We are the product of our habits. We know that habits are tiny things we do unconsciously because, well, we are habituated and conditioned to stay in our comfort zones.

But we also know that small changes oftentimes lead to massive growth over time. The key is consistency though. And, consistency comes from building a habit.

Read next: 12 Challenges in 12 Months: A Happy New Year

Our habits (good or bad) are products of time and repetition. So what could be better if we can gamify habit building?

One Month Challenges Ideas

So, let’s get started. There are so many fun and cool things you can try for a month. Just say to yourself that you can do anything for a month.

I’ve divided this massive list of monthly challenges into 8 categories:

• Mental Strength
• Travel and Lifestyle
• Health and Fitness
• Relationship
• Professional
• Financial
• Creative
• Spiritual

Mental Strength

• Wake up at 5 am daily for one month straight
• Take an ice bath or cold shower for a month
• Abstain doing something (a guilty pleasure you love) for a month
• No screen time after 9 pm or 2 hours before bedtime for a month
• Train your brain with brain games or solve one Sudoku every day for a month
• Learn a new word every day for a month
• Listen to an audiobook or simply read for 30 minutes each day for a month
• Don’t complain about the things you have no control over. Bonus point for not complaining about anything at all for a month.

Travel and Lifestyle

Each day in a new opportunity to be the best version of ourselves. Sometimes, I have nagging thoughts like, “If you knew how to… you’d be happier” or “If you just kept a journal, you’d feel better!”

• Travel for 30 days straight (go somewhere you have never been before)
• Don’t use plastic (bags, bottles, etc.) for a month
• Write a diary entry cataloging your day
• Throw away one item daily for 30 days (declutter your life – give away, toss, sell, whatever)
• Write a daily to-do list first thing in the morning
• Lightly tidy and organize your home (ideally, room by room)
• Make your bed first thing in the morning. Don’t leave home without completing this task
• Don’t count calories for a month

Health and Fitness

Instead of making a huge commitment that might be too big to accomplish, try to improve your health within the boundaries of your current schedule.

• Floss once daily for a month
• Brush your teeth twice daily for a month
• Maintain a food journal and document your meals
• Home-cook one meal for 30 days
• Drink eight glasses of water daily
• Drink one less cup of coffee, Or, go without coffee for 30 days
• Go vice-free (alcohol, cigarettes, coffee, etc.) – pick one or as many as you can handle
• Avoid weighing yourself for a month
• Stretch for 10 minutes when you wake up or once a day
• Walk or bike to work or a close regular errand location instead of driving
• Track your heart rate when you exercise and get it to 75% of its max BPM per day
• Exercise your eyes to strengthen your eyesight

Relationships

• Surprise your partner each day for a month
• Make love with your partner each day for a month
• Call your parents and/or children daily for a month
• Call one friend each day. Do it with 30 friends over the month

Professional

It’s easy to get comfortable once you’ve settled in at your workplace. But the key to growth is to never stop growing. Try any of these challenges for a month and notice how it improves your professional carrer.

• Thank one co-worker, client, or partner every day
• Avoid social media entirely during work hours
• Listen to a career-relevant or educational audiobook during your commute
• Wear an outfit or accessory that makes you feel like your best, smartest self
• Brainstorm ideas or solutions for a work problem for 5 minutes
• Avoid work emails before and after hours
• Leave your work at work and don’t take it home
• Journal about your daily work experience
• Make a list of your professional profiles and update and improve your resume
• Have lunch with a co-worker or team members

Financial

Do you want to take control of your money and financial situation?

• Track your spending and categorize your purchases daily
• Put your spare change in a jar and count it at the end of the month
• Pause clothing shopping for 30 days
• Set and stick to a budget
• Research a topic related to personal finance for 5 – 10 minutes
• Brainstorm 5 new ways to improve your financial health
• Avoid buying a to-go coffee (and instead bring one from home)
• Learn about retirement accounts and set one up
• Bring your lunch to work instead of going out
• Assess your monthly subscriptions and see what you can downgrade or cancel altogether

Creative

How fun would it be to spend time learning a new creative activity like knitting, painting, or ukulele?

• Make a highlight of the day video for a month (hint: Casey Neistat)
• Take a photo of someone you don’t know every day (hint: Humans of New York)
• Write a blog post each day for a month
• Write down 10 ideas (for anything) for 30 days
• Write a poem or haiku each day for a month
• Dance to at least one song each day for a month
• Practice your handwriting by writing a page each day for a month
• Learn, practice or play a musical instrument for a month
• Learn a new craft like knitting or embroidery by doing it for a month
• Learn a new language by practicing daily for a month

Spiritual

• Practice mindfulness meditation for a month for at least 20 minutes
• Send gratitude notes or emails or text to one person each day for a month
• Write your blessings or gratitude in a dairy for a month
• Journal each day (morning or before bed) for a month
• Enjoy a morning cup of tea or coffee in silence
• Set a daily intention or mantra
• Do a random act of kindness each day for a month

Do you have other fun and creative challenges that you have tried before? Let us know in the comments below if you would like to add new challenges to the list.