NaChYoMo: Throwing down the gauntlet
November 2, 2008 by Niksmom
You’ve probably been reading or hearing a bit about
NaBloPoMo and
NaNoWriMo and thought,
“Yeah, they sound really interesting but I’m not really into writing all that much,” or “
I don’t have it in me to write something every single day.” Well, that may or may not be true —only you know yourself for sure.
However, these two campaigns have an element in common that even
non-writers can benefit from. Both challenge the individual to dig down a little deeper and stretch a little farther than they think they are capable of stretching; the chosen method of challenge in these cases just so happens to be writing. If you’re a writer that’s a great thing; for the non-writers among us, fear not, there’s
NaChYoMo —
National Challenge Yourself Month! (Hey, it’s
my blog! I can make up whatever I want!)
What if we each picked one thing that we struggle with or procrastinate about; something we simply don’t make a high enough priority to do? What if we each made the commitment to rise to the challenge? What if we pushed our boundaries or stepped just outside our comfort zones? Think of the changes we could affect in our lives, the accomplishments we could boast of, or the chores that would finally get done and crossed off that to-do list!
So, readers, I challenge you to join me in NaChYoMo. Here’s how it works:
Choose one thing —something difficult, something you’ve been avoiding or ignoring —that you want to accomplish this month and make a public commitment to do something each and every day in furtherance of that goal. It doesn’t matter what the challenge is. For some of us it might be an onerous task; for others it might be making time to pamper yourself. There are no rules except the ones you set for yourself.
Sounds easy, right? Betcha it’s not.
Are you up for it? Leave your goal in the comment section of this post —or post a link to your own blog —and tell us about what you want to accomplish and why it’s a challenge. If you need any specific support to make it happen, let us know that too. Then, go for it!
The rest is up to you to follow through or not. No one’s going to ask you to write about it every day (unless you want to, then, well you might want to consider participating in NaBloPoMo, too!). No one’s even going to check up on you unless you ask for that. But, I hope at the end of the month you’ll check back and let us know how you did so we can applaud your efforts!
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The personal challenge I am going to tackle is to do something every single day in furtherance of truly cleaning and decluttering my house. Truly. We’ve lived here just over three and a half years and are still tripping over unpacked boxes and miscellaneous piles of crap in our loft. Our filing system consists of stacks of papers and items strategically placed in the dining room, the living room, our bedroom. Ironically, Nik’s room is about the most organized in the house. If I’m brutally honest, our house has become a manifestation of our collective exhaustion and mild depression. The chaos is slowly eating away at us both.
We have had lots of excuses for not dealing with it once and for all. First, it was the fact that Nik was so sick for a while. Then, the not sleeping through the night for nearly two years. And let’s not forget Niksdad’s nursing school, or Nik’s many appointments for feeding, speech, PT, OT. Certainly, those things take a lot of time and energy; so does living in a chaotic environment. And the chaos, besides being mentally and emotionally draining, does not support our longer term goals of a nice home, home schooling our son, entertaining friends, and generally “having a life.”
Not anymore. This month, I am going to tackle one room at a time and finally get my house back. In the process, I’m willing to bet that I’ll get a whole lot more. I may or may not write about it here on the blog but I’ll share my progress with a few people; I tend to need the accountability to keep me motivated until the habit becomes ingrained.
I hope you’ll join me in my own version of the Na-blah-blah-Mo phenomenon. Let the journey begin…
Image courtesy of Inmagine
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Fabulous idea!!! You know that I am doing the NaBloPoMo thing again, but I could most certainly benefit from doing your exact challenge (or a slew of other things as well). It is good to push ourselves. When I started my blog at the same time that I started running I read an article about motivation in Runner’s World. The number one idea was to start a blog b/c it is all about accountability. Letting yourself down is bad enough but doing it publicly is much more difficult.
I wish you much success.
Challenge = eek! I know what you mean about getting control back over the house. I’ve made a start in that department but of course that means I’m about 5 years behind you!
Cheers
damn you, for making me be accountable and all that. but thank you, for motivating me. I commit to spend an hour every day not just ‘researching’ homeschooling, but actually working (physically putting something on paper) on the proposal my husband requested. The decluttering, exercising, and eating healthy are constant battles in this house.
You are so inspiring, Niksmom! Let me ponder this one.
p.s. saw your great pics…when one’s child has a bad halloween, it usually means that the next one is kick-ass, and you’ll be like, “Wha? but he did this and this and this last year!” but it’s that he got a year older and a year happier to be trick or treating. That I promise you.
You are brilliant! I am going to jump on your challenge. My goal is to do some sort of vigorous exercise every day in November.
Amen to decluttering. Ongoing struggle but I think I could indeed do one thing each day to make it better. I fantasize about a dumpster in my driveway. I know, weird, right?
Yes, I say, as I sit among the piles of paper, clothing, projects, and random objects all over the house.
You can do it!
I am thinking…
I am not sure what I will do yet.
Ah yes Get Gregory Potty Trained.
I can do it
I can do it.
I hope so
I don’t know what or how to do this I will just keep at it and do lots of laundry.
We started this process yesterday.
So far lots of accidents and one success.
I am already tired, but will not give up.
What a great idea. I will be excited to see how it goes. Decluttering is one of my favorite things to do.;)
I love this idea. I am going to try not to be negative.
Huh.
Wow.
Wow – you’ll have to let us know how sorting out the abode goes. I don’t know what to challenge myself with – keeping my desk in order? Ha! Finally letting go of client #3? Boo! Not working past 9 p.m. all month? Too late… zzzz.
What an awesome idea
I’m actually doing NaNoWriMo, but I could certainly stand to do some decluttering but I also need to do some yoga…Ok, I’ll commit to at least a 15 minute yoga practice every day, more if I can swing it.
Good luck with yours!
You rock! I would have to say that decluttering my house is at the top of my list too. Good luck!
can I nap more?
Yay! I’m rooting for you!!!
xo
Wow, you are a better woman than I. Good luck!!!
you are brilliant! i love this idea! i’m totally doing it!
daily stretching. i always feeeeeel so good when i remember to do this but i go days and days without it.
so, starting tomorrow. wait a minute–starting TONIGHT!
This was just the kind of post that i needed today to kick me in the butt—I need this right now. My goal, finish my book even if it might suck!! And go to the gym twice a week.