Written by: December 31, 2023
How to make 2024 your best year ever. Kickstart the new year with one of these challenges:
Principle-First
Happy (almost) New Year!
As we step into this exciting new chapter, it's time to push yourself in ways you never have before.
Before unpacking the 7 growth challenges, let’s discuss why these are powerful…
SUPERHUMAN SCORING
In every edition of System Sunday, I assess the featured system across three superhuman dimensions: impact, setup, and maintenance.
Unlike your typical review, I focus on factors that influence personal growth. Get to know the evaluation system.
Impact (9.0/10)
Scott Adams once said, “Goals are for losers; systems are for winners.”
3 reasons I like challenges:
- System Adoption: Each challenge offers a system to kickstart your personal growth. Your systems today will be a leading measure of your results in one year.
- Experimentation: The timebound nature of challenges lets you test out systems in a fun way, conquer them, and grow your confidence.
- Identity Development: Engaging in challenges helps you build the identity of your ideal self. For example, if you accept the 52-Week Money Challenge, you can internalize the identity of someone who saves money.
7 New Year challenges, here we go…
Setup (8.5/10)
21-Day No-Complaint Experiment: Popularized by Tim Ferriss and Will Bowen, this challenge involves not complaining, criticizing, or gossiping for 21 consecutive days. Every time you slip, you start over.
Read more about the challenge.
75 Hard: A 75-day challenge that develops mental toughness (invented by Andy Frisella). It involves a strict diet, drinking a gallon of water daily, reading 10 pages of a non-fiction or self-help book, taking a progress picture, and doing two 45-minute workouts daily (one must be outside).
Read more about the challenge.
Disclaimer: Consult a medical professional before starting any new health regimen.
30-Day Minimalism Game: Proposed by The Minimalists, participants get rid of one item on the first day, two on the second, and so on, leading to decluttering and simplifying one's life.
Read more about the challenge.
Tech-Free Saturdays: Take a ‘screen sabbatical’ one day every week (Credit: Brad Stulberg). Avoid using digital devices, particularly smartphones, computers, tablets, and social media platforms. The goal is to reduce screen time, unplug from the constant influx of digital information, and reconnect with the physical world around you.
Read more about the challenge.
52-Week Money Challenge: A savings challenge where you save $1 in the first week, $2 in the second, and so on. By the end of the year, you'll have saved $1,378 (not counting interest). Double the challenge by starting with $2 in the first week, adding $4 in the second week, $6 in the third week, and so forth until you add $104 in week 52. You’ll save $2,756.
Read more about the challenge.
3-Day Phone Charger Challenge: See how moving your phone’s charger outside your bedroom has cascading benefits on your entire day. The morning alarm will spring you out of bed, making you less likely to hit the snooze button. Easily reclaim 10 minutes per day (60+ hours per year).
Read more about the challenge.
Morning Pages (Daily Journaling): Inspired by Julia Cameron's The Artist's Way, it involves writing three pages of stream-of-consciousness thoughts every morning. You’ll declutter your thinking and generate creative ideas.
Read more about the challenge.
Maintenance (7.0/10)
My advice: Don’t try to do all of these at once! 😅
The all-or-nothing mentality often leads to nothing at all.
Commit to one fully, have fun, encode the habit, and try another.
To maintain your momentum:
- Track Your Progress: Use a journal or app (like Notion) to track your journey.
- Stay Flexible: If you miss a day, that’s okay. Remember the mantra “Never miss twice” (hat tip to James Clear).
- Find a Buddy: Share the journey with a friend for mutual support. (Send this newsletter to a friend or relative you’d like to do a challenge with!)
- Celebrate Milestones: Reward yourself for small achievements.
BRINGING IT HOME
Personally, my first challenge of 2024 is the “No-Complaint Experiment.”
Which one are you most excited about?
All systems go,
P.S. There’s one more 2024 challenge I highly recommend. I call it “Publish Online for 30 Days.” And I’d like to mentor you…
I'm offering 1:1 private coaching to executives, founders, and entrepreneurs ready to become thought leaders on LinkedIn. I'll teach you how to get paid for your expertise and build your dream online business.
I love seeing my clients get results. Take Christian Poensgen from Ultraproductive, for example:
Learn more about my 1:1 coaching program (and read client success stories) here.
P.P.S. I’m wishing you a wonderful start to your new year. And remember: Think big for 2024!
