Progress Report: 90-Day Journey

Yesterday marked 16 days that have passed since I kicked off the 90-day basic training experiment. (To recap, I'm doing four things each day: 1. Purposeful thanksgiving. 2. Starting in Scripture. 3. An organization project. 4. Some type of exercise/movement.)

As I related to the church small group I meet with on Thursday nights, I've been thrilled with the results. So I'm sharing this update to help encourage any of you who've been thinking about the daily steps you'd like to take to help get you to where you want to be by the time the next New Year rolls around. Here's what I'm learning along the way.

1. Consistency is liberating.
I have to admit, when I first considered adding four steps to what I needed to accomplish each day, I thought "Great! Just what I need...another four things to cram into an already overcommitted day." But what I've discovered is that consistently implementing these steps has actually been very freeing.

For example, before starting this experiment, I'd look around the house and think, "I need to get my house organized," but I didn't know where to start, and I never had countless free hours to devote to the process. However, by taking on the goal of completing one organizational task a day, I've made huge progress. Some days, I spend five minutes on a project (such as sorting mail so that it doesn't stack up). Other days, I've had the time to do a much larger task like cleaning and organizing my bedroom closet. I don't worry about what I'm going to get done each day. I just take whatever time I have, and pick one thing I can finish during that time.

2. Checking off these four items each day is very personally satisfying.
Instead of going to bed each night fretting about what didn't get done that day, I feel deeply satisfied about the things that I did accomplish. Since I've taken the time to note them on my checklist, I can look at those items and know that I invested a little (or a lot) of time in the things that I wanted to accomplish that day. (In other words, the day wasn't just about what I finished for work or as a mother, but about making progress toward completing some things that are important to me personally.)

3. Success is cumulative.
The first day of this journey, I unpacked suitcases and got toys and laundry put away. Since then, I've cleaned off a corner of the kitchen bar that's been a catchall for miscellaneous junk for months (probably years) now, sorted and tossed expired medicines, and decluttered and organized my bedroom closet so it's a walk-in again, among other things. In nearly every room of my house, I can now tell a noticeable difference from the organization projects, and that feels awesome! I can't wait to see what all will be accomplished by the end of this 90 days!

As for exercise, I've done more crunches, strength-building exercises, yoga stretches, aerobic routines, and power walks then I had completed in the past three months combined. I can feel it in my energy level, my stress level, and how my clothes are fitting. What's not to love about that?

Step by Step
Looking back over these past couple of weeks, how like the Lord to suggest this 90-day training program of incremental steps—projects—to me. As it says in Psalm 37:23 (New Living Translation), "The Lord directs the steps of the godly. He delights in every detail of their lives."

While it's my nature to want to craft a 5-year plan that prepares for every contingency along the way and is too enormous to be manageable, it's God's way to direct me to follow his leading each day, each step along the way. And wouldn't you know, His way is getting results and bringing peace, rather than extra burden, along the way!