6 Tips To Make Sure You Ace A 30-Day Challenge And Become A Better Person
Have you ever taken part in a 30-day challenge?
Ever since the pandemic lockdown, I have taken part in different varieties of X-day challenges like -
10-day meditation challenge. (Nailed it!)
30-day journaling challenge. (Turned into a regular habit!)
30-day workout challenge. (Failed midway - accident)
100-day poem challenge. (Failed miserably)
7-day reading challenge. (Obviously, nailed it!)
Recently, I successfully finished a 30-day atomic essay writing challenge with Ship 30 For 30. This made me wonder what elements help us ace a 30-day challenge.
The following is what I found.
Keep The Challenge Easy
Taking up a 30-day meditation challenge can become overwhelming and tedious if you have never meditated before.
This is why I went for the 10-day duration and faced no obstacles.
One of the key lessons you want to learn from a challenge of this sort is to practice showing up.
We fail to make and keep a habit because, most of the time, we fail to show up. Once we have cracked the code to this, turning a task into a lifelong habit becomes easy.
Remove Other Distractions/Commitments
Many of us fail to realise that when we commit ourselves to a new task/challenge, we take time and energy away from other tasks, distractions and commitments.
When I started the 30-day essay writing challenge, I took a break from Instagram and my novel writing.
I knew I needed time and energy for Ship 30 For 30, and since I can't grow time and energy, I had to take it from somewhere.
So Instagram and my fiction WIP took a month's break.
Plan Ahead In Favour Of Your Challenge
Let's say you're taking part in a 30-day reading challenge.
You can't just say, "Okay, I will read every day for the next 30 days."
It's like saying your goal in life is to be happy. Everyone wants to be happy; nobody says they want the saddest life.
You need to think deeper than the surface-level goal. And you can do this by asking yourself HOW you will ensure you read every day for the next 30 days.
Could you read for 10 minutes, right after you wake up?
Could you listen to an audiobook on your way to work?
Could you take this reading challenge a step further and hold yourself accountable to a friend?
Why are you doing this challenge? Ultimately, you are doing it to grow your being. So make sure you plan in such a way as to give your best shot to this challenge.
Accountability
Can't stick to a challenge if you're at it alone? Then you need an accountability partner.
This person/s will help you stay on track with your challenge and help you make sure you reach the finish line as successfully as possible.
This was one of the core reasons why most writers on Ship 30 For 30 published their 30 essays on time.
We helped and motivated each other to keep going. Our coaches encouraged us to not lose heart. And we received badges for reaching certain milestones.
Ask Yourself WHY Are You Doing This Challenge
I don't need an accountability partner to ace a challenge. But I do need my WHY.
I don't rely on extrinsic motivation (though I am happy to receive the pat on the back). I don't rely on extrinsic motivation because it can be fleeting.
What I instead rely on is WHY I want to do this challenge. My intrinsic motivation gives me more stability and motivation to keep going.
I didn't ace the 30-day essay writing challenge because I was excited about getting the badges.
I aced the challenge because I wanted a learning experience that had practical application in today's digital world.
Have Fun!
The challenge should be hard enough to push your comfort zone boundaries. But not so much that the challenge becomes a stressful nightmare instead of a learning experience.
You should enter a challenge with a good amount of energy and leave it with even more exciting energy. That's when you know you're having fun in it.
You will give up if the challenge is too challenging, rigid, or boring.
