I know, your taste buds and stomach just got really angry at me after reading the title of this post. However, your wallet could not be happier!

Eating out is expensive. Even the cheapest restaurant will end up costing you more than if you just ate at home.

Don’t get me wrong, eating out is one of my favorite things to do. Going out with a group of entertaining people, scanning the menu, waiting eagerly for each course, relaxing with a few glasses of wine, savoring every last bite of delicious food, and topping it off with a decadent dessert… it does not get any better than that.

Eating out is a treat. Just like any other treat, it should be enjoyed in moderation! If it becomes a habit, it will end up costing you an incredible amount of money.

With that being said, I challenge you to not eat out for a week.

Are you up to the challenge? Stay home, eat some cereal and pasta, and watch a movie with some good company. It will be just as fun… trust me. Post a comment and let us know how the challenge is going.

Photo by Scorpions and Centaurs

Our brains can only hold so many memories and pieces of information at one time. It is easy to forget and lose track of our life goals, creative ideas, important tasks, dreams, imagination and passions. That is why I challenge you to start a journal or a blog to start getting your heart and mind in order!

I am sure that many of you have probably already started journals or blogs in your life. If that is the case, then I challenge you to put more effort into them. Write more. Write about more topics. Make it a habit and part of your routine.

Journal Ideas

A journal is great for keeping track of and analyzing your own life. One can be completely free in a journal because you are the only person who is going to be reading it. With a blog, you have the chance to share your ideas with a community and receive feedback, but I feel that it is important to have a place to document yourself with no fear of the public eye. Go crazy in your journal! Having trouble thinking of things to write about? Here are some things I write about to keep my thoughts in order:

• Goals – Without goals, our lives can become an endless stream of reactions instead of purposeful intentions. Writing down our goals, why we want them, what needs to be done to achieve them, and in what kind of time frame will make reaching them an easier task.
• Dreams – If you choose to write about your dreams, I suggest keeping a notepad or journal right next to your bed. We all know how our dreams can slip away from us even after just five minutes of being awake. It will take some effort, but you should document them the second you wake up for the most accurate and detailed description. This is true even if you wake up at three in the morning and are thinking about one of your dreams. Just write it down right away! Over time you will be able to analyze your dreams and see if there are any patterns that have emerged. Whether any conclusions are drawn from your dreams or not, I still think it is entertaining and worthwhile to revisit them.
• Daily Tasks – When most people think of to-do lists, they think of little yellow post it notes that have been jam packed to the edges with tasks that need to be done. I see nothing wrong with keeping your to-do list in your journal though. It helps you keep track of them. Every night before you go to bed you can check off what you completed that day. Mmm, that provides so much satisfaction for me!
• Ideas – Do you ever have any brilliant ideas for inventions, music, art, writing, relationships, work, or any other part of your life and they slip away from your mind before you can write them down? Nothing could be more frustrating! To remedy this I suggest carrying around a small notepad, one that you can fit in your pocket. When the ideas come to you, jot down their main points, just enough that it will all come back to you when you revisit it later. At the end of the day, you can pull out the notepad and transfer your ideas to your journal and elaborate on them. This concept is similar to recording your dreams: Write it down the moment it pops into your head!
• Emotions – I find it helpful to document the whirlwind of emotions that can be going through my mind throughout the day. Just like recording your dreams, you can eventually analyze your emotions and see if there are any patterns. Do you tend to get angry often? Does one particular thing make you really jealous? What things bring you joy on a daily basis? From there you can start to make changes by getting rid of the things that cause negative emotions in your life and increasing the things that produce positive emotions. This is easier said than done, but it is a great starting point.
• Creativity and Imagination – Do you have a funny phrase, joke, or some wild beast that you have come up with? Whatever obscure creation you have imagined in your head, jot it down! These can provide inspiration later on and can help you expand on your ideas. Combine these with your solid ideas that you are also keeping track of.

Blog Ideas

Blogs rule. Yes, you are reading one right now. Doesn’t what I am doing look like so much fun? It is! Whether it be a personal blog that documents your daily life and things that move you, or a topic specific blog that focuses on one thing in particular, blogs can be a great outlet. One plus of blogs is that you get to receive feedback and insight from your community of readers. Here are some blog ideas to get you started:

• Personal Blogs – There no rules on this one. Just keep in mind that some people besides you will be reading it. They might be complete strangers across the world or they could be family members, so always keep that in mind when writing on your blog. Write about your daily life, things that inspire you, movies you enjoy, music you like, your political views, your cat, websites that you recommend, whatever you want really! Keep in mind, if you are interested in achieving a large readership of your blog, a personal blog might not be the best choice.
• Topic/Niche Blogs – Do you have a hobby or an area of expertise that you are extremely passionate about? Why not start a blog about it and share your knowledge with the world? Starting a blog on the subject will not only provide a resource for other people who are interested, but it will also force you to know your subject thoroughly. It will make you research topics. No one wants to write about something inaccurately and come off as a dummy right? Topic/niche blogs have a much greater chance of growing a huge readership and audience. Your community of readers will become one of your most valuable assets and greatest sources of inspiration. My topic is simple living and personal growth, could you tell?

The possibilities are endless with blogs. Let your imagination go wild!

What things do you record and keep track of in your journals and blogs? How have they helped you? Post a comment and let us know!

Photo By Barnaby

This week’s simple challenge is a multiple purpose one. It is one that you should rinse and repeat many times throughout your life. I think we should always be evaluating our material possessions and deciding whether we need them or not.

I challenge you to donate five things this week.

They don’t have to be big things. They can be be tiny little nothings if you want. Go through your junk drawer, closet, clothes, shoes, books, CD’s, movies, garage, and anywhere else where that stuff seems to just keep piling up.

My five things are:

1. An old black baseball cap – I recently received a new hat as a gift and never wear the old one anymore.
2. Four old CD’s – It is hard to see in the picture, but there are actually four CD’s stacked on top of each other. I have put them all on my computer so there is no need for the physical version anymore.
3. An ankle brace – I got this when I sprained my ankle playing basketball a few year ago.
4. Half-Life 2 – This one was hard to part with, but I will live. It is an incredibly addictive computer game with a massive following.
5. A CD case – It holds around 100 CD’s or so. However, I recently sold most of my CD’s so I don’t have a use for it.

This a great thing to do for many reasons!

• You will be de-cluttering that mound of junk that you are hiding. (Don’t lie, I know you have one!)
• You will be simplifying your life by letting go of the need for material possessions.
• You will be helping out those that are less fortunate and less wealthy than you are.

I am probably going to donate my items to Good Will. It doesn’t matter where you donate them to. I am going to be posting the simple challenges every Saturday from now on. Good luck with this challenge!

What five things did you donate? Post a comment and let us know!

Today, I have a very special task for you. It is a simple, but powerful task. This task will truly make a difference in someone’s life.

Your task is to show your appreciation for the ones who have helped you. The ones who cared for you. The ones who listened to you. The ones who went out of their way for you. The ones who supported you. The ones who did something big. The ones who did something small.

You have the power to change someone’s day. You have the power to let someone know they are worthwhile and valuable. You have the power to inspire someone. You have the power to do all this and it will hardly take any effort on your part! Isn’t that great?

What I want you to do is pick one person in your life that you feel deserves some appreciation and recognition. Make a list of all the positive and wonderful things they have done for you. Now let them know how much those things meant to you! There are many ways to do this. Here are some that I like:

• Write them a small a letter or card, listing the reasons you appreciate them.
• Send them an e-mail.
• Hide notes in a few different places where you know they will find them.
• Buy them a small gift and tell them why you appreciate them.
• Ask if they need any help with anything in their life at the moment.
• Compliment them.
• Reciprocate some of things that they have done for you.

I know that it is incredibly easy to get caught up in our own lives. I do it all the time! You get a lot on your plate and all you can think about is how to solve your own problems or make things better in your life. It is easy to get trapped in our minds and forget about those around us.

But we must not forget the ones who have always been there for us. Think about how difficult your life would be without those key people in your life. Show them your gratitude! We all know how good to feels to be recognized for our kindness or caring, so do just that for the ones who have been there for you.

I encourage you to show your appreciation for the people who do the little things as well. Did a stranger hold a door open for you? Did your server at a restaurant provide an excellent dining experience? Did someone say something after you sneezed? Did you run into your mailman this morning? Did you have a pleasant experience at the DMV or some other dreadful place? Let these people know that their small efforts have not gone unnoticed and that they were greatly appreciated!

What are some things that people have done for you that you appreciate? Post a comment and let us know!

I am always looking for simple challenge ideas. Send me a message and let me know if you have any ideas that can help people simplify their lives. And yes, you will get credit (and some link love) for your ideas. Thanks!

If you shower twice a day, try showering once a day. If you shower once a day, try showering once every other day. If you shower once a week… well, maybe you should stick with once a week.

Oh your spouses and significant others are going to love you for this one. Just kidding, you won’t smell that bad, right? Showers and baths both use a ton of water. Conserve water and save money by milking your freshness for all it’s worth! That and a little bit more deodorant and you will be set, hehe.

I personally have already dropped my shower frequency to an amazing and disgustingly low number, so I am not going to reduce mine too much, for the sake of all the noses that will be around me. This challenge is more for the people who need a shower or two everyday. It is unnecessary!

Leave a post in the comments section and let us know how this challenge is going! Good luck!

I am always looking for simple challenge ideas. Send me a message and let me know if you have any ideas that can help people simplify their lives. And yes, you will get credit (and some link love) for your ideas. Thanks!

Photo By loosepunctuation