give! it! 100!

November 17, 2014 11:15 PM

If you gave yourself a challenge to try something for a hundred days in a row, what would you do? Learn a new language? Pick up a musical instrument? Push your body's limits? Get married, have a baby, keep the love going?
posted by divabat (24 comments total)

I learned how to crochet very well in 100 days.

I only really documented the first day, when I said "fuck it, how do I do this?" and, without a hook or any decent yarn, still managed to make a... thing. It looked like a very small sock. I could fit my radio in it.

The only other documentation I have is an increasingly large pile of assorted garments which people will be getting for Christmas whether they want them or not , The Woolen Immensity, Devourer of Couches, an obscene collection of assorted hooks (some of which would double nicely as kubotans) and a massive pile of yarn.

If anyone gives my pile of yarn the side eye, I will point them to this site and say, "NEXT TIME WILL BE THE BANJO. 100 DAYS OF BANJO. YOU WANT THE BANJO?"
posted by louche mustachio at 12:27 AM on November 18, 2014 [14 favorites]

Laura, who gave herself 100 days to learn draping, gives an excellent general assessment of the up and downs of the journey of an autodidact.
posted by louche mustachio at 1:28 AM on November 18, 2014 [2 favorites]

Ive hated the word autodidact ever since Tina Fey wouldn't quit saying it in that movie "Admission." It's kind of to me what "moist" is to some people.

God, I'm so lazy. 100 days seems so looooong.
posted by discopolo at 3:22 AM on November 18, 2014 [1 favorite]

Having a baby for 100 days in a row sounds terrible.
posted by Elementary Penguin at 4:02 AM on November 18, 2014 [31 favorites]

How about "eat something horrible for me?" That seems like something I could do for 100 days in a row.
posted by sonic meat machine at 4:51 AM on November 18, 2014 [3 favorites]

@discopolo Similarly, there is the Reddit site /r/theXeffect which promotes using a 7x7 grid to track your progress in forming a habit over 49 days. This is similar to Seinfeld's Don't Break the Chain thing.

Strangely, this technique works for me (it must be the gamer in me). Simply marking an X each day is enough of a carrot somehow. (Self-promotion disclaimer: I made a little site to let you track your progress.)
posted by SNACKeR at 4:55 AM on November 18, 2014 [6 favorites]

Yeah, I agree - the X is a motivator. I found an app called "Your Chain!" in March. I have run every day since, just to close out the X for the day. I realized that I'd hit half a year just a few days ago. My run last night out me at 190 days in a row.

It seems like a lot of trouble at first but honestly something that only takes a bit of time out of your day starts feeling normal pretty fast... My goal was at least 1 mile a day, so even on a bad day this takes less than 10 minutes - even if the weather sucks the treadmill in the basement beckons.
posted by caution live frogs at 5:04 AM on November 18, 2014 [2 favorites]

I've developed a few good habits using Seinfeld chains this year. I dont even update the chain anymore but cause my brain starts nagging me if I haven't practiced an instrument or Spanish by the time dinner is done. Its great to feel like a lab rat!
posted by lownote at 5:24 AM on November 18, 2014

How about "eat something horrible for me?" That seems like something I could do for 100 days in a row.
posted by sonic meat machine at 8:51 PM on November 18

Suddenly the user name makes sense somehow
posted by DoctorFedora at 5:44 AM on November 18, 2014 [2 favorites]

I'm on day 98 of having a baby. I haven't taken videos every day, but I have meticulously documented each poop.
posted by Metroid Baby at 5:53 AM on November 18, 2014 [1 favorite]

(Actually, I just made a 7×7 card for "no candy, soda, or junk food.")
posted by sonic meat machine at 6:07 AM on November 18, 2014 [2 favorites]

By the end of each holiday season, I get really good at eating Reese's Pumpkins/Hearts/Trees. I would like a 100 day supply to test if I could get better.
posted by DigDoug at 6:14 AM on November 18, 2014 [3 favorites]

Taking a slightly different approach, a friend of mine put together a simple wall chart for tracking 100 hours of a project or skill.
posted by metaBugs at 6:16 AM on November 18, 2014 [3 favorites]

Having a baby for 100 days in a row sounds terrible.

At least you can give it back at the end of the 100 days.

Right?
posted by backseatpilot at 6:30 AM on November 18, 2014

My version of this is to MeMail bswinburn every night to tell him whether I flossed.
posted by Jacqueline at 6:54 AM on November 18, 2014 [2 favorites]

This kind of thing never works for me, because my perfectionist tendencies means if I miss a day, the whole thing is ruined and there's no point continuing.
posted by looli at 7:11 AM on November 18, 2014 [7 favorites]

Wow, this might keep me honest with my new openback banjo. I'd privately given myself 90 days to see if I take to it at all (with lessons).
posted by Sheydem-tants at 7:30 AM on November 18, 2014

looli, just put an X in the box and carry on. That day is gone, and you can still do whatever it is today, because today is made of opportunity. (Today, for example, I'm reading Metafilter instead of writing letters - what's on my list - or improving myself in any way. Yay!)
posted by sneebler at 7:32 AM on November 18, 2014

It's kind of to me what "m***t" is to some people.

There are others?? Oh, thank gods. I thought it was just me.

I freaking hate that word. Yuck.
posted by Beti at 9:02 AM on November 18, 2014 [2 favorites]

I thought all women hated the word "moist." I mean, I thought it was documented and everything.
posted by holborne at 10:13 AM on November 18, 2014

I just googled "women hate the word moist". Wow, I had no idea, holborne. There's some entertaining notes on words that make people cringe. Makes me feel a little better. I don't have any sex-is-bad connotations, just never liked the way it sounded.
posted by Beti at 12:43 PM on November 18, 2014 [1 favorite]

A skipping tour of Berlin is great!
posted by Huw at 4:50 PM on November 18, 2014

She's "a HOLISTIC HEALTH COACH" skipping at a Holocaust memorial.

I find it not great.
posted by desultory_banyan at 11:26 AM on December 6, 2014

I'm planning to start a GiveIt100 about starting a skincare routine, since it's so outside my comfort zone. I was going to start on Friday but missed a crucial appointment so I'm restarting on this Friday instead (hoping I don't get lost again).

Any tips?
posted by divabat at 11:43 AM on December 8, 2014