A 30-Day Challenge for the Long Winter Months
It might be just the motivation you need or a good way to pass the time
Winter is here!
During the winter months, my energy drains faster than the battery of my old iPhone. The days are cold, dark, and wet. I want to spend them eating carbs while watching TV under a warm blanket.
I know that the less I do, the less I feel like doing, and it can become a self-defeating cycle.
For this reason, I like to do 30-day challenges in the winter. They provide some extra motivation when I need it.
I find that 30 days is long enough to see benefits but short enough to prevent boredom. After a month of testing out new behaviors, some turn into long-term habits, while others fade away, never to be seen again.
Dare To Be Challenged?
You can do a 30-day challenge for just about any behavior, and here are a few ideas to get you started.
Declutter
The 30 Day Minimalism Challenge requires getting rid of one item on day 1, two on day 2, and so on until you reach 30 items on day 30. You will give away, donate, or recycle 465 items by the end of this challenge.
Gratitude
Gratitude is a powerful tool, and incorporating it into your daily routine is a wise health move. Challenge yourself to write one thing you are grateful for every day for thirty days. Or, write three things. Customize the challenge to meet your needs.
Push-ups
If you are new to push-ups, start with one push-up and add another one each day, similar to the minimalism challenge. You will do 30 push-ups on the final day. By the end of the challenge, you will have completed a total of 465 push-ups.
If you want more of a challenge, start with ten push-ups and add five each day. On the final day, you will do 155 of them. Throughout the 30-day challenge, you will complete a total of 2,475 push-ups.
You can substitute other behaviors for this activity including crunches, squats, lunges, planks, or pull-ups. Tailor it to your individual needs.
The Big Bang Theory
Enjoy one episode of this hilarious show every day for 30 days. It is sure to provide a laugh, and laughter is good for our soul.
Recipe challenge
I love to flip through cookbooks and admire all the photos of beautifully prepared dishes. I’m not a wonderful cook, and I could be better with more practice.
A fun 30-day challenge is choosing one of your cookbooks and making a new recipe every day. If you don’t have any cookbooks, you can check one out from the library or find plenty of recipes online.
Julie Powell blogged about her experience making all the recipes in Julia Child’s cookbook, Mastering the Art of French Cooking. Her blog turned into a best-selling book, Julie and Julia: 365 Days, 524 Recipes, and 1 Tiny Apartment Kitchen, and then became a popular movie, Julie & Julia.
You never know when a simple challenge will lead to big success.
Other challenge ideas include:
- Decrease caffeine use
- Practice mindfulness
- Read for enjoyment every day
- Drink more water
- Write or publish daily
After 30 days, the only thing that I can guarantee is that one month will have gone by, and the calendar will be closer to spring.
I suspect, though, that you will experience many other benefits including physical, mental, and spiritual changes. Thirty days can make a difference.
You don’t have to start on the first of the month — today can be day one. How are you going to challenge yourself this winter?
I’ll be working on push-ups!
Writer Shout-out
Last April, Mary DeVries committed to starting a new habit every day for 30 days. That meant that on day 30, she was doing thirty new habits!!
At 3–5 minutes each, she hardly had any time to scroll through her phone. Now, that is a tough challenge.
Below is the introductory article to her 30-day commitment. Maybe 2022 is the year you channel your inner Mary. Go big!
Join Medium and enjoy thousands of articles from independent writers such as myself. If you use my referral link, I will receive a portion of the $5 monthly membership fee. Thank you for your support!
