This is a no shopping challenge update. To read part 1, of the challenge, click here. Day 1. I accidentally shatter my Chemex glass coffee maker. I have to buy a new one, I think to myself. There’s no way I’ll survive a month without it. An hour later I watch my husband improvise with filters and an oversized water bottle. My…

Last month, my husband committed to a 30 day no news challenge where he would not read, watch or listen to any news. Below is a transcript of several audio interviews I conducted with him following his 30 day media fast, which he successfully completed on January 14, 2017. Insights from the no news challenge Why was the consumption…

Last week, several people sent me this story about a British woman, Michlle McGagh, who bought nothing for an entire year. By her estimates, she saved $23,000. She wrote: “Although I had no debt, my bank statements (when I bothered to look at them) were littered with unnecessary spending. When I did brace myself and look at my statements…

From January 29th to February 4th, according to my time tracking application, I spent 2 hours and 24 minutes on Scrivener, the app I’m using to write my book. This is very problematic, I thought to myself. If I have any shot at meeting my deadline, I need to spend 2 hours per day writing, not 2 hours per week. Unfortunately, the minutes…

I’ve taken on a number of challenges over the past three years that have remained untouched. Sewing, running, Italian and 15 minute planks, to name a few. But most of them, I’m happy to report, I either revisit regularly (guitar, YouTube videos, clutter, gluten free eating, no complaining) or have become part of everyday life (cold showers, meditation, writing,…

My challenge for this month is to wake up at 5am to write. 5am is extreme, but it’s peaceful. My mind is fresh and rested and I can work on my book (I’m writing a book about 30 day challenges) without interruption. No kids, no buzzing cellphone, no noise. The time allows me to be…

It’s hard to get up at 5am. Even after 15 days, I’m still bitter when the alarm clock goes off. I always contemplate going back to bed. But I still get up with the alarm and walk across the room to turn it off. I splash water on my face, do 5 jumping jacks and settle in…

At the beginning of the month, I set a goal of waking up at 5am to write. 30 days later, I’m happy to report that getting out of bed at that hour is no longer the struggle it once was. I’ve grown to love the quiet of the early morning and the time to be creative and…

I didn’t take on a challenge in April because I was hustling to finish up my “Big Book of 30 Day Challenges,” which turned out to be an intense, all-consuming process. I’m happy to report that I turned in my manuscript and am ready to tackle the month of May, AKA the fat burning challenge (or the slow…

For the past several weeks, I’ve been following the Slow Carb diet, a fat burning diet where you avoid foods that promote fat storage (white carbohydrates like bread, pasta, rice and potatoes, dairy, fruits and sugar) and replace them with protein, vegetables, legumes and healthy fats. With strict diet challenges like these, I always advise people (and myself) to scale…