The Potential of Self Induced Challenges

[Bowzie]

Hi All,

How would you utilize "self induced challenges" to aid in the MFL journey and mindset?

Some backstory...
Last year I attempted and completed the 75-Hard-Challenge with some buddies.
It had 5 rules:

• Pick a diet to follow, with no alcohol or cheat meals.
• Drink a gallon of water daily.
• Complete 2 daily workouts. 45 minutes each minimum.
• Read 10 pages per day of a non-fiction book.
• Take a progress photo every day.

It was surprisingly difficult to push through and achieve all of these tasks on top of my already packed day. But nevertheless, my friends and I completed the challenge. The biggest mindset shift I got out of this challenge was this... I could always find the time and energy when I prioritized high enough. I loved what I gained from the challenge. Before, I would have thought, "No way do I have time for 2 workouts a day!".


However, this is not an advertisement for 75 Hard. I only mention 75 hard because, after completing it, I started to incorporate the Artificial Motivation and Habit Building of a good challenge into new "self-challenges" that were more in-line with accomplishing my personal goals.
I like to keep them simple, i.e. 1 to 3 daily tasks for X amount of days. I've been able to gain a lot of value by framing an aspect of my goals into a simple challenge.

How have you set something up similar?
What's worked best or has been the most powerful for you?
What's a daily task that will help build a MFL habit?

Let me know about your experience/thoughts/advice.

Cheers,
Bowzie

 

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[MJ DeMarco]

How have you set something up similar?
What's worked best or has been the most powerful for you?
What's a daily task that will help build a MFL habit?

I use GoalSumo.com.

One strategy that is part of that service is to focus on 1 important task for the day.

Another item that I've had success with is 1W1G -- 1 week, 1 goal.

Every Sunday/Monday I ask myself, if I could reasonably accomplish 1 goal this week (presuming focus and discipline), what would it be?

Setting that goal sets the tone for the week.

This goal isolation gives me a tremendous amount of focus and helps eliminate the clutter/noise of other goals that might be hanging out in my head clogging up mental bandwidth. Without this strategy, I find myself tackling multiple goals at once where productivity and quality suffers.

One goal, one week, done.

This autonomic function is NOT part of GoalSumo.com yet, but it will be.

Congrats on completing the 75 challenge.

 

[Bowzie]

Hi MJ,

I'll try out GoalSumo.com soon, It's interested me since its launch.

Every Sunday/Monday I ask myself, if I could reasonably accomplish 1 goal this week (presuming focus and discipline), what would it be?

Any personal 1W1G worth sharing?

Sometimes I set a goal and then realize afterward that's it's too vague. What's worked best for you?