etc.

The 52 Week Challenge: How To Actually Have Fun with New Years Resolutions

At the beginning of every year there seems to be a mad dash to claim a resolution, set your standards sky high, and become someone completely different than you are at the current moment. It’s also no secret that these resolutions often fail. But why is that? If you ask me, it’s because they’re not fun enough!

The most common resolutions are too strict, too nebulous, or too hard to pull off without tremendous effort. You may want to work out more, save more money, or be more creative but that “more” is not exactly quantifiable. Goals like lose X number of pounds, save X number of dollars, or paint X number of paintings can also set you up for failure because they fail to account for the life they have to fit into. If you save $5,000 but then your fridge needs replacing – did you still save that money?

A goal you can easily fail at is one you can easily write off, and end up at the same place the following year saying “this year is the year I finally… (insert that same boring goal here)”

For a few years now, I’ve been operating with a type of resolution that rewards me as I go. A “dopamine hack” if you will. That system is The 52 Week Challenge.

Your 52 Week Challenge can be anything, as long as you pick something and do that thing once a week! It builds consistency, confidence, and gives you something to look back on and say “hey! I did that!” The loose structure gives you freedom, but there is still a deadline to keep you motivated, and your progress compounds week after week!

My favorite 52 Week Challenge was one I did in 2022, where I decided to cook or bake something that I’d never made before, every single week. It was so fun, I learned so many new skills, and became an even more proficient cook. It was also pretty tough at times! Some weeks I had to double up and make two items, and other weeks I phoned it in a bit and made simpler recipes, but by the end of the year I’d made FIFTY TWO items I’d never cooked before. Cordon bleu, homemade hollandaise sauce, smoked brisket, sourdough bread, pierogi, and coq au vin to name just a few! This challenge was also when I made Sticky Toffee Pudding for the first time, which has since become a Christmas traditon in our house every year since!

Another year I challenged myself to watch 52 movies that I’d never seen, and this year I’m making a recipe each week from a randomly chosen book from my cookbook library! (I conveniently own exactly 52 cookbooks somehow!)

The thing that makes the 52 Week Challenge great is that you get to tailor it to your interests! If you are not an adventourous cook or eater, but you love watercolor painting, challenge yourself to sit down with your paints at least once a week this year, or make 52 mini paintings with artist trading cards! Want to read more books this year? 52 books may be quite a lot to commit to, but maybe reading for an hour each week isn’t!

You can also do this challenge with someone else! For instance, taking turns planning 52 dates with your partner (26 each), or decide to have 52 FaceTime calls with your long distance best friend! Write 52 letters, listen to 52 different musical artists with your kids, or take your dog for 52 long walks!

One thing I wish I’d done with my past 52 week challenges is take better notes. I have photos from my previous cooking challenge, but if I had kept a cooking journal during that time I would cherish it now! Being only a few weeks into my current challenge, I think I’ll get started on taking those notes. I’ve got a lot of empty notebooks laying around, it’s about time I used them!

Want to get started on your own 52 Week Challenge? To help you get to brainstorming, here are some fun ideas broken up by different categories!

In The Kitchen

Cook with 52 new ingredients.
Make a different dessert every week.
Make 52 things you’ve never made before!
Check out a new cookbook from the library each week.
Watch a different episode of a vintage cooking show each week
Create your own cookbook by adding one recipe a week to a binder, using different sources (old books, magazines, friends and family!)
Try 52 foods you’ve never tried.
Cook something from a different cookbook each week (my current challenge!)
Host a weekly food-centric gathering for friends, family, or neighbors.
Arrange a weekly call where you cook at the same time as a loved one.
Visit your local farmer’s market each week and plan a meal with the season’s freshest ingredients.
Try a new variety of your favorite beverage each week.

Creativity & Expression

Take yourself on a weekly “artist date” (inspired by The Artist’s Way!)
Listen to 52 new (to you) artists or albums.
Make 52 small art projects (bonus points if you try out new mediums!)
Journal or scrapbook about your week every Sunday evening.
Go to a weekly creative meetup in your area, or host your own!
Do a language lesson, watch a documentary, or research an interesting topic or skill each week.
Make a photo collage or vision board at the beginning of every week.
Browse the thrift store weekly with a $5 budget.
Take a night drive and go stargazing once each week.
Learn the meaning of a tarot card, astrology sign, or planetary alignment each week. Keep a journal for your reference!
Take a walk in the woods and photograph, sketch, or write about your findings.
Make a point to give a new person a genuine compliment each week.

Finances & Keeping House

Make a list of often overlooked chores and use a random number generator to assign yourself one weekly.
Set aside a particular amount of money each week to save for something fun!
Tidy one drawer, one shelf, or one high-traffic area each week.
Make 52 flower arrangements from the grocery store, local farms, or flowers from your garden.
Use something you’ve been saving for a special occasion each week (candles, wine, nice perfume, etc!)
Do something you’ve been putting off, followed by something you really enjoy.
Identify at least one thing in your home that could be donated or sold each week. List that item on FB marketplace or set aside to donate items once a month.
Find items in your closet that you rarely wear and make one new outfit each week. If you choose not to wear the item, make a point to sell or donate it.

Family & Loved Ones

Choose a word of the week to enhance everyone’s vocabulary.
Take your dog on an extra special long walk (bonus points if it’s somewhere new)
Make a list of free places to visit on weekends in your area, and then visit them!
Write a letter to someone you love each week.
Become regulars at a local establishment.
Go on 52 dates, alternating which partner plans the date.
Schedule rotating FaceTime calls with friends you haven’t caught up with recently.
Try 52 new restaurants, breweries, or coffee shops.

Quiet Time & Getting Cozy

Watch 52 movies you haven’t seen before.
Spend an evening each week luxuriating in the tub.
Log at least 1 hour of reading per week, or for a larger goal, read 52 books!
Apply a hair or face mask once a week.
Assign one night a week as “cozy night” and go to bed early with a book and a cup of tea, or do whatever cozy means to you!

Fitness, Adventure, & Travel

Take one workout class per week (YouTube counts!)
Go on 52 hikes, runs, or walks.
Visit 52 state parks, historic landmarks, and/or national forests.
Go geochaching or complete local scavenger hunts.
Try a new sport or workout, and keep it up for as long as you enjoy it. Otherwise, try a new one next week!
Visit 52 independently owned shops, venues, or galleries.
Make it a goal to pet 52 different dogs or cats (with their owner’s permission of course!)

And that’s 52!

What are you challenging yourself to do this year?
Let me know in the comments!

mindset