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It’s Challenge Time again, and I’m so ready for my 15 Challenges in 2015! I’ve set challenges the past few years, so if you’re interested in seeing how they’ve gone, you can check them out here: 13 Challenges in 2013 and 14 Challenges in 2014. There are a few of these challenges that I’m keeping the same from last year- I don’t feel the need to constantly up mileage. If it worked this past year, I won’t necessarily change it. So- here are my 15 Challenges in 2015!
I challenge myself to run 225 miles. I’m keeping it the same as 2014- with POTs and my increased risk of injury, I don’t want to feel that I have to run. I obviously ran far more miles than this in 2014, and if all goes well, I’ll end up with more than that in 2015 too.
I challenge myself to walk 275 miles. Again, I’m keeping it the same as 2014. I love walking and enjoying nature, and I look forward to regularly walking again this year.
I challenge myself to bike 950 miles. I’m upping my goal a bit this year- I just really love biking! 🙂
I challenge myself to 65 hours of pilates. I actually am dropping this goal by 10 hours this year. It’s not that I feel that Pilates is any less important (I think it’s SO crucial to be a healthy runner and biker), but I wanted to create a little more space for other forms of exercise as well.
I challenge myself to 250 minutes of planks.This has been my goal the last two years, and I’m sticking to it. That’s just over 4 hours of planking for the year, and I feel that it’s totally reasonable. In 2014 I did 252 minutes of planks, so we will see how I do this year!
I challenge myself to run 10 races for the year. This is the same goal I had in 2014, and I feel that this is a reasonable number!
I challenge myself to read at least 25 books. Originally I wrote “15 books for 2015” but, I decided to up it. There are some months (like January) where I have a little more time to read, and some months where I feel that I have hardly any time, so it all balances out. Some of these might be for work, but my purpose in this goal is to balance all the work related things I do with some fun and relaxation.
I challenge myself to go through all the clothes that I own. Last year I got rid of over 170 clothing items, along with many bags of other things. I’m guessing this year I won’t have nearly as many clothes to get rid of, but I’m still going to challenge myself to touch every clothing item I own and really consider if I need it or not. This podcast (Freedom From Stuff) has been inspiring!
I challenge myself to continue to be present. I believe that presence is so deeply powerful, both for ourselves and in our relationships. That means pausing to be mindful and tune into our thoughts, feelings, and actions consistently. It means pausing while out on walks or runs to enjoy my surroundings. It means putting down my phone and engaging in active listening with my friends. I challenge myself to attempt every day to have a few moments where I am really, truly present. It’s a healthy practice.
I challenge myself to continue to hunt for provisions and blessings (continuing to develop gratitude in my life). I’ve done this the past few years, and I will continue to do this. This includes writing down what I’m thankful for every week.
I challenge myself to say “thank you” more often. This goes with continuing to develop gratitude, but I want to make sure that I’m verbalizing my thanks to those around me more often. It might be sending a thank you note to a friend, and it might be making sure to say “thank you” to a waiter and then telling their manager what a great job they did. I want my actions to line up with the gratitude I’ve developed within myself.
I challenge myself to memorize one verse (from the Bible) every month. I’ve spent the last month considering what I want to do for the spirituality factor of wellness in my life in 2015. Last year I challenged myself to read the entire Bible in a year, and I’m so glad that I did, but I didn’t want to do the same thing back to back. When I was younger, I consistently memorized verses (which I really appreciate), but it hasn’t really been a thing in my life since I started grad school (too many other things to memorize I guess). I want to bring this back to my life, so I’m going to memorize 12 verses this year.
I challenge myself to finish “The Chronicles of Narnia” series. I’ve read the first 3 books in the series, but I want to finish the series this year!
I challenge myself to write the alphabet with both feet twice a week through at least the first half of the year. I guess this seems like a weird goal, but I really want to work on my ankle strength. Ideally I will do it more than twice a week (and hopefully it’ll just become a regular habit), but this is something I’d like to do in my life.
I challenge myself to be at peace. I’ve decided that “peace” is going to be my word for 2015. It’s not that I don’t feel peace in my life, but I could do a better job of intentionally going to a place of peace in my life. Having “it is well” tattooed on my wrist where I see it every day has been really helpful to ground myself, and I want to continue this practice this year. 2015 will have some big events and changes, and I want to hold onto peace. “Peace” will be my word for the year (last year was “brave” which was very applicable).
Now it’s your turn to share! What goals or challenges have you set for yourself? What’s one dream that you have for yourself this year?
These are great challenges! I love that you challenge different areas of your fitness. I typically only set goals for running. I love the idea of doing X minutes of planks per year. I may have to borrow that one! My biggest goals this year include: read 50 books, run another full marathon, PR a half marathon.
Thank you! I try to hit a number of different types of fitness and factors of wellness to keep me balanced and well-rounded. It sounds like you have some great goals for yourself this year!
Fantastic goals! Like Emilie, I like the variety you put into your fitness goals–all of them, really. Both feeling and expressing gratitude are also excellent things to strive for. I’m inspired.
Hi Amy! Thanks for stopping by and commenting, and thanks for your sweet comments. I really try to keep myself balanced throughout the year, and I try to write challenges that reflect that. Good luck as you pursue health throughout 2015!
Great, well-rounded list of goals for 2015. That is awesome that you are planning on riding your bike more! I love being on my bike and am already looking forward to warmer weather. You can kill two birds with one stone reading the Chronicles of Narnia books!
If I read a Chronicles of Narnia book WHILE biking, then I can hit 3 goals at once 🙂 haha. I just got off my bike after doing a 30 mile ride this morning, and it was fantastic! Warmer weather is going to be fantastic- I’m itching to get outside again.