 12, 2017 and will conclude on June 8, 2020. I’m about halfway through the time as of this posting. Completed items are marked so you can see how I’ve progressed so far, but I don’t anticipate updating this post as I continue to complete tasks. I’ve modified some of the goals for purposes of this post to better protect our anonymity. What’s on my list is not so important, but maybe some of my tasks will inspire you. When these lists were popular, it was fun to look at what others aspired to do.

1. Annual spending diet (no eating out, no spending other than groceries and fixed expenses for 30 days): 2017 [incomplete]
2. Annual spending diet (no eating out, no spending other than groceries and fixed expenses for 30 days): 2018 [incomplete]
3. Annual spending diet (no eating out, no spending other than groceries and fixed expenses for 30 days): 2019
4. Annual spending diet (no eating out, no spending other than groceries and fixed expenses for 30 days): 2020
5. Pay off car loan
6. Pay off student loan
7. Find a side hustle [Ed. note: due to my job change, Nos. 7, 8, and 14 are abandoned for this 1001 day cycle]
8. Increase earning through side hustle
9. Increase savings rate by January 2018
10. Increase savings rate again in January 2019
11. Spend less than $7,000 on travel in 2017 [incomplete]
12. Spend less than $6,000 on travel in 2018 [incomplete]
13. Spend less than $5,000 on travel in 2019
14. Research most tax efficient method for earning business income
15. Celebrate 2018 anniversary with a trip to a new place or a bottle of wedding year wine
16. Celebrate 2019 anniversary with a trip to a new place or a bottle of wedding year wine
17. Celebrate 2020 anniversary with a trip to a new place or a bottle of wedding year wine
18. Go on a picnic in wine country
19. Visit one new continent
20. Visit one new country
21. Visit one new state
22. Take post grad school vacation 4.0
23. Take post grad school vacation 5.0
24. Go boating
25. Go camping
26. Movies in the park
27. Tour a specific architectural marvel with spouse
28. Go to a drive in movie
29. Go cross country skiing
30. Go to a concert
31. Hang a hammock in the yard
32. Take a bike ride around home city
33. Learn how to rumba
34. Purge closet
35. Reset wardrobe so it works for my life
36. Donate 8% of income to charity in 2017[incomplete, 80% to goal]
37. Donate 10% of income to charity in 2018 [incomplete, 40% to goal]
38. Donate 12% of income to charity in 2019
39. Lose 10 lbs [in progress]
40. Be at least 10 lbs lighter on last day of challenge than I was on first day
41. Complete a Whole 30
42. Follow the super food swap plan for 90 days
43. Complete a sub-2hour half marathon
44. Completely fill out gym tracking journal
45. Complete a weight lifting cycle based on the New Rules of Lifting for Women
46. Qualify for half fanatics
47. Complete 100 pushups program
48. Practice yoga once per day for 30 consecutive days in 2017 [incomplete]
49. Practice yoga once per day for 60 consecutive days in 2018 [incomplete]
50. Practice yoga once per day for 90 consecutive days in 2019 [0/90]
51. Practice yoga every day in 2020
52. Go kayaking
53. Complete annual physicals
54. Visit the dentist twice per year [in progress]
55. Find a primary care physician and set an appointment [scheduled for 8/29/18]
56. Find a new dentist and set an appointment
57. Get a skin check
58. 30 consecutive days car free (car pooling, uber, lyft, public transit ok) (0/30)
59. 30 consecutive days of daily instagram posts (0/30)
60. Play the minimalism game in 2017 [best effort was to day 10 –beat that in 2018]
61. Play the minimalism game in 2018 [April — day 10]
62. Play the minimalism game in 2019
63. Play the minimalism game in 2020
64. Complete current journal
65. Write a weekly journal entry in 2018 (5/52) [incomplete]
66. Write a weekly journal entry in 2019 (0/52)
67. Read 15 books in 2017 [17]
68. Read 20 books in 2018 (5/20) [incomplete]
69. Read 25 books in 2019 (1/25)
70. Launch a website
71. Obtain a professional certification
72. Originate 3 new clients based on certification (0/3)
73. Publish 1 career-related article in 2018
74. Publish 1 career-related article in 2019 [committed]
75. Publish 1 career-related article in 2020
76. Meet annual production target in 2017 [incomplete]
77. Meet annual production target in 2018
78. Meet annual production target in 2019
79. Write 6 career related blogs in 2018 (1/6) [incomplete]
80. Write 8 career related blogs in 2019 (2/8)
81. Write 3 career related blogs in 2017 (0/3) [incomplete]
82. Write 6 career related blogs in 2020 (0/6)
83. Present at 5 seminars (3/5)
84. Properly manage incoming email [in process]
85. Get office email inbox down to a reasonable size (<1,000 items)
86. Obtain career related fellowship
87. Move all non-work related photos to cloud storage
88. Sell dresser
89. Replace fridge
90. Install new interior doors
91. Replace dining area light fixture
92. Clean and organize garage
93. Replace sofa
94. Buy one new set of sheets
95. Buy a summer weight quilt
96. Replace cabinet hardware in kitchen
97. Repair kitchen cabinets where laminate is separating
98. Install drying rack in utility room
99. Send out Christmas cards
100. Complete a duolingo language program (or hit a 1001 day streak)
101. Write a blog about each goal as it is completed