This idea has been rolling around in my head for a couple months, ever since our crew at work handed out little jars with 50 paperclips and said pick a goal, and as you achieve each item, move a paper clip to the empty jar … until suddenly the GOAL jar is empty and your ACHIEVED jar is full.

Then start over.

I soon realized one of the best ways to ACHIEVE is to tell the people around you what you’re doing. I think I was about 20 days into my test run last month and one of the girls at work bought coffee – SURPRISE.

Starting June 12th I said I was going to stop drinking fancy coffee (only black), no soda, and no energy drinks. Simple. POOF it was gone.

Good thing it’s July because now I have a true starting point for a new challenge, and creating new habits in my life. So I’m hoping you will help hold me accountable for the beginning of my 30 Day Challenge Journey – a continuous monthly 30/31 (and once a year 28/29) challenge that I plan to change, add, and subtract at my own will.

I don’t want to go easy on myself because where is the challenge in that. I failed at my test run. I don’t want to fail now that I’ve announced it.

So … for July, here’s my goal:

I signed up for James Patterson’s Master Class – 22 lessons about writing. That with listening to Jeff Goin’s podcasts and the desire and pull to start his 500 words a day challenge – I will be writing 500 words a day – somehow – and on something new (I hope).

I’ll be reading 30 minutes again, because if I don’t read at 30 minutes a day, I might shrivel up. To boost that goal, me and my bestie created reading goals for the month:

You’ll have to come back to find out how we did. I went a little overboard and this doesn’t even count the two books I just picked up from the library.

I thought it would be fun to start planking every day … and maybe next month I’ll add the pull up bar, because in reality it would be awesome if in 2016 I hit the Spartan Trifecta.

The benefits of drinking a gallon of water a day were awesome! I’m not much of a water drinker – it’s kind of boring, flavorless, and I forget. Until I get dehydrated at the Boise Music Festival in 108 and put myself in time out while Rob Thomas is singing. Not cool.

And finally back is the no soda and energy drinks. It’s not out of control, but it could use some discipline. I don’t need that. I have bubbly water and wine. Who needs soda?

So … who’s with me? Who’s willing to create new habits in their life, challenge themselves to something new, and add a little spice? I’m really looking forward to it.