The Overview

Each challenge I completed in 2022 had its own benefits and takeaways. Beyond that, doing something or giving something up intentionally every day for a year has had a monumental impact on my life. Although I did not cheat and completed every single challenge, the benefits of The Challenge Year did not rely on perfectionism. Instead, the benefits were a product of challenging my weaknesses.

When I started this whole thing, I did not have a goal or end game in mind. I just wanted to see what would happen. When December came last year, people were talking about New Year's resolutions. I have never been a big fan of resolutions, but I kept wondering what it would be like to do something different every single month in 2022. Eventually, I decided to go for it. I did not know what I would do each month, but I knew I would figure it out along the way. So here I am, one year later, with what I believe is a remarkable outcome.

This year has made me more disciplined, more thoughtful, less anxious, and overall, more confident and grounded in who I am. The Challenge Year has brought my mind to a different level. The last time I experienced such a positive period of development was my deployment to the Middle East with the Army seven years ago.

Initially, I was going to call this The Harvey Challenge, which comes from a family name. My grandpa's name was Harvey; he was a farmer from Iowa. He was the hardest worker I knew and was in the field until he died at 93. His work ethic showed what hard work can achieve. The name Harvey was passed on to my dad as his middle name. Like my grandpa, my dad was also a very hard worker, but he battled with mental illness to the point where he died by suicide when I was 11 years old. My dad was taught the importance of a strong work ethic but not the importance of mental health. 

Like my dad, my middle name is also Harvey. Learning from my father and grandfather, I see what hard work can get you, but I also see and have felt the direct impacts of mental illness. The Challenge Year has helped me find the balance between peace of mind and success. Finding the discipline but also finding the present moment. Ultimately, I ended up calling this The Challenge Year as it is more descriptive. 

My final challenge is to share this story with you all. You might be in a great spot, or you might be struggling. Either way, I have been there and want to share what I have found that lets me have peace of mind while pushing toward my goals.

I encourage you to read through each month to find out what I completed and learned. If you want to know what it is like to only take cold showers in February, give up coffee after drinking a pot a day, or what it is like to spend a month without a smartphone, take a look. As you go through and read these, I kept a similar format throughout so you know what to look for.

• What I did and why

• The challenges I faced

• Key takeaways and benefits

• Why I would recommend the challenge

• Final thoughts

Then, if you are curious and willing, you can take the journey yourself. Now maybe you are not ready for an entire year of challenges, which is quite alright. In that case, you can start small with a single month or even a week. The bottom line is that The Challenge Year can be whatever you want to make it. Further details about starting The Challenge Year can be found on the “Get Started” page.

The Challenge Year has helped push me further than ever before while maintaining peace of mind. It’s possible to have success and live in the moment.