Finish 2026 Strong: The 100-Day Challenge
One of the best times of year to capture natural energy is fall.
In the US, Labor Day marks the official transition from laid back summer.
I’ve found this time of year a great one to take on a project.
Specifically, a 100-day project.
Sample Project Ideas
There are no “right” ideas for a 100-day project. You want to find something that matches your current life and personal goals. Below are ideas to show some possibilities:
- Habits – Create a new morning routine, start an exercise routine, etc.
- Skills – Pick a topic and dig in with a learning and application plan
- Output – Create something… write a book, finish a project, redesign a room
- Holiday – Plan an epic 2026 holiday season by doing the prep across the 100 days
- Work Project – Pick something you “never have time for” and work it in.
The opportunities are endless and can fit in any part of your life. The key is to figure out what is right for you right now.
Leverage AI to Brainstorm and Track
Your favorite AI can be a great partner for this project. From brainstorming ideas to creating a routine, breaking the project into chunks, keeping you motivated, and getting you back on track when you have a lapse, AI can be with you all along the way. Below are a few prompts that can get you started:
“I want to start a 100-day project but don’t know what to focus on. Ask me 5 questions about my hobbies, professional skills I want to learn, and current goals to help me narrow down a theme.”
“Give me a list of 10 creative 100-day project ideas centered around [Insert general interest, e.g., career development, cooking, digital art, writing, personal finance].”
“Give me 5 variations of a 100-day project. Two should be focused on output (creating something), two should be focused on input (learning/consuming), and one should be a wild card/experimental idea.”
“I am thinking of [Insert idea, e.g., writing a novel] for a 100-day project. Help me break this down into a daily action that takes no more than 15 to 30 minutes, so I don’t burn out.”
100-Day Challenge Mile Markers
This year, the 100-day sprint is Tuesday, September 8th – Wednesday, December 16th.
You can do three check-ins to make sure you are on track and adjust if needed.
The Quarter Mark – Day 25 (October 2nd) – Check the new habits and tweak routines.
The Halfway Point – Day 50 (October 27th) – Celebrate the midpoint and assess progress.
The Home Stretch – Day 75 (November 21st) – Final motivational push to finish strong.
Summary
A hundred days from now, the year will be winding down. You can either look back wondering where the time went, or you can look at a tangible accomplishment. You don’t need a flawless plan to start. You can just start… one day at a time. Pick your focus, stay motivated, check in, and see what happens!
In fact, I’ll note the check ins (close to each date) in this newsletter to remind you to take a pause, celebrate how far you’ve come, and motivate for the next stage.
Also, if you didn’t read last week’s newsletter about side quests, this might be another great resource to gain inspiration for a 100-Day Challenge.
Posts This Week
Jump Intentionally. We always hear that we should “take the leap”. This post highlights why it might make sense to be thoughtful and ensure we are jumping intentionally.
15 Tips for Refreshing Your To-Do List. While this post won’t help you get things done, it will help you get some inspiration for improving your list…. Which may result in getting more done.
Are We Really Doing Knowledge Work? This is a question I’ve been asking myself for quite some time. Maybe it’s time to flip the script and work with knowledge instead.
Time Blocking Reminders. When we think of time blocking, deep work is often the focus. Yet, time blocks can be used in many different ways. This post is a reminder on how to use blocks.
Putting Ourselves First. It can be very easy to put the needs of everyone else first and put our needs on the backburner. This post reminds us why we sometimes need to put ourselves first.
Podcasts That Caught My Attention
This week, these podcasts have a loose tie to the 100-day plan. You can create the plan and make sure you set it up to not cause excess thought load. The second two might inspire ideas for what you could do in the challenge.
How to Create an Action Plan. 11 minutes. Optimal Living Daily. This podcast provides six steps to turn a vague wish into an action plan that works. A practical framework for your 100-day plan.
Burnout: Why Thought Load, Not Workload, Is Drowning You. 52 minutes. Beyond the To-Do List. This episode features Liane Davey talking about her book Thoughtload: Manage the Madness and Free Your Team to Do Great Work.
The Ordinary Things That Make Life Richer. 26 minutes. The Next Big Idea Daily. This podcast provides highlights from two books. First, The Small Stuff: How to Lead a More Gratifying Life by Ian Bogost. Then, Happiness Is Overrated: Simple Lessons on Finding Meaning in Each Moment by Cuong Lu.
Make a Wardrobe Photo File. 4 minutes. Before Breakfast. A quick tip on how taking photos of the clothes you own can make getting dressed easier.
What Do You Think?
Have you ever taken a 100-Day Challenge? Do you have ideas what you could do this season?
Could the ideas on to-do lists and time blocking help you plan out your challenge?
What ideas did the posts & podcasts spark that you could implement in the week ahead?
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