New Year's/2020 challenges

[PriceLowToHigh]

This has probably been done to death, but couldn't find any recent threads on it, particularly for ideas that are do-able in terms of Covid unless I've missed one.
I’m trying to plan ahead for an utterly depressing January/February/
March/whatever and read somewhere that it can be really good for mental health to plan some ‘goal oriented targets’ to help ride out a difficult time.
I don’t really subscribe to New Year’s resolutions as such, but usually have a list of stuff that I wouldn’t mind doing usually lose weight
The best ones I've done were when I set myself a specific target or challenge, like one year I decided to do a specific number of Park Runs, which was easy to measure and quite satisfying as it was a bit of a challenge. But obviously that's a no-no now as they're all cancelled for the foreseeable.
Has anyone got any ideas as to challenge type things I could do this year? Still losing weight so I might aim for a specific target for that, as it’s easy to measure, but I just fancy something a bit more interesting whilst also feasible within Covid guidelines, and up for some MN collective wisdom and inspiration. Unless I get put in tier 4, in which case I’m fucked, and back to binge eating oversized packs of Doritos and watching back to back Netflix.

goodreads book challenge. ...This year my goal was 30 books. going for 40 in 2021

Ooh, I'd not thought of a reading one, brilliant, thanks. 30 books though

@PriceLowToHigh

Ooh, I'd not thought of a reading one, brilliant, thanks. 30 books though

30 books is nothing!

I once read 100 in a year, the same year I finished my degree.
Not so easy when you have kids.

I might aim for reading a few classics. I find they take longer to read unlike some that only take me 24 hours.

Going to start cycling more so perhaps set a goal for that and eating 5 portions of veg a day.

I've done the goodreads challenge for the last few years, it's recommended. There are different challenges on the forums there like round the world in 80 novels.

Massive new year cliche but I’m determined to get back to low carbing and start caring about what I look like again. I’m only a size 8/10 but have really piled on the pounds in the last 9 months and stopped doing all the exercise I used to do. I’ve never been so unhappy with how I look and really want to find the motivation to stop stuffing my face and watching Netflix all evening from the moment I close my laptop.

Sorry just reread the OP and see I got the wrong end of the stick

I'm juggling DC though, it's tough. I have just lost myself in Cecelia Ekback's Wolf Winter about 3 years after everyone else but it meant staying up really late and then having to face early mornings with DC. So maybe a modest number of books might be achievable for me.
Cycling's a thought, I think there might be some good trails locally but would have to do them at weekends as it's too dark after work.

I'm trying Red January this year where you have to exercise every day in January. It's aim is exercise to improve mental health so it's really flexible with what goals you set.

Or if you enjoy running you could set a goal to run so many miles in 2021 with mini monthly targets?

Since September I've been following Reddits 52weeksofcooking with a friend (although I haven't posted onto Reddit, we've just been sending the photos to each other). Basically each week you get given a theme and have to cook something that fits it. I've cooked things I never would have tried otherwise so it's been really interesting and a nice way to stay connected with the friend when we can't meet in person. Would definitely recommend doing either this or something similar.

I've also got slightly longer term aim to read 100 classics and watch the top 100 rated films on IMBD. If all else fails at least the last one is manageable with Doritos and Netflix

@Nookable ooh a cooking one, that could be really good. I'll have a look.
Running a set number of miles would be a really good idea for me too.
Also you've got me thinking about films, proper classics that I've never seen before but should have. I tried to work my way chronologically through the entire James Bond collection a couple of years ago but couldn't get past about the first 4 of them because they were so horribly sexist.

I'm with you on the losing weight challenge OP

If you'd like exercise related challenges: maybe Adrienne's 30 day yoga one or the 30 day Shred? Or completing C25K, if you haven't done so already?

Books and films sound like good ones, and the cookery challenge is really interesting! Depending on the age of your DC you could involve them in other activities: Pokemon go, geocaching, plotting new routes for walks/ bike rides? Not challenges as such but keeps you active.

Tier 4 here so we are stuck with local walks at least the parks are open for the DC to work off some of their boundless energy...

This is a great walking challenge, by the way:

www.walk1000miles.co.uk

Lots of routes suggested and support via a lovely Facebook group. Plus if you can buy real or virtual maps to plot your progress on!

@ClaraTheImpossibleGirl I'd forgotten about Adrienne! I tried it last year and managed about 3 days But I do really need to do something like that or Pilates so that should definitely get on my list.
Also the walking one looks great, and one I could (potentially) get the DC involved with - you're right, if they're involved it's much more likely to happen too.
This is why I love MN, I've gone from racking my brains about how to help myself be more upbeat, to having loads of really positive ideas to think about.

This is a great thread I've joined a reading challenge and a walking one!

I started the reading challenge a few years ago.my first challenge was just 12 books. .one a month..I had been a avid reader when I was younger and wanted to get back into the habit.

After reading this thread, I may well so a cooking challenge. ,getting so bored of the same old. ...I had already decided to start eating more fish and a greater variety. ...a new fish a month! wonder if there's an app for that!

@PriceLowToHigh MN is great for things like this, when people are offering supportive and helpful ideas

If you are a member of your local library you can read walking magazines for free as well - either hard copy (if your library's open) or via their app, if they have one. We're in tier 4 and the library has been closed a lot one way or another this year, they have improved their online services a lot.

One thing that helped me in January was to start one 'resolution' each week - healthy eating, exercise, being more organised etc - then add the next a week later and so on. I felt less overwhelmed and it was all going very well until we went into lockdown and it all turned to shit

I will be doing:

• GoodReads Challenge (20+ books)
• Dry January (and may continue for at least 3 months)
• Yoga with Adriene (on You Tube) 3/4 times per week - She is also running a 31 day yoga challenge throughout January

I also want to build a regular mindfulness/meditation practice, ideally working up to daily.

I run, and started yoga with Adriene back in April, wich I absolutely love - I've signed up to the YWA 30 day challenge, I usually do it about 4 times a week so itll be good to see if I can stick to it for 30 days. And with running I'm going every other day so I can go on walks/bike rides etc with kids - in tier 4.

@ritzbiscuits I want to try and do mediation but I'm not very good at switching off lol. I'm going to take a look at the GoodReads challenge.

@jess3817 the best I've found is doing simple 3-4-5 breathing using insight timer to time myself. Even doing 5 mins a day I've noticed a difference to my mood, I just need to build a habit with it

I love new year resolutions!

Mine this year are to do whole30 and Adrienne 30 days in January, for a really good start to the year. I made huge changes to my diet with whole30 in July and have relaxed it a bit since then, but have remained sugar, dairy and grain free. However I'm feeling tired and run down after Covid in nov and then Christmas, so I want a real boost!

I always resolve to run, and my target next year is 1000 miles (managed 1500 k this year, 1600 in 2019)
I am tempted by an endurance challenge for myself, and was considering (after seeing on another thread) 21x 21 km (half marathons) in 2021. That's approx 2 every 5 weeks. Possible, but challenging. I might just quietly see how many I can do

@ritzbiscuits- thanks will give it a try 🙂

@ClaraTheImpossibleGirl I know, it's really given me a much-needed boost! Did not know about libraries improved online provision - will definitely investigate that. Thanks!
Really interesting about the meditation too. A lot of people I know rave about it, which for some reason instantly puts me off but seeing that posters have experienced a definite change in mood with it makes me think I really should try it.

Love this thread! ❤️

I usually do Adrienne's 30 days of yoga in January (never managed to actually do it every day though 😁). Not a massive drinker, so dry January doesn't really feel like a challenge I want or need to do. I've done the Goodreads reading challenge last couple of years (haven't met my 20 book challenge this year unfortunately- Mumsnet takes up too much of my reading time!).

Love the cooking one, will look up on Reddit.

I fancy learning how to do cryptic crosswords in 2021.

@EmmaStone I gave up drinking back in march so will be carrying on the same going forward.
Cryptic crosswords - that's a good one, I'm really bad at them😂🙈

@PriceLowToHigh re: mindfulness/meditation - Dr Chatterjee has some very accessible information in his podcasts This best of is a good place to start