100 Days of Productivity: A Guide to the Viral Challenge
Let’s step back to 2015 just for a moment.
A Stony Brook University student, Elizabeth, decided to set herself a challenge.
100 days of productivity, a challenge she documented, in detail, on Tumblr.
Before long, Elizabeth’s 100 days of productivity challenge caught on, attracting a rather large audience and fellow productivity junkies.
Since then, the 100 days of productivity has stuck, people from all different walks of life still engaging in the challenge every day.
So how can you use Elizabeth’s brilliantly devised 100 days of productivity challenge to motivate yourself to do more?
Well, that’s what we are going to explore in this post.
Let’s take a look.
What is the 100 Days of Productivity Challenge?
The 100 days of productivity works just as it reads: It is a self-directed commitment to do at least one productive task each day for a total of 100 days. Although not necessary, many people choose to share their experiences and tasks on social media using the hashtag #100daysofproductivity. This helps some people strengthen their commitment to the challenge and, when needed, find a source of motivation through other people’s efforts.
What Tasks Count Towards the Challenge?
The tasks that count towards the challenge aren’t set in concrete. In fact, it’s encouraged that you tailor your own regime to whatever it is you wish to achieve, understandably that being different for everyone.
There is also no strict routine you must follow. The only advice is to choose to do your task/s when you are most fresh and motivated. This is different for each person, some it’s the morning and some it’s the evenings.
Whenever you are feeling your most productive, aim to complete your task during this time. That way your results will be at their best and it will help to keep you motivated for the duration of the challenge.
Some Suggestions of Tasks
If off the top of your head, you are struggling to think of something you’d like to accomplish during this challenge here are a few suggestions:
Study for 2 hours
Declutter your work areas like your kitchen cupboards, study, or home office
Sort through and respond to emails, unsubscribing to spam along the way
Read at least 2-3 chapters of a fiction book or 1-2 chapters of a non-fiction
Commit to working on a designated task for at least an hour, whether that be playing a musical instrument, applying for a new job, writing a resume or cover letter, etc.
Back up your precious files on your computer or other devices
Clean up your computer or phones homepage, running antivirus software, and removing programs or apps that may be slowing things down
When is the Best Time To Get Started?
Really, you can start whenever you’d like to. Although, it is suggested you don’t procrastinate and start the challenge as soon as you have time to.
This reason for this?
Well, according to research, procrastination is correlated with goal management, goal orientation, and an increase in dis-organization.
With this in mind, the longer you wait, the more likely you are to put the challenge off. Instead of pushing the 100 days of productivity aside, why not start as soon as you are able to.
Do the 100 Days of Productivity Have to be Consecutive?
Not necessarily. But most people tackle it this way and, really, it’s not a bad idea to do it this way too. An effort that is sustained only gains momentum and makes completing a challenge such as this easier. Plus, doing something consecutively one day after another helps to build productive habits. And habits or a solid routine are the easiest to maintain.
How to Track Your 100 Days of Productivity
100 days is quite a long time so it’s not a bad idea to track your progress. The idea to track your progress will also help you stay motivated, keep your challenge top of mind, and be more calculated on how you approach each day.
There are a few ways to track your 100-day challenge, here are some ideas to get you started:
Challenging a friend or family is a good way to not only keep on top of your tasks but also keep the momentum up.
Journaling is another great way to stay on top of your day-to-day progress.
Or, perhaps the easiest way, employ the help of a digital calendar or to-do list.
Final Thoughts
The 100 days of productivity is a fantastic way to keep you motivated and focus over a long period of time. But remember, don’t burn yourself out. The last thing you want when starting a project such as this is to run yourself into the ground. Burnout will increase the chance you quit early and stop altogether.
With this in mind, make sure to pace yourself.
On the other hand, if you set yourself the right goals, pace yourself along the way, and stay on task, there really is no limit to what you can achieve in 100-days.
If you think the best way to track your 100-days is by digital means, why not use the Simplish app. With the app’s easy-to-use to-do lists and daily, weekly, and monthly calendar planner, the Simplish app is the perfect companion for your 100-day challenge.
Good luck!