The List 4.0

OMG, I’m so excited! 🙂

Below you’ll find The List of Nudges for round #4, which starts this coming Sunday. As soon as I post this, I’m going to print out The List, cut it into individual strips, wad each one up, and place them in my special bowl. Sunday morning, I’ll pick one out and dive in. Or not. Remember, I/we have four passes we can use at any time, for any reason. If I’m not feeling it, I’ll toss the first Nudge back in, fess up that I’m taking a Pass, and choose another. For that reason, I have more than 52 choices, so I’ll have options.

As always, these Nudges must follow The Rules: each task must be able to be completed within one week, it must be cheap (less than $20), it must push me out of my comfort zone in some way, and it will–I hope–be fun.

Last year I set out with a theme of Radical Self-Care, and my Nudges reflected that. I reviewed old posts as I thought about what I want to do in this year, and chose activities and practices to help me be present and In the Moment. I made a list of senses (sight, sound, taste, smell, touch, feel) and came up with Nudges that would delight them. Some may not appear to be directly related to a sense, but rather about things that nurture me, make me laugh, make me feel good. I’m eager to see what each experience reveals.

You’re welcome to do the Nudge I’ve picked along with me, work from a list of your own, or just read the weekly posts for the entertainment. I hope you’ll be inspired and motivated to join me in some way.

Without further ado…

• Book a midweek lunch date with Thor
• Breathe deeply
• Browse a used bookstore, spend just $10
• Buy two bouquets
• Call the friend who makes me laugh the most
• Challenge a negative thought and flip it
• Clean all the glasses
• Clean all the windows
• Clear out voicemail messages
• Clear paper clutter
• Climb 1 of the staircases on my list
• Cook with a specialty salt
• Create a theme dinner
• Drop off donations
• Enjoy a fire in the fireplace
• Get lost in an old favorite book
• Go to a “special” park
• Go to an exhibit
• Go to the beach
• Host a home tasting
• Invite a friend for a hike
• Invite a new potential friend for coffee
• Jump rope
• Let the Light in
• Lie in the grass
• Light the “good” scented candle
• Listen to different meditation apps
• Listen to new-to-me music
• Listen to voices that I love
• Mail a handwritten note/letter
• Make mulled spiced wine or cider
• Make my favorite dessert
• No complaining
• Open all the windows
• Plate our dinners
• Polish something
• Practice cuisine du marché (“market cooking”)
• Practice noticing
• Pull out an old boardgame—and play it!
• Remember funny family stories
• Rewatch all the Olive and Mabel videos
• Share a few dad jokes
• Stand tall
• Stop and smell the roses
• Surprise Thor with a pie or tart
• Sweep the cobwebs
• Take 1 photo/day of things that make me happy
• Take a cold shower
• Take a long hot bath with one of those scented bombs I’ve been “saving”
• Take a mental health day
• Take myself out for a sweet treat
• Touch trees on a walk
• Touch/hug 3 people
• Try 2 new mushroom recipes
• Use the good body lotion
• Visit a perfume counter
• Walk barefoot in sand
• Walk in a new-to-me park
• Wander
• Wander a farmers’ market
• Wear different fabrics
• Wear the “good/special occasion” jewelry