The 30 Day Challenge

In  September, I did the whole30. You can read more about my experience here.

It was amazing to me to see the difference 30 days made. I was talking this over with my brother and he said you should do a year of 30 day challenges. He suggested things like 30 days without TV or 30 days of cold showers. My first response was, how about you take cold showers and not watch TV for 30 days?

amiright?

A few weeks after this discussion I found myself still thinking about his idea to do a year of 30 day challenges and the idea was growing on me.

I feel like so often we want to be THAT person: the morning person, or the exerciser, the one with the clean house or the impressive hobby or the ability to do some crazy yoga pose. Then I thought, what if I gave myself a gift and committed 30 days to being THAT person? What if instead of wishing for something or wanting something–I just did it.

Simple in theory, but so difficult in life. Habits die hard! The people around me have grown a part of those habits too, so change isn’t just for me–it affects us all.

I started brainstorming my challenge for each month. With the arrival of baby #3, my blogging slowed A LOT. Then it was summer and I was out enjoying life. Somewhere in the midst of this all, I have been longing to get back to blogging.

I find myself envious of bloggers with lots of comments. Bloggers on trips. Bloggers with awesome campaigns. Bloggers with X amount of page views/Facebook likes/pinterest followers. Bloggers with amazing projects and fabulous points, perfectly written. There are some seriously, fabulously talented people out there!

I think you get the point. You guys know this story. You know these feelings. We have all been there– That nagging inadequacy and that game of comparison that steals all our joy. That is where I was standing, paralyzed by the comparison and negativity that I let creep in.

Growing up, we spent practically every day of summer in my grandparents pool. I live in Wisconsin and we don’t get a ton of super hot days and it takes a bit for a big pool to warm up. My grandparents never heated their pool. I remember standing on the edge, waiting for my mom or aunts to count down, “one for the money, two for the show, three to get ready and four to go!” and I would dive in screaming and then the cold would hit. Man would it shock you! By the time I got to the other side of the pool, the shock had worn off and eventually that pool became my happy place. I never wanted to get out!

So this is me, standing on the edge of the pool, diving in and hoping by the end of 30 days–this will be my happy place.

I am telling you this to share my heart and to encourage you to join me in a year of 30 day challenges.

Perhaps you are thinking, girl be crazy!

Okay, so not a year, but what about one challenge or a handful of challenges or every other month. This month is blogging for me, but for you it can be whatever you need. If you decide to join me in a 30 day challenge, I would love to know what you are working on. Please share in the comments or #BH30dayChallenge on social media.

And if you love checking things off like this girl (points to self), I’ve included a 30 day countdown printable. And since blogging is so much more fun with friends, consider supporting Balancing Home by sharing posts, pinning ideas you like and telling everyone you know, “you have to check out this blog!”.