In the past, the 101 Things in 1001 Days challenge was pretty prominent on blogs. I remember when many of my friends online were creating their own lists to share. I've completed the challenge myself multiple times, although never completely.
I last completed one in 2015, and wow. Life feels really different now compared to then. I wanted to try the challenge again, but this time more realistically and as a motivator to do things I enjoy in life.
If you also completed the challenge in the past, or are thinking about doing it now, I would love to hear how it goes!
THE LIST
Start Date: January 1st, 2023
End Date: September 27th, 2026
Progress Tracker: 73/97 Completed
Random
1. ☑ Create this list!2. ☑ Watch 10 documentaries (10/10)
3. ☑ Finish my first BG3 run
4. ☑ Read 5 books for fun (All Tea Dragons books, The Immortal Life of Henrietta Lacks, and Bad Faith)
5. ☐ Put 1000 yen (or around 10 USD) in savings each time I complete an item on this list (0/101) ABANDONED, due to moving
6. ☑ Catch up on Doctor Who
7. ☑ Have an unplugged day with no tech (Did it by accident, but still counting it haha)
8. ☑ Update Unroll.me
9. ☐ Play a game of DnD/Other TTRPG
10. ☑ Use the points function at Karaoke!
11. ☑ Knit or draw in a cafe
12. ☑ Join Postcrossing
13. ☑ Finish archival admin work on the discord
14. ☑ Cash out my change jar (tried my best but it's not actually possible here in Japan :/ )
15. ☑ Have some self-photos taken that I actually like
17. ☑ Finish my box of incense and buy a new scent
19. ☑ Wear my haori in public
20. ☑ Wear every item in my closet at least once or get rid of it
21. ☑ Play the taiko drum game
22. ☑ Clean out who I follow on Instagram and YouTube (left instagram instead, but still counts haha)
23. ☑ Organize all of the tea I have and get rid of tea I don't like
24. ☑ Keep my succulents alive for at least a few months (slow progress is better than none!)
25. ☑ Re-pot my succulents
26. ☐ Complete all these 101 goals & FEEL PROUD!
Art/Music/Writing
27. ☑ Complete 5 puzzles28. ☑ Finish the final draft for my novel
29. ☑ Finish the Cringe Prompts challenge
30. ☑ Sketch in a public place
31. ☑ Write a letter to myself to open at the end of this challenge
32. ☑ Write a letter to myself to open in 5 years
33. ☑ Write a letter to myself to open in 10 years
34. ☑ Create a 20 Songs Spotify Playlist (Link)
36. ☑ Clean up my Spotify playlists
37. ☑ Complete a list of drawing prompts and/or a prompts book
38. ☑ Write a song about Tsuyama
39. ☐ Memorize one piano piece
40. ☐ Finish character designs for all of my novel's characters
41. ☑ Complete an art commission
42. ☐ Complete 3 art studies (1/3)
43. ☑ Sew a plushie (I have another one planned, but I knit a cute pumpkin plush!)
44. ☐ Write down 10 questions I have about faith (0/10)
45. ☐ Research those 10 questions and examine all sides (0/10)
46. ☑ Learn one new song on the banjo
Blog/Social Media
47. ☐ Create videos/blogs documenting my travels in Japan48. ☐ Create a new signature for my blogs
49. ☑ Write once a month on my main blog for a year
50. ☐ Complete a thorough blog audit and update/delete posts as needed
51. ☑ Update my blog theme
52. ☑ Create a new blog banner and assets for across social media
53. ☑ Create a linktree
54. ☑ Organize posts for easier navigation on my blog
Daily Life
55. ☑ Start doing dance exercises at least once a week for 2 months Started clogging again with a new dance group! Super fun!56. ☑ Create my own cookbook or recipe hub of recipes I actually cook
57. ☑ Write out a realistic after work routine Made one but haven't strictly stuck to it. Need to revisit this later when life is less crazy.
58. ☑ Stick to that routine for 1 month (0/30 days)
59. ☑ Complete an entire 30-day challenge of cooking at home (0/30 days)
60. ☑ Drink the proper amount of water everyday for a week
61. ☐ Meditate daily for a month (0/30 days)
Language Learning
62. ☐ Finish reading 1 manga in Japanese
63. ☐ Reach 100 posts on my Japanese Learning blog or in my personal journal (78/100)
64. ☑ Either take JLPT N4 and pass, or pass a practice test online
65. ☐ Complete Genki workbook
66. ☑ Celebrate my 1,000-day streak on Duolingo Counting this as finished. I had a streak of around 850 days, but deleted the app after their recent devaluing of workers and excessive pushes for AI instead of actual learning. I recommend everyone else do the same. Try out Anki flashcards instead!
67. ☐ Find a way to practice speaking Japanese again
Purchases
68. ☑ Buy a physical copy of "Artificial Heart" by JoCO69. ☑ Buy a physical copy of "Solid State" by JoCo
70. ☑ Buy a physical copy of "Air for Free" by Relient K
71. ☑ Buy a pet (snake/cat/horse/etc.) Bought my precious baby boy Newspaper, who is snoozing on my couch as I write <3
72. ☐ Get a tattoo
73. ☑ Get new glasses
74. ☐ Attend an in-person therapy session
76. ☑ Treat Mamaw to a day out My lovely Mamaw passed away in April of 2025. I was thankfully able to spend a day with her, although not going out, before she passed. Rest in peace, and I love you a bushel and a peck.
77. ☑ Treat Mom to a day out
78. ☐ Treat Dad to a day out
79. ☑ Treat littlest bro to a day out Treated him to an entire Japan trip lol
80. ☐ Buy a nice re-usable tea strainer
Experiences
81. ☑ Visit 5 new Japanese restaurants (5/5)82. ☑ Try 10 new foods (10/10)
83. ☑ Visit 3 new cities (3/3)
84. ☐ Travel somewhere new
85. ☑ See a live music performance
86. ☑ See Tricolor live before I leave Japan
87. ☑ See the Northern Lights
88. ☑ Visit a new prefecture
89. ☐ Visit a new city
90. ☑ Visit a local museum
91. ☑ Visit an escape room
92. ☑ Go on a hike (an American hike, not a Japanese "hike")
93. ☑ Visit a new matsuri not in my city
94. ☐ Go to an ethical animal cafe
95. ☐ Visit a historical re-enactment
96. ☑ Visit a renfair
97. ☑ Visit a protest for a cause I am passionate about (education, social justice, etc.)
98. ☑ Visit my cousins
99. ☑ Visit my grandparents that live far away
100. ☑ Bake something new
101. ☑ Visit Tokyo Disney
